Bioavailability of Iron in Two Different Sources for Weanling Pigs

Authors

Austin Lewis, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Phillip S. Miller, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Cynthia Wolverton, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

1996

Comments

Published in 1996 Nebraska Swine Report, edited by Duane Reese; published and copyright © 1996 Animal Science Department, University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

Abstract

The bioavailability of the iron in iron methionine was compared with that in feed-grade ferrous sulfate. Pigs, which were anemic at weaning, were given diets containing supplements of one of the two iron sources. Iron supplementation increased weight gain and hemoglobin repletion. The increases were greater for ferrous sulfate than for iron methionine. This indicates that the iron in ferrous sulfate is more bioavailable than the iron in the iron methionine source that we investigated.