SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF MICRONUTRIENTS, PACKED CELL-VOLUME, AND BLOODHEMOGLOBIN DURING THE FIRST 2 GESTATIONS AND LACTATIONS OF SOWS

The objective of the present work was to describe the changes in serum concentrations of some micronutrients during the first 2 gestations a nd lactations of 33 gilts in order to establish blood reference values for a rapid assessment of nutritional status. In both parities, blood samples were taken from the jugular vein at mating, 5, 10 and 15 wk o f gestation and 1 d and 4 wk after parturition (weaning), Reference va lues (mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum) for serum folates, v itamin B-12, vitamin B-6 metabolites (pyridoxal and pyridoxal-5-phosph ate), calcium, phosphorus, sodium, zinc, copper and iron, as well as b lood hemoglobin and packed cell volume are reported for each studied t ime. Differences between parities and between each time are also repor ted. Results from the present report demonstrate that knowledge of the physiological state of the sows critical for the assessment of nutrit ional status of an individual or a breeding herd by interpretation of analyses of blood constituents.