July 24, 2019
New Study Shows Swine
Production May Have More Than $300M in Untapped Potential in the
U.S., More Than €530M in the EU
The study found an
additional 200 mg dose of injectable iron yields
higher optimal blood hemoglobin at weaning
WATCHUNG, N.J. (July 24, 2019) - Studies have shown that up
to 79% of baby pigs have less than optimal blood hemoglobin (Hb) at
weaning, which has demonstrated impacts to wean-finish growth rates
of five pounds per head.
[1]
[2] Pharmacosmos conducted a study using Uniferon®
200 iron supplements that found that a large economic potential
remains untapped by failing to maximize the hemoglobin status of
baby pigs at weaning, more than $300 million in the U.S. and €530
million in the EU annually.
[3]
Data from this and previous studies show that a single 200 mg
dose of injectable iron, the common dose used today, is not
sufficient in preventing full-scale and sub-clinical iron
deficiency anemia in baby pigs.
"We have found that increasing the dose to 400 mg, given in two
200 mg injections, increases baby pigs with optimal hemoglobin at
weaning from 21% to 70%," said Jerry Purvis, Director of Feed
Operations at Purvis Farms, North Carolina. "Increased hemoglobin
means larger pigs and a bigger return on investment for the swine
industry."
The economic model used in the study was developed by Chris
Olsen, DVM, M.S., technical services manager at Pharmacosmos. The
model shows by maximizing the hemoglobin status of baby pigs at
weaning, the ROI increases $2.77 per head, even after the cost of
an additional 200 mg dose of iron at $0.25 a head. When multiplied
by the total number of hogs slaughtered in the U.S. annually, more
than 121.3 million, there was a total ROI more than $300 million
annually. When applied to production in the EU, the ROI increases
€2.08 per head. When multiplied by the number of hogs slaughtered
in the EU annually, 255 million, the total ROI is more than €530
million.
"The results of an additional 200 mg dose of iron at 12 days of
age showed an increase of five pounds per head," said Olsen. "The
results are significant and there is clear benefit to increasing
the dose given to each baby pig from one 200 mg dose to two 200 mg
doses."
The study was conducted on 235 healthy baby pigs, with
hemoglobin distribution of a herd when given a single 200 mg dose
of Uniferon used as a baseline. The ROI was calculated using
estimates to account for costs of production, product and labor for
administration of a second injection.
For more information, see the complete poster below
Contact: Kari Porter
kporter@dmhadv.com
913-488-2794
[1] Perri A et al. An investigation of iron deficiency and
anemia in piglets and the effect of iron status at weaning on post
weaning performance. JSHAP. 2016; 24:10 20.
[2] Fredericks L et al. Evaluation of the impact of iron dosage
on post weaning weight gain, and mortality. AASV. 2018;315
About Injectable Iron
Baby pigs are very susceptible to iron
deficiency anemia. Therefore, iron deficiency anemia in
litters of baby pigs poses a risk to both animal health, welfare,
and productivity. An injection of iron shortly after farrowing is
an effective and is a globally established "best practices method"
utilized to prevent iron deficiency anemia in baby pigs.
About Uniferon 200
Uniferon 200 is a modern and much improved iron hydrogenated
dextran, based upon a very low impurity profile formulation,
whereby this source of injectable iron for baby pigs has been
approved by numerous healthcare authorities for global use.
Pharmacosmos manufactures iron dextran of high quality and
unique purity, which is distributed to human and animal drug
customers worldwide. Uniferon 200 is the only injectable iron brand
for baby pigs approved by healthcare authorities in the EU, in the
U.S. and in Asia.
About Pharmacosmos
Pharmacosmos Inc, located in Watchung, NJ as a fully owned
subsidiary of Pharmacosmos A/S. is dedicated to the sales of
veterinary pharmaceuticals for the treatment and prevention of iron
deficiency Anemia, including Uniferon 200.
Headquartered in Holbaek, Denmark, Pharmacosmos A/S is a
family-owned, international healthcare company with more than 50
years of innovation and leadership in iron- and carbohydrate-based
treatments and solutions for human and animal use.
A research-based company, the Pharmacosmos A/S ongoing R&D
program focuses on improving the lives of patients with
sub-clinical and full-scale iron deficiency anemia. More than 1
billion people live with iron deficiency anemia and it is the
leading cause of death for an estimated 180,000 people world-wide
every year. This makes sub-clinical and full-scale iron deficiency
anemia one of the largest global health challenges of the current
time.
Pharmacosmos A/S has subsidiaries in the US, China, Nordics,
Germany, UK and Ireland, and its products are marketed in more than
80 countries around the world. The Pharmacosmos A/S manufacturing
facilities located in Denmark have supported global healthcare
authority approvals, among others, by the Danish Medicines Agency
and the U.S. FDA.