Effect of Body Weight on the Maintenance of Fasting Blood Glucose Level in Apparently Healthy Pigs

Fasting blood glucose level is measured to determine the efficiency of glucose regulatory mechanism and the general health of the animal. This study was undertaken to establish the effect that the body weight of pigs has on fasting blood glucose level maintenance in apparently healthy pigs. A total of twenty animals were used. They were allotted into four groups based on their body weight, age and sex. The groups designated as A, B, C and D comprised of five adult males, five adult females, five young males and five young females respectively. The adult pigs were aged between 12-18months and the young pigs between 2-4 months. Blood samples were collected from the animals after a 12-14 hour overnight fast on four different days for quantitative blood glucose analysis using Spectrophotometric Randox Kit method There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the fasting glucose of the adults compared with the young animals. There was also a significant positive correlation (r=0.773) between body weight and the fasting glucose level. We therefore believe that the body weight of pigs have a direct effect on the maintenance of fasting blood glucose level.