Validation of a sow-side test for measurement of blood haemoglobin
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
2011
Conference Title
Thirteenth Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association
Place of Publication
Adelaide
ISBN
978-0-9806880-1-6
ISSN
1324 9177
Keywords
pigs, swine
Disciplines
Animal Sciences | Meat Science
Abstract
Gains in prolificacy and growth performance of modern genotypes leave producers concerned with the adequacy of pig diets with respect to iron requirements. In addition to transport of oxygen in blood haemoglobin (HGB), iron contributes to immune, liver and thyroid function, and energy metabolism in pigs. Marginal iron status in sows (Mullan et al., 2009) can thus predispose them to poor health, productivity and longevity. HGB levels are a useful indicator of individual and herd level iron status since haemoglobin and myoglobin are amongst the last iron-containing compounds in the body to relinquish iron under deficient conditions. The HemoCue blood haemoglobin photometer (Medipac Scientific Pty Ltd, Sydney, NSW), predominantly used in human diagnostics, is a small portable analyser that measures haemoglobin in venous or capillary whole blood. A preliminary trial of a HemoCue in the field demonstrated its promise as a practical sow-side test for iron deficiency. The hypothesis was that there was no significant difference between results obtained via a HemoCue unit versus results from laboratory analysis. The aim of this experiment was to validate the use of the HemoCue photometer by assessing the correlation between data obtained from it in the field with that obtained by standard laboratory analysis.
Recommended Citation
Gannon, K M,
Frey, B,
Payne, H,
and
Mullan, B P.
(2011), Validation of a sow-side test for measurement of blood haemoglobin, Thirteenth Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association, Adelaide, pp.252-252.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/conf_papers/120
