Serum Lipid Profile of Pigs at Different Production Stages in Anambra State Commercial Farms

Lipid metabolism in pigs is closely linked to energy availability, reproductive performance, and carcass quality, making serum lipid profiling a useful tool in swine health monitoring programmes. Commercial pig farming is well established in Anambra State, South East Nigeria, where pigs are raised primarily for pork production and as a source of household income. This study determined serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in Large White pigs at three production stages: grower phase at 8 to 12 weeks, finisher phase at 13 to 20 weeks, and breeding sow phase. Sixty animals, 20 per production stage, were recruited from three commercial farms in Awka and Nnewi. Blood was collected from the anterior vena cava under restraint, and serum was separated and analysed on the same day using an automated biochemistry analyser. Total cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly higher in breeding sows compared with growers and finishers. HDL cholesterol was highest in the grower phase and declined progressively with advancing production stage. LDL cholesterol was highest in breeding sows. Farm-level differences in serum lipids were primarily attributable to diet formulation. Animals showing signs of poor condition had significantly lower HDL cholesterol values. These findings provide stage-specific serum lipid reference data for Large White pigs under Nigerian commercial farming conditions and contribute to optimising nutritional management strategies. Keywords: serum lipids, pigs, cholesterol, Anambra, production stages.