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Concentration of ferritin in blood serum of dairy cows was measured by a two-site immunoradiometric assay to assess changes in the iron nutritional status during gestation, parturition, and lactation. Although anemia did not occur in pregnancy of dairy cows, there were slight decreases of red cell counts, hemoglobin, and hematocrit in the early stage of lactation. Ferritin concentration remained relatively constant in late gestation (35 ng/ml), but deviations were considerable. Ferritin rose gradually from 3 days prepartum with a sharp elevation after parturition. At 1 to 2 wk postpartum, it had increased to about twice amounts in late gestation. During the subsequent 8 wk postpartum, it fell gradually and thereafter maintained almost unchanged (40 ng/ml). Both iron in blood serum and total iron-binding capacity declined from 2 wk prepartum to the end of gestation but showed a rise beginning about 2 wk after parturition. Because changes in iron-related proteins just before and after delivery may be results of inflammatory reactions accompanying delivery, ferritin concentration is not a good index for diagnosis of iron deficiency in lactating cows just after parturition.

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Forty-two piglets on days 3 and 12 of age were used to determine the rate of intestinal absorption of iron by the red cell radioiron method and to evaluate the effect of age on intestinal absorption of iron. s9 Fe-labelled ferric citrate in a dose of 1-2 /aci per kilogram weight was administered with carrier ferric citrate in 5% fructose solution by stomach tube after 1-hr fast. Two levels of carrier dose (8 and 24 mg iron) were assigned. After s 9 Fe dosing, all piglets were daily administered ferric citrate of the same level as carrier dose.