The effect of age and teat order on alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, cortisol, and average daily gain in commercial growing pigs
Cl. Stull et al., The effect of age and teat order on alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, cortisol, and average daily gain in commercial growing pigs, J ANIM SCI, 77(1), 1999, pp. 70-74
The objectives of the study were to evaluate age and teat order on a perfor
mance trait, average daily gain, and on physiological stress indicators, al
pha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (N:L), and c
ortisol in commercial growing pigs from weaning to market age. Pigs (n = 12
9) from five commercial California farms were weighed and blood-sampled at
28-d intervals from 28 to 168 d of age. Laboratory assays were performed fr
om blood samples to quantify cortisol, AGP, and N:L. Age and facility effec
ts (P < .001), but not teat order effects (P > .05), were found for all thr
ee physiological traits and ADG. Pigs that routinely suckled from teats 1,
4, or 6 (numbered from anterior to posterior on the upper teat bank) had si
milar (P > .05) ADG and BW throughout the production cycle. No correlation
(P > .05) was found between cortisol, AGP, and N:L. The use of these physio
logical and production traits as stress and health indices of growing pigs
in commercial facilities has limitations in comparing data between faciliti
es or different ages of pigs.