Oxidative stress as marker of piglet health at weaning

Weaning is a source of social, nutritional and environmental changes for piglets, that challenge its health. This study aims to assess the opportunity to use plasma hydroperoxide (dROM) concentration and antioxidant capacity (BAP), two indicators of oxidative status, as indicator of piglet health in the context of weaning. In order to dissociate effects of age and management conditions on the evolution of oxidative status around weaning, a study was carried out, where piglets were followed from 12 to 147 days of age, and weaned at 21 or 28 days of age in optimal (OC) or deteriorated (DC) conditions (n=16 per group). Oxidative products (dROM), antioxidant capacity (BAP), vitamin E and A were measured in plasma. DC piglets had lower ADG (P<0.001) and more diarrhea (P<0.01) between 0 and 19 days after weaning compared to OC piglets. Oxidative stress index (OSI, dROM/BAP) increased for DC but not OC piglets after weaning (P<0.01) due to increased dROM (P=0.05) and decreased BAP (P<0.05). Piglets which exhibited diarrhea between 0 and 19 days after weaning had higher OSI (P<0.001) and dROM (P<0.01) 12 days after weaning. The concentrations of vitamin E and A dropped after weaning (P