[Effects of biotechnical management procedures on blood parameters in gilts. 2. Protein-bound iodine and copper]

Two groups of twelve gilts each kept on platforms were synchronised in two passes over 20 days, using 100 mg Suisynchron per animal and die followed by PMS treatment (1,000 I.U. Intergonan) and HCG treatment (250 I.U.). Complement fixation occurred five days after the first hormone application and was followed twelve to 15 days later by another phase of treatment, using Gravigonan (250 I.U. follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), 500 I.U. HCG, 1 mg oestradiol benzoate in 10 ml serum of swine). Blood samples were continuously drawn during the various phases of treatment and cycle from the above animals as well as from 20 gilts synchronised in the above way and from another 20 untreated gilts. Protein-fixed iodine and copper levels were assessed from those samples. The protein-fixed iodine and copper levels of the blood were significantly reduced (P less than 0.01) by synchronisation, using Suisynchron. None of the two parameters was particularly affected by PMS and HCG treatments. Blood-borne protein-fixed iodine and copper was increased by administration of gonabione. Both parameters went up further during full oestrus at which date they were higher in untreated animals than in synchronised. (Protein-fixed iodine: 3.50/226micrograms/100 ml; P less than 0.01; copper: 0.283/0.234 mg/100 ml; P less than 0.01).