Effects of Newly Developed Synbiotic and Commercial Probiotic Products on The Haematological Indices, Serum Cytokines, Acute Phase Proteins Concentration, and Serum Immunoglobulins Amount in Sows and Growing Pigs – A Pilot Study

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to determine the effects of supplementation of sows’ and growing pigs’ diets with three newly developed synbiotic and two extant commercial probiotic products on selected immune parameters under field conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed on 30 sows and 48 piglets of the Danbred breed. Immune parameters such as concentration and proportion of white blood cells and their subpopulations, immunoglobulins amount in serum, and serum concentration of cytokines and acute phase proteins were recorded with the use of a haematology analyser and ELISA kits. RESULTS: No significant differences between treatment groups and controls were found with regard to the immune parameters evaluated except for serum immunoglobulin concentration, which was significantly increased by synbiotic products B and C and probiotic product D. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that the synbiotic products B and C and probiotic product D are worthy of further investigation as promising candidates to improve the immune status of healthy sows and their offspring.