[Iron, iron-binding capacity, copper and protein in blood plasma and hemoglobin in the blood of sows before and during pregnancy]

Abstract

Blood tests were applied to five gilts and twelve adult sows, prior to insemination as well as in the sixth, ninth, twelfth, and 15th weeks of pregnancy. Average haemoglobin values in both groups dropped from 14.0 g/100 ml or 11.3 g/100 ml, at first measurement, to 9.5 g/100 ml in the ninth week of pregnancy. Then regrowth occurred to 12.6 g/100 ml or 12.2 g/100 ml up to the 15th week. The average blood plasma iron levels were 142 micrograms/100 ml or 117 micrograms/100 ml, at first measurement and went up in both groups, between the twelfth and 15th weeks, from 110 micrograms/100 ml to 161 micrograms/100 ml or from 105 micrograms/100 ml to 149 micrograms/100 ml. The original iron fixation capacity values for both groups were 673 micrograms/100 ml or 645 micrograms/100 ml and dropped to 524 micrograms/100 ml or 492 micrograms/100 ml by the 15th week of pregnancy. The copper levels grew from 221 micrograms/100 ml to 305 microgram/100 ml for gilts and from 200 micrograms/100 ml to 236 micrograms/100 ml for adult sows, from the twelfth to 15th weeks. The average blood plasma protein levels had been 7.7 g/100 ml or 8.1 g/100 ml, at the beginning, and went up to 8.5 g/100 ml in either group by the 15th week.