Hematology and biochemistry reference values for Ontario swine.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Science
• Comparative Pathology

Background:

• Accurate hematological and biochemical reference values are vital for diagnosing swine diseases.
• Existing reference ranges may not be applicable to specific geographic regions or swine populations.
• Establishing regional data improves the accuracy of health assessments in swine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine and report comprehensive blood reference values for swine in Ontario, Canada.
• To cover various production stages, including weanling pigs, feeder pigs, gilts, and sows.
• To provide a foundational dataset for veterinary diagnostics and herd health management.

Main Methods:

• Blood samples were collected from 11 randomly selected swine farms across Ontario.
• The orbital sinus bleeding technique was employed for sample collection.
• Standard hematological and biochemical analyses were performed on whole blood and serum samples.

Main Results:

• Means, standard deviations, and 95% upper and lower limits were calculated for key blood parameters.
• Data stratified by age groups (weanling pigs, feeder pigs, gilts, sows).
• Established a baseline dataset for Ontario swine hematology and biochemistry.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully generated essential blood reference values for Ontario swine.
• These values serve as a critical benchmark for health monitoring and disease diagnosis.
• The findings support improved veterinary care and management practices for swine in the region.