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Effects of iron dextran injections on the incidence of abomasal bloat, clinical pathology and growth rates in lambs
Author(s) -
Vatn S.,
Torsteinbø W. O.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
veterinary record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 2042-7670
pISSN - 0042-4900
DOI - 10.1136/vr.146.16.462
Subject(s) - flock , domestic sheep reproduction , zoology , transferrin saturation , placebo , serum iron , incidence (geometry) , iron supplement , physiology , biology , veterinary medicine , medicine , iron deficiency , hemoglobin , anemia , pathology , alternative medicine , physics , optics
A preliminary study revealed significantly lower serum iron concentrations in lambs that developed abomasal bloat about one week later, than in lambs that did not develop bloat. In a subsequent trial, with 754 naturally reared twin lambs from five flocks, iron dextran injections were found to have a preventive effect on the development of abomasal bloat. Clinical signs of abomasal bloat were observed in the placebo‐treated lamb of 16 couples and in the iron‐treated lamb of six couples (P<0.05). In three further couples, both lambs developed bloat. The iron‐treated group had significantly (P<0.001) better average weight gains, both from birth to summer, and from birth to autumn of approximately 0.5 and 1 kg, respectively. There was a reduction in red blood cell values and iron saturation in the placebo groupl4 days after treatment but not in the iron‐treated lambs. In one of the flocks, there was a decrease in the cumulative incidence of abomasal bloat from 37 per cent to 3 per cent during the period of four years after measures such as later lambing, earlier turnout and iron injections were introduced.