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Serum Nitrogenous Compounds in Piglets during the Early Postnatal Period¹

Royal Veterinary College,^,3 S-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract

Serum levels of total protein, total non-protein nitrogen, alpha-amino nitrogen, urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid in piglets during the early postnatal period have been determined. At birth, total protein is very low. After intake of colostrum, serum protein increased significantly. The concentration of non-precipitable nitrogen is extremely high in neonatal serum, a mean value of 142.9 mg/ 100 ml compared with 32.9 mg/100 ml in suckled piglets. Of the individual non-protein nitrogen compounds studied, alpha-amino nitrogen changed markedly during the early postnatal period of the piglet. In newborn piglets, alpha-amino nitrogen averages 24.4 mg/100 ml serum and decreases during the first three days of life to 10.4 mg/100 milliliters. High levels of amino compounds at birth are assumed to facilitate synthesis of protein in the very young piglet. Urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid do not contribute to high non-protein nitrogen in neonatal unsuckled piglets. The major part of soluble nitrogen compounds in porcine cord serum could not be identified.

¹ This study was supported by grants from AB Lactamin, Stockholm, Sweden.

² The author wishes to express his sincere gratitude to Mr. Filip Carlson for care of the experimental animals.

³ Department of Animal Nutrition, Genetics and Hygiene.