Blood Cell Populations and Serum Protein Concentrations in the Fetal Pig

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Abstract
One hundred twenty-seven fetuses and 80 newborn pigs were included in this study. The fetuses were obtained by Caesarean section 30, 51, 72 and 93 days after breeding. The newborn pigs were removed from their mothers immediately after natural farrowing. Blood samples were obtained for erythrocyte, reticulocyte, leucocyte and differential counts, determination of hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and estimation of total serum protein and serum protein electrophoretic patterns. Erythrocytes and leucocytes increased in concentration with age while mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin decreased. The leucocyte differential of the newborn suggested a relative neutrophilia and lymphopenia compared to the older pig. Total serum protein concentration was quite low throughout the period studied, while the proportion of alpha globulin increased and beta globulin decreased.