Piglets were euthanized on 1st, 4th, 7th, 14th, and 28th day of life. Iron dextran was injected intramuscularly (200 mg Fe/head) on the 4th day. The concentration of Fe, Ca, Mg, Mn, Zn, and Cu was estimated by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The liver Fe concentration was 177 ± 49 mg Fe/kg on the 1st day, and this may be considered to be adequate. After injecting iron dextran, it increased nine-fold to 1594 ± 11 mg Fe/kg fresh liver, which was higher than the toxic level reviewed in literature for adult pigs (400 mg Fe/kg). The liver iron decreased to the first day level only on day 28. It was significantly correlated (r = 0.81) with the liver Mn concentration. Calcium in liver (25.0 ± 6.3 mg/kg) increased on day 7 (55.0 ± 2.7 mg/kg) and remained on the same level until the end of the experiment (55 mg/kg). No significant changes were observed in liver Mg content (about 200 mg/kg in average). Apart from the iron content, the most evident changes were stated in the liver Zn level which rapidly decreased from 99.0 ± 8.9 (1st day) to 19.2 -21.8 mg/kg (7-28 days). The liver Cu content remained unchanged for two weeks after birth (64.9-52.6 mg/kg), and only on day 28 had decreased three times as compared to the first day (21.2 ± 1.7 mg/kg). Generally, the liver Fe concentration increased to the toxic level after intramuscular injection of iron dextran (200 mg/head). Hence, it would be better for piglet health to apply iron dextran in two doses. It seems that there is a close correlation in the metabolism of iron and manganese in the liver. The liver concentration of other elements was not affected by iron injections. The Cu deposit in the liver is sufficient only for the first two weeks of life, which may be another risk factor of anaemia in piglets.
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