Acta Vet. Brno 2009, 78: 365-371

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb200978030365

The Impact of Suckling and Post-weaning Period on Blood Chemistry of Piglets

Vladimír Petrovič1, Jaroslav Novotný2, Vladimír Hisira1, Róbert Link2, Ľubomír Leng3, Gabriel Kováč1

1University of Veterinary Medicine, Clinic of Ruminants, Košice, Slovakia
2University of Veterinary Medicine, Clinic of Swine, Košice, Slovakia
3Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia

Received July 17, 2008
Accepted November 12, 2008

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of dietary changes during the suckling and post-weaning period on selected haematological, immunological and metabolic indices as well as the macro- and micro-mineral and antioxidant status of piglets. Twelve Large White piglets were kept according to the standards of pig rearing used in Slovakia until the end of the post-weaning period. Blood samples were taken from the piglets at the age of 30 days (the end of the suckling period) and 2 months (the end of the post-weaning period). At the end of the post-weaning period higher indices were found for RBC (P < 0.01), Hb (P < 0.01), WBC (P < 0.05), total Ig (P < 0.05), AST (P < 0.01), urea (P < 0.01), Se (P < 0.05), GSH-Px (P < 0.001), -SH groups (P < 0.01) and lower indices of albumin (P < 0.05), ALP (P < 0.001), LDH (P < 0.01), pancreatic amylase (P < 0.01), total lipids (P < 0.01), glucose (P < 0.01), total cholesterol (P < 0.01), bilirubin (P < 0.001), Ca (P < 0.01), SOD (P < 0.01), MDA (P < 0.01), vitamin A (P < 0.05), and vitamin E (P < 0.05) as compared to the end of suckling period. These results indicate that the dietary changes during suckling and post-weaning periods affected the majority of observed blood indices in piglets.

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