SQM® Iron

Advanced Iron Nutrition for
Stronger, More Survivable Pigs

Producers are focused on one thing: improving survivability and getting more pigs weaned. But one critical factor is often overlooked — iron status in the sow. Research indicates anemia may affect more than 50% of sows in many herds, impacting sow performance, piglet viability, and overall system efficiency.

QualiTech’s SQM® Iron is designed to support improved iron utilization while helping protect gut health and animal performance from gestation through weaning.

Why Iron Status Matters

Iron plays a critical role in oxygen transport, energy metabolism, immune function, and overall growth performance. When iron status is compromised:

Sow performance may decline
Piglet vitality and survivability can suffer
Nursery pigs may enter production at a disadvantage
Overall pigs weaned per sow may decrease

Improving iron status early creates a stronger foundation for healthier pigs, improved consistency, and better lifetime performance.

An Advanced Approach to Iron Supplementation

Built on PolyTransport™ Technology

Unlike traditional iron sources, SQM® Iron is engineered to improve iron digestibility and retention without fueling pathogenic bacteria in the gut.

SQM® Iron Helps Support:

Improved iron digestibility and retention
Better gut health
Reduced anemia risk in sows and piglets
Improved iron status at weaning
Stronger, full-value pigs entering the nursery

By masking iron from harmful bacteria, SQM® Iron works alongside the animal’s natural defense systems to support both health and performance.

Benefits at the Sow Level

With SQM® Iron included in sow diets, producers may support:

Improved iron status during gestation
Shortened farrowing
Reduced cull rates
Improved survivability of litters
More full-value pigs weaned per sow

Research highlighted by QualiTech showed SQM® Iron more than doubled serum ferritin levels in sows during gestation, helping build iron reserves that support sow and litter performance.

Benefits at the Pig Level

Feeding SQM® Iron in sow and nursery diets supports:

Improved hemoglobin (HbC) at weaning
Better iron status — even before Fe-dextran
Heavier, more robust pigs
Improved survivability from birth to weaning
Greater consistency entering the nursery

Stronger pigs don’t just happen — they are built through better iron nutrition.

Not All Iron Sources Behave the Same

Traditional iron sources can unintentionally stimulate pathogenic bacteria in the gut. SQM® Iron is different.

SQM® Iron is designed to:

Improve nutrient utilization
Support gut integrity
Reduce pathogen virulence concerns associated with free iron
Align with the animal’s natural biological defenses

This smarter delivery approach helps producers improve performance without compromising gut health.

The ROI of Better Iron Nutrition

Improving iron nutrition isn’t simply a nutrition strategy — it’s a profitability strategy.

With SQM® Iron, producers may see:

Approximately $4 per sow per year investment
Up to 1 additional weaned pig per sow per year
Improved survivability and consistency
Better overall system efficiency

When survivability improves and more pigs reach weaning successfully, the economic impact can add up quickly across the operation.

Performance Where It Matters Most

SQM® Iron supports:

More pigs weaned per sow
Improved pig survivability
Stronger nursery starts
Greater production consistency
Better long-term performance potential

If you’re looking to improve survivability, strengthen pig performance, and increase pigs weaned per sow, it may be time to rethink your iron strategy.

Learn More About SQM® Iron

Connect with the QualiTech team to learn how SQM® Iron can fit into your sow and nursery nutrition program and help support stronger starts and better finishes. And take a look at these studies with all the data.