An Experimental Model for Iron Deficiency Anemia in Sows and Offspring Induced by Blood Removal during Gestation

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Anemia is a common condition in sow herds especially during gestation. The condition occurs despite iron supplementation in feed and has been associated with increased stillbirth rate. We currently have limited knowledge about the consequences of anemia during gestation in sows. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of severe iron deficiency during gestation on sow and piglet health outcomes in an experimental model. For sows, hematologic parameters were monitored at regular intervals and farrowing results were recorded. After farrowing, tissue iron concentrations in sows and new born piglets were measured. Results of our study showed that sows and piglets were adversely affected by iron deficiency anemia (IDA) during gestation. Mild to severe IDA resulted in reduced tissue iron stores at farrowing in sows and piglets. Strategies to overcome the condition could therefore be beneficial to the pig industry. ABSTRACT: Anemia is a common condition in sow herds. We aimed to study the effects of severe iron deficiency during gestation on sow and piglet health outcomes with an experimental model for blood-removal-induced iron deficiency anemia. In total, 18 multiparous sows (8 in trial I and 10 in trial II) were allocated to either a blood removal group or a control group. Hematologic parameters were monitored at regular intervals and the tissue iron concentrations were measured for the sows and newborn piglets after farrowing. In trial I, the mean liver iron content was reduced to 46.7 µg/g in the blood removal sows compared to 252.6 µg/g in the controls (p < 0.001). In trial II, sows in the blood removal group had lower iron content in the liver (147.8 µg/g), kidney (46.3 µg/g) and spleen (326.5 µg/g) compared to the control sows (323.2 µg/g, 81.3 µg/g and 728.9 µg/g, respectively; p = 0.009, 0.016, 0.01, respectively). In trial I, piglets from sows in the blood removal group had significantly decreased hematocrit (Hct), red blood cells (RBC) and a tendency for reduced hemoglobin (Hb) compared to the control piglets. We established a blood removal model that resulted in mild- to severe degrees of sow anemia and reduced tissue iron stores at farrowing.