Evaluation of the potential benefits of iron supplementation in organic pig farming

Background: Iron from the stock acquired during foetal life and the ingestion of milk is not sufficient to cover the needs of the piglets during their first weeks of life. In organic farming, systematic supplementation with iron is problematic due to a strong limitation in pharmaceutic treatments. Methods: Erythroid parameters around weaning were measured in piglets from organic outdoor and indoor farms, and related to indicators of the inflammatory status. Blood samples were collected from 28.9±2.6 piglets/herd at 42.0±3.2 days of age and 11.9±3.0 kg live weight (mean ± SD) in 21 farms from the west part of France. Among the 11 outdoor farms, only one had supplemented piglets with 200 mg iron while among the 10 indoor farms, only one had not supplemented piglets, one had supplemented them with 100 mg, 8 with 200 mg and one with 400 mg. Results: Compared to outdoor piglets without supplementation, piglets kept indoors and receiving 200 mg iron had lower haemoglobin concentration (105 vs 118±2 g/l, mean ± SE) and red blood cell volume (56 vs 60±1 fl) (P<0.005). The reduction in haemoglobin concentration and red blood cell volume was more pronounced in indoor piglets supplemented with 100 mg of iron and even more when they had not received iron. The plasma concentration of haptoglobin was lower in outdoor than in indoor piglets (0.51±0.06 vs 0.78±0.09 g/l) whereas no effect of housing was observed for markers of oxidative stress (dROM, BAP). In the 14 farms where sow parity was known, the haemoglobin concentration was lower in piglets from primiparous than from multiparous sows (109 versus 114±2 g/l, P < 0.001). Conclusion: With the exception of soils where the content of bioavailable iron is very low, piglets from outdoor farms do not require iron supplementation, unlike those raised indoors

Do piglets in organic farms need iron supplementation?

This study within the CORE Organic Cofund project POWER, aimed at describing the practices in French organic pig farms regarding iron supplementation of piglets at birth and determine the iron status of the piglets at weaning. It shows that iron supplementation is necessary indoors but not outdoors

Evaluation of the potential benefits of iron supplementation in organic pig farming

International audienceBackground: Iron from the stock acquired during foetal life and the ingestion of milk is not sufficient to cover the needs of the piglets during their first weeks of life. In organic farming, systematic supplementation with iron is problematic due to a strong limitation in pharmaceutic treatments.Methods: Erythroid parameters around weaning were measured in piglets from organic outdoor and indoor farms, and related to indicators of the inflammatory status. Blood samples were collected from 28.9±2.6 piglets/herd at 42.0±3.2 days of age and 11.9±3.0 kg live weight (mean ± SD) in 21 farms from the west part of France. Among the 11 outdoor farms, only one had supplemented piglets with 200 mg iron while among the 10 indoor farms, only one had not supplemented piglets, one had supplemented them with 100 mg, 8 with 200 mg and one with 400 mg.Results: Compared to outdoor piglets without supplementation, piglets kept indoors and receiving 200 mg iron had lower haemoglobin concentration (105 vs 118±2 g/l, mean ± SE) and red blood cell volume (56 vs 60±1 fl) (P<0.005). The reduction in haemoglobin concentration and red blood cell volume was more pronounced in indoor piglets supplemented with 100 mg of iron and even more when they had not received iron. The plasma concentration of haptoglobin was lower in outdoor than in indoor piglets (0.51±0.06 vs 0.78±0.09 g/l) whereas no effect of housing was observed for markers of oxidative stress (dROM, BAP). In the 14 farms where sow parity was known, the haemoglobin concentration was lower in piglets from primiparous than from multiparous sows (109 versus 114±2 g/l, P < 0.001).Conclusion: With the exception of soils where the content of bioavailable iron is very low, piglets from outdoor farms do not require iron supplementation, unlike those raised indoors

Do piglets need iron supplementation in organic farms?

