Management of Iron Deficiency in Weaning Piglets under Farmers Field Condition

Pig farming is very lucrative and easy source of regular income. Farm women economic security can best be ensure through diversification of farm enterprises and pig rearing of an improved breed. Tamworth X Deshi (T x D ) could go a long way towards this goal. This has been proved through efforts made by scientist of Krishi Vigyan Kendra Chatra, Jharkhand. The highest pig mortality occurs during pre weaning period (birth at 8 weeks) piglet, anaemia is mainly caused by iron deficiency, particularly when sow's are maintained on intensive system. When a piglet is born, it has sufficient iron to lost for only 3-7 days and so must obtain sufficient iron from elsewhere. Under natural conditions, piglets may obtain sufficient iron from the soil, but most piglets today are farrowed and reared indoors and thus have no access to soil. However, some soils contain very little iron, or iron in a form of chemically bound and not available to the pigs. If a piglet is reared on concrete, deficiency of iron symptoms become evident. Very soon piglets affected have heavy, jerky breathing and general weakness. The mucous membrances of the eye and mouth become white in colour and the skin loses its bright pink colour. As the condition progresses they pass a white pasty scour.Without iron, the piglet cannot form haemoglobin for the transport of oxygen, which is turn limits tissue growth and activity. The receive some iron from sow's milk (1 mg/day), but the milk does not contain sufficient iron to provide the minimum needs for normal healthy growth (7-8 mg/day). Unless iron is obtained from another source, the pigs may die. Keeping this fact under consideration K.V.K. Chatra conducted, an on Farm Trail with three treatments i.e. TO₁ - farmer practice only suckling, TO₂- iron (imferon) injected @ 1.0ml/piglet twice at 3^rd and 14^th days of age. TO₃ - ferrous sulphate 450g, copper sulphate 75g, sugar 45g, dissolve in 2lit of water and paste on udder after two days of interval up to 10 days with five replication in Baghmari, Dariyatu, Lowagada, Khuti Kewal, Untta Village of Chatra block in Chatra District, Jharkhand. Result revealed that the highest body growth was found in technology option TO₂ i.e. 8.75 kg after 8 weeks of experiment whereas only 5.75 kg and 7.50 kg recorded in technology option TO₁ and TO₃, respectively. Disease infestation and mortality percentage was also observed less in TO₂ compare to TO₁ and TO₃. Benefit cost ration was calculated Rs.3.21 in TO₂ whereas it was 3.06 and 2.78 in TO₃ and TO₁, respectively. This happened due to less mortality in TO₂ comparison to TO₃ and TO₁.