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Carbohydrate Assimilation and Utilization by Newborn Pigs¹

Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana

Abstract

Some aspects of carbohydrate metabolism in newborn pigs were studied in two experiments. In Experiment 1 blood concentrations of glucose, lactic acid and pyruvic acid increased (P<.01) and blood fructose level decreased (P<.01) from birth to 7.5 hr. of age in pigs fasted from birth at 30° C. Rectal temperature decreased (P<.01) steadily during the first 7.5 hr. after birth. After cold stress at 4 to 8°C. from 7.5 to 8 hr., pigs had higher (P<.05) blood glucose, lactic acid and pyruvic acid concentrations than did pigs which remained at 30° C; fructose concentration at 8 hr. was the same for both groups. The rectal temperature of cold-stressed pigs was lower (P<.01) than that of control pigs at 8 hr. Decreases in total carbohydrate content from birth to 8 hr. after birth were significant in both liver and glutens maximus; no significant change was observed in l. dorsi total carbohydrate content over the 8 hr. period. No significant differences in total carbohydrate content of any of those tissues between cold-stressed and control groups at 8 hr. were observed.

In Experiment 2, although the characteristics of the tolerance curves for glucose- and fructose-tested pigs were not alike, overall disappearance rates of the sugars from the circulation were comparable. Blood levels of lactic acid in both groups were higher at sequential postinfusion samplings than at the preinfusion samplings. Results of glucose tolerance tests indicate that newborn pigs have a reduced rate of assimilation of glucose compared with that of older pigs reported by other workers.

¹ Approved for publication by the Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, Purdue University, as Journal Paper No. 2680. From the Department of Animal Sciences and the Purdue Center for Refrigeration Research and Climate Control.

² Fellow, CIC Biometeorology Graduate Program.