Piglets rapidly become anaemic after birth because the sow's milk provides only about 10% of their iron (Fe) requirements. Under free-range conditions, they can obtain extra Fe from soil but in modern intensive systems no soil is available and to prevent them becoming anaemic the piglets are injected with 200 mg Fe as iron dextran when 2-4 days of age. These injections are effective but they are costly in time and money and can have undesirable side effects such as the formation of abscesses, staining of the injected ham or even death from Fe toxicosis. We have considered the theoretical and practical possibilities of supplying the piglets with Fe by using their dams' faeces as a substitute for soil.