THE INFLUENCE OF FLOOR TYPES ON HAEMATOLOGICAL INDICES OF CROSSBRED WEANED PIGS

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Blood parameters have been shown to be major indices of physiological and nutritional status of an organism and changes in the constituent compound of blood when compared to normal values could be used to interprete the metabolic state of an animal. Twelve (12) crossbred weaned pigs were used, they were allotted into two (2) floor types: concrete and straw floors, of six (6) animals per floor type and two (2) animals per replicate. The concrete were constructed using cement, gravel, sand and water while the straw floors were made of maize stalk. One kilogram straw was placed in the pen before the pigs arrived. A further 1kg was supplied every two days. Waste straw and manure were removed daily. The straw provided was not sufficient to allow a bedded layer to accumulate but a crust formed over the surface of the lying area, comprising straw, feed, skin and dung. The experimental design used was completely randomized design and the experiment lasted for fifty-six (56) days. 3ml of blood were collected from two (2) animals per treatment for the analysis of haematological profile into Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetate bottle to determine the packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell volume, white blood cell and platelet. Results revealed that there were no significant difference (p>0.05) in the value obtained for packed cell volume (28.00% and 26.00%) and haemoglobin ( 9.10g/dl and 8.33g/dl)respectively while red blood cell (2.60106/ul and 2.20106/ul) white blood cell (56.00103/ul and 45.00103/ul) and platelet(12.00 and 13.00) were significantly different (p<0.05). It was concluded that rearing pigs on concrete floor gave the best haematological blood profile of pigs.