Porcine haptoglobin levels measured at 7-14 days after weaning were independent of age, weight or gender

Acute phase proteins (APP) are cytokine-induced plasma proteins produced mainly in the liver in response to infection, inflammation and stress. The levels of some APP have been used as diagnostic indicators for a number of diseases (Petersen et al. 2004) and for health monitoring. Haptoglobin (Hp) is an APP responsible for collecting and recycling free haemoglobin. The high level of variation in Hp levels of apparently healthy pigs has been attributed to factors such as age, gender, source herd and pig husbandry (Pineiro et al. 2009). This study investigated the range in Hp levels from a single breed of pigs, 7-14 days after weaning and from a single piggery under the same housing and management conditions. The hypothesis tested was that age, collection date (season), gender and (or) weight would affect Hp levels.