Naslov
The influence of birth mass and age of suckling piglets on erythrocyte parameters

Autori
Ekert Kabalin, Anamaria ; Balenović, Tomislav ; Valpotić, Ivica ; Pavičić, Željko ; Valpotić , Hrvoje

Izvornik
Veterinarski arhiv (0372-5480) 78 (2008), 4; 307-319

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
suckling piglets ; birth mass ; age ; haematological parameters ; kinetics

Sažetak
Preweaning period presents the most critical phase in pig production. During that period production parameters of small birth mass piglets are the poorest and losses are the heaviest. In this study it was investigated red blood cell characteristics in suckling piglets of normal and small birth mass, regarding the various changes occurring after birth related to organ development, colostrum intake, degradation of fetal erythrocytes and parental globulins, acquirement of immunocompetence, environmental changes, stress, and other factors. The obtained average values of erythrocyte numbers in both groups of piglets after birth were below and only reaching the lower threshold of the reference range for pigs at 14 (piglets of normal birth mass) or at 21 days of age (small birth mass piglets). Average erythrocyte number at the end of the suckling period was significantly higher (P<0.01) than values established on the first day of life. Recorded increase is probably a result of accelerated erythropoesis in young animals after degradation of fetal erythrocytes. Significantly higher value (P<0.01) of hematocrit was recorded in both groups at the end of the suckling period in comparison to the first day. Only in group of small birth mass piglets was found statistically significant higher haemoglobin value (P<0.01) at 21st day regarding the 1st day of life. All piglets had significantly lower values (P<0.01) of erythrocyte parameters (MCV, MCH and MCHC) at weaning than on the first day of life. Piglets of normal birth mass had significantly larger number of erythrocytes (P<0.05) and lower MCV value (P<0.05) on 7 days of age, and significantly lower MCV and MCH (P<0.01) in relation to low birth mass piglets at two weeks of age.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Veterinarska medicina

POVEZANOST RADA