Metabolic profile of sows at different parities and with different litter size

Abstract

The aim of this work was to investigate the change of metabolic profile of sows during the lactation period, taking into consideration both parity and number of piglets in a litter (litter size). In order to do this, 30 sows immediately after farrowing were taken and divided into three groups: sows with two farrowing (first group; n=10), ones with four farrowing (second group; n=10), and ones with five and more farrowing (third group; n=10). In regard to a litter size, 20 sows were divided into two groups: sows with eight piglets (first group; n=10), and sows with 10 and more piglets (second group; n=10). All the sows included in the experiment were mestizos of large Yorkshire and Swedish Landrace. Blood samples were taken on the 2nd and 28th day of lactation. In the blood serum samples there were determined the concentration of total proteins, albumins, Total bilirubin, calcium and inorganic phosphorus. The results have shown that there was not a significant difference in proteinemia between the groups on the 2nd day after farrowing, while on the 28th day of lactation, proteinemia was significantly lower only in the group with ten or more piglets in a litter. In all the groups, except for the group with ten or more piglets in the litter, proteinemia was significantly higher on the 28th compared to the 2nd day of lactation. Albumin concentration in blood serum of different groups of sows followed the same trend as protein concentration, with the only difference that albuminemia in sows with ten or more piglets in a litter was approximately the same on the 2nd and 28th day of lactation. Total bilirubin concentration in blood serum on the 2nd day after farrowing was equal in different groups of sows, provided that in sows with five or more farrowings it was significantly higher in regard to other groups. Similar divergence was also determined on the 28th day after farrowing. The sows of 4th parity had significantly lower and the ones with 10 or more farrowings higher bilirubinemia on the 28th compared to the 2nd day of lactation. Glycaemia was significantly lower in the sows with ten or more piglets in a litter in regard to other groups both on the 2nd and 28th day of lactation. Calcaemia was significantly lower on the 2nd in regard to the 28th day of lactation in all the groups, except for the group of sows with ten or more piglets in a litter. In the group with 10 or more piglets in a litter, calcaemia was significantly lower compared to other groups both on the 2nd and 28th day. The sows of 4. Parity had significantly lower phosphataemia in regard to other groups both on the 2nd and 28th day of lactation. Moreover, on the 28th day of lactation, the sows with 10 or more piglets in a litter had significantly lower phosphataemia in regard to all the other groups, except for the group of sows of 4th parity. Phosphataemia varied between the 2nd and 28th day of lactation in neither group except for the group of sows with 10 or more piglets in a litter. On the basis of the obtained results it can be concluded that between the 2nd and 28th day of lactation significant changes in concentrations of some parameters of metabolic profile in sows in lactation occur. The determined changes are most pronounced in elderly sows as well as in the ones with ten or more piglets in a litter, being a result of impeded bile flow or metabolic load due to the increased activity of mammary glands.