Hematological profiles of new-born piglets and sows fed with diet containing grape pomace

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding pregnant sows with diet supplemented with dried grape pomace on hematological parameters of sows and new-born piglets. Sixteen pregnant crossbred sows Large white x Landrace mated with a Duroc boar, were randomly divided to two groups, control (C) and dried grape pomace (DGP) group. During last seven days of pregnancy the sow’s diet in DGP group contained 1% of DGP powder. Sows blood samples were taken before intake of diet containing DGP and during first day post partum. Blood of new-born piglets was taken immediately after birth before colostrum intake. All blood samples were analyzed on hematological parameters. After 7 days of treatment with DGP, sows blood showed significant changes in parameters such as total white blood cell count, lymphocytes count, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin, but within the reference interval for pigs. Feeding pregnant sows with DGP affected the hematological parameters of the new-born piglets in a negative way. Compared to the C group, the new-born piglets in the DGP group had significantly lower lymphocyte counts, red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin values. Parameters of white and red blood cells are crucial for new-born piglets from an immunological and anemia point of view. Therefore, the addition of DGP during the last week of pregnancy to the sows’ diet cannot be recommended.

Keywords

• sows
• new-born piglets
• nutrition
• wine by-products
• hematological parameters