Production of Anemia in a Pig Responding to Purified Liver Extract

A study on pigs demonstrated that a diet with purified casein and 2% sulfasuxidine led to poor growth, partial alopecia, and normocytic anemia in one pig. Treatment with a purified liver extract for antipernicious anemia resulted in resumed hair growth and normalized blood parameters. The anemia was characterized by normal erythrocyte protoporphyrin, normal plasma iron, and elevated serum copper. In contrast, four pigs on a diet with crude casein and sulfasuxidine showed normal growth, maintained healthy coats, and did not develop anemia.