Blood profiles can complement, not replace, feed-efficiency data in pigs

Routine blood profiles may provide an additional signal on pig feed efficiency, but they are not yet a stand-alone selection tool. An IRTA study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science combined data from five trials involving 762 commercial pigs; repeated biochemical and haematological analyses were conducted in a sample of 176 animals.

Using regression models and cross-validation, the researchers examined whether conventional blood parameters could anticipate feed conversion, feed intake, daily gain, body weight and backfat. Urea, cholesterol, albumin, globulins, creatinine, bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase emerged as the most relevant biochemical signals. Alkaline phosphatase also appeared as a possible new marker of efficiency. Mean corpuscular volume and leukocyte-related measures added information, although with a smaller contribution.

Predictive performance was moderate rather than deterministic. On average, the best model explained around one fifth of the variation in feed conversion and daily intake; for body weight, the share was about one tenth. The authors themselves stress that the biomarkers need further validation before they can support individual on-farm decisions.