Anaemia in Lambs and Kids Reared Indoors on Maternal Milk and the Impact of Iron Supplementation on Haemoglobin Levels and Growth Rates

Crilly, James Patrick; Plate, Peter

Abstract

Abstract: This study aimed to assess iron deficiency anaemia in new-born lambs and goat kids and
was carried out in two parts: (1) Twenty blood samples were taken from one-month-old lambs and
kids under different systems and were tested for haemoglobin. Three groups of lambs were compared:
indoor reared on maternal milk, indoor reared on milk replacer, and outdoor reared on maternal
milk. Indoor-reared kids were compared: those fed on maternal milk and fed on milk replacer.
Indoor-reared kids and lambs on maternal milk showed significantly lower haemoglobin
levels than those on milk replacer or reared outdoors. (2) On farms with indoor-reared lambs or
goat kids on maternal milk, an intervention trial was carried out: animals were randomly assigned
at 1–8 days of age to either receive 300 mg (lambs) or 150 mg iron (goat kids) as intramuscular iron
dextran, and growth rates were compared after one and two months. Haemoglobin levels at one
month were also compared in randomly selected animals from both groups. Treated lambs and kids
showed higher haemoglobin levels at one month of age and a numerically increased growth rate
that was statistically significant for twin lambs. Iron dextran improves haemoglobin levels in these
animals and may lead to higher growth rates, especially in twin lambs.

Citation

Crilly, J. P., & Plate, P. (2022). Anaemia in Lambs and Kids Reared Indoors on Maternal Milk and the Impact of Iron Supplementation on Haemoglobin Levels and Growth Rates. Animals, 12(14), 1863. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12141863

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 20, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jul 21, 2022
• Publication Date: Jul 21, 2022
• Deposit Date: May 10, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: May 10, 2023
• Journal: Animals
• Print ISSN: 2076-2615
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 14
• Pages: 1863
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12141863
• Keywords: iron; anaemia; goat kids; lambs; haemoglobin; growth rates