Correlation between serum biochemical parameters and colostrum and milk composition of lactating sows

Monitoring the serum biochemical parameters of sows' blood, colostrum, and milk during and after calving aims to guide and understand the physiological, nutritional, and health status of peri-calving sows. Thus, this study aimed to analyze and correlate serum biochemical parameters and the composition of colostrum and milk of lactating sows. Colostrum, milk, and blood from 13 sows were collected after the birth of the first calf before suckling (M1) and 72 hours after M1 (M2). Crude protein (CP), fat content (FAT), lactose (LAC), nonfat solids (NFS), total solids (TS), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity concentrations were determined in colostrum and milk samples. The blood biochemical profiles analyzed were GGT, glucose (GLU), total cholesterol (COL), triglycerides (TRI), creatine kinase (CK), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulins (GLO), and the albumin/globulin ratio (A/G). Descriptive and correlation analyses were performed using the SAS statistical program (9.3). Significant differences were observed in the composition of colostrum and milk. COL and CK in the blood showed significant differences between M1 and M2. There was no correlation (P>0.05) between serum biochemical and colostrum bromatological parameters. ALB correlated positively with LAC and NFS. GLO correlated negatively with LAC and NFS. The A/G ratio showed a positive correlation with LAC. These correlations suggest that monitoring serum biochemical parameters may be helpful for the health surveillance of lactating sows and assessing the quality of colostrum and milk.