Serum haptoglobin and C-reactive protein concentration in relation to rectal and vaginal temperature of early postpartum sows

Various attempts were made to improve the diagnosis of the periparturient hypogalactia syndrome in sows. A new approach was the detection of elevated concentrations of acute phase proteins. The objective of our study was to investigate the serum concentrations of haptoglobin (Hp) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in sows on Day 7 postpartum and relationship to body temperature. From Day 1 to Day 6 postpartum, 199 sows were clinically examined and a blood sample was taken for measuring Hp and CRP at Day 7. The median of Hp and CRP were 1.83 mg/mL (interquartile range: 1.42–2.13 mg/mL) and 60.0 μg/mL (interquartile range: 15.2–216.5 μg/mL). We did not find a correlation between Hp and CRP (ρ = 0.11, P = 0.12) nor a difference between sows categorized as ill and healthy sows in Hp concentration (P = 0.1) and CRP (P = 0.34). Sows with Hp > 2.13 mg/mL had a higher rectal temperature than sows with Hp ≤ 2.13 mg/mL (P = 0.037), but there was no difference in vaginal temperature (P = 0.24). Regarding CRP, sows with CRP greater than 216.5 μg/mL had higher rectal temperature (P = 0.017) and vaginal temperature (P = 0.02) than sows with CRP ≤ 216.5 μg/mL. As demonstrated in this study, Hp and CRP do not support the detection of early postpartum disorders in sows.