Polish crossbred pigs’ blood haematological parameters depending on their age and physiological state. Based on the assumption that factors such as age or physiological status may have a significant effect on the haematological parameters of pigs’ blood, the aim of this paper was to present how the values of basic haematological parameters of the blood of crossbred Polish Landrace x Polish Large White pigs differ depending on age or physiological state (pregnancy or lactation). We estimated red blood cell parameters, i.e. Ht, Hb, RBC, MCHC, MCH and MCV, and white blood cell indices (WBC and the percentage of each white blood cell type in the total count) in the blood of piglets (n=335), weaners (n=563), fatteners (n=446), gilts (n=120) and sows (n=203) during gestation and lactation. The blood parameters in the growing pigs were characterized by a linear increase with the age of the pigs: RBC (5.79, 6.33, 6.81 and 7.14 1012 l-1), Hb (5.71, 6.52, 7.55 and 8.21 mmol l-1) and Ht (0.31, 0.33, 0.35 and 0.39 l l-1) in piglets, weaners, ‘Grower’ fatteners and ‘Finisher’ fatteners, respectively. WBC was lower (P≤0.05) in piglets than in weaners and both groups of fatteners (13.36, 17.14, 21.06 and 18.03 109 l-1, respectively), with linearly increasing LYM and a decreasing proportion of NEU in the leukocyte population. In sows, red blood cell parameters showed only slight fluctuations during gestation and lactation, whereas WBC was significantly higher, with lower LYM and higher NEU counts in the blood of sows in early pregnancy and in postpartum sows in comparison with sows in advanced gestation and lactating sows. The results confirmed that haematological parameters are substantially affected by the animals’ age and physiological state. Knowledge of these relationships and the presented data will facilitate correct interpretation of the results of analyses of pigs’ blood.
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