Blood parameters in pigs of Turopolje breed and crossbreds TCSL.
Turopolje pig breed (T) is an autochthonous Croatian breed in the state of renewal and protection. In 2008, the breeding population was 130 sows and 15 boars. The aim of this study was to compare haematological and blood biochemical parameters of the pigs/hogs T and crossbreds TCSL. The pigs TCSL were offspring from the mating of T boar and crossbred sows CSL (♂CHypor x ♀Swedish Landrace (SL)). Pigs (T, n=20 ; TCSL, n=10) were produced by traditional Croatian technology of low feed input in outdoor production system (utilisation of natural resources such as acorn, soil and pasture accompanied by 0.5 kg of corn seed/animal/day). Serum concentration of glucose, urea, creatinine, triglycerides, total cholesterol, enzyme activity (CK, γ-GT, AST, ALT, and AP), blood cell count (WBC, RBC) and Haemoglobin (Hb) content were analysed. In both, T and TCSL pigs, the measured parameters, except for LDH in T and TCSL, and Hb in T were within the physiological range. The T pigs had significantly lower values of glucose (P<0.05), creatinine and Hb (P<0.01) than TCSL. The tendencies (P<0.10) of higher urea concentration and AST activity and lower RBC and ALT activity were observed in T pigs.