This study aimed at describing the iron status of piglets at weaning in French indoor and outdoor farms. It was carried out in the spring of 2019 in 20 organic farms located in the West of France. In each farm, approximately 30 piglets (half males and females) from 4 to 7 litters were blood sampled. In total, 565 piglets of 42.1±3.2 days of age, weighing 12.0±3.0 kg live weight were bled at 1.1±1.7 days from weaning (mean±SD). Among the 11 outdoor and 9 indoor organic farms that were investigated, iron injection was used in most of indoor farms (200 mg: 8 farms, 100 mg: 1 farm, no supplementation: 1 farm), while in outdoor systems, mostly no supplementation was performed (200 mg: 1 farm, no supplementation: 10 farms). In comparison with the indoor/iron injected piglets, the outdoor/non-supplemented piglets had a greater blood haemoglobin concentration (118 vs. 105 ± 2 g/L, mean±SE, P < 0.001) and a bigger red blood cell volume (60 vs. 56 ± 1 fl, P < 0.01), indicating a better iron status. In the only indoor farm that did not use iron supplementation, these two variables were low (81 ± 3 g/L and 48 ± 1 fl, respectively), suggesting an iron deficiency. To conclude, outdoor piglets find a sufficient amount of iron in their natural environment, probably by foraging and ingesting soil, to fulfil their needs. Indoors, an iron supplementation is necessary, but a single intramuscular iron injection, besides its controversial acceptability in organic farming, might be suboptimal to prevent anaemia in piglets. Thus, there is a need for finding alternative solutions to iron injection for newborn piglets

Evaluation de l’intérêt de la supplémentation en fer en élevage porcin biologique.

Cette étude vise à décrire les paramètres hématologiques des porcelets aux alentours du sevrage dans des élevages biologiques de plein air ou en bâtiment. Des échantillons de sang étaient prélevés sur 28,9 ± 2,6 porcelets/élevage à 42,0 ± 3,2 jours d’âge et 11,9 ± 3,0 kg de poids vif (moyenne ± ET) dans 21 élevages de l'ouest de la France. Parmi les 11 élevages en plein air, un seul avait supplémenté avec 200 mg de fer alors que parmi les 10 élevages en bâtiment, un seul n’avait pas supplémenté, un avait supplémenté avec 100 mg, huit avec 200 mg, et un avec 400 mg. Comparés aux porcelets en plein air sans supplémentation, ceux élevés en bâtiment et recevant 200 mg de fer présentaient une concentration en hémoglobine (105 vs 118 ± 2 g/L, moyenne ± ETM) et un volume des globules rouges (56 vs 60 ± 1 fl) plus faibles (P < 0,005). La réduction de la concentration en hémoglobine et du volume des globules rouges était plus marquée chez les porcelets en bâtiment ayant reçu 100 mg de fer et encore plus quand ils n'avaient pas reçu de fer. La concentration plasmatique en haptoglobine, marqueur de l’état inflammatoire, était plus faible en plein air qu’en bâtiment (0,51 ± 0,06 mg/L vs 0,78 ± 0,09 g/L) alors qu’aucun effet du logement n’était observé pour les marqueurs du stress oxydatif (dROM, BAP). Dans les 14 élevages où la parité des truies était connue, la concentration en hémoglobine était plus faible chez les porcelets issus de primipares que de multipares (109 vs 114±2 g/L, P < 0,001). En conclusion, sauf sols carencés en fer, les porcelets issus d'élevages biologiques en plein air ne nécessitent pas de supplémentation en fer contrairement à ceux élevés en bâtiment

Matrix metalloproteinase-12 and cathepsin D expression in pulmonary macrophages and dendritic cells of cigarette smoke-exposed mice

An imbalance between proteinases and their inhibitors is believed to play an essential role in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) and pulmonary emphysema. COPD is mainly caused by cigarette smoking, and is characterized by an increase in inflammatory cells in small airways and lung parenchyma. We examined the mRNA expression of several proteinases in lungs of mice exposed to cigarette smoke or control air. After 1, 3 and 6 months' smoke exposure there was a significant increase of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-12 and Cathepsin D mRNA, compared to air-exposed mice. To determine the cellular origin of MMP-12 and Cathepsin D, we isolated dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages from the lungs of mice. There was an increase in MMP-12 mRNA after smoke exposure in both macrophage and DC populations, whereas Cathepsin D was predominantly expressed in macrophages. Immunohistochemistry clearly revealed the expression of Cathepsin D protein in alveolar macrophages of cigarette smoke-exposed mice, in contrast to air-exposed littermates. Western blots on lung tissue demonstrated an increase of MMP-12 protein in cigarette smoke- exposed animals. These results indicate that cigarette smoke increases the expression of MMP-12 and Cathepsin D in the lungs of mice, and that not only macrophages but also DCs produce MMP-12. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel