CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY, HEMATOLOGY AND BODY-WEIGHT IN PIGLETS

Reference ranges for clinical biochemical parameters commonly investig ated in pigs were determined in one- (day 1), 21- and 35-day old pigle ts. The mean and standard deviation were also estimated for body weigh t, and haematological and clinical biochemical parameters at these age s. The piglets were divided into 2 investigation groups according to w hether they had a haemoglobin concentration less than or equal to 80 g /l (''anaemic group'') or > 80 g/l (''normal group'') on days 14, 21 a nd 28. The ''anaemic group'' was compared to the ''normal group'' on d ays 21 and 35. Many of the clinical biochemical parameters varied acco rding to age. Some of the enzymes had high average values and wide ref erence ranges in piglets, especially on day 1, compared to the referen ce ranges for sows given in the literature. The reference ranges for s ome of the metabolic parameters were broader on day 1 than later in th e preweaning period. The reference ranges for albumin, total iron-bind ing capacity and serum iron were, however, lower and more narrow on da y 1. On days 21 and 35, relatively high values for phosphorus must be considered ''normal'' compared to the figures given in the literature for adult pigs. The other minerals seemed to be quite unaffected of ag e, but some were affected by anaemia. The anaemic piglets had lower av erage serum iron but higher total iron-binding capacity than the ''nor mal'' piglets on days 21 and 35. However, variation between piglets ga ve wide reference ranges, indicating that these parameters will only h ave limited usefulness in detecting iron deficiency anaemia in piglets . The electrolytes seemed also to be affected by the existence of anae mia. The body weight and leukocyte counts were significantly lower in the ''anaemic group'' than the ''normal group'' on day 35, while the g reatest differences in clinical biochemical parameters between the gro ups were found on day 21, when the piglets in the ''anaemic group'' we re most severely anaemic. Although these piglets suffered from severe iron-deficiency anaemia, only a few clinical biochemical parameters we re affected, and the differences between groups were mostly small.