Metabolic profile of sows at different parities and with different litter size
Authors: Samanc Horea , Sladojevic Zeljko , Vujanac Ivan , Prodanovic Radisa 
Published: May 2014

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.