NONSPECIFIC IMMUNITY IN SOWS BEFORE FARROWING AND DURING LACTATION
The article presents the results of studying hematological, biochemical, cellular and humoral links of non-specific immunity in sows before farrowing and during lactation in conditions of an industrial pig-breeding complex. «Physiological immunodeficiency», which manifests itself as leukocyte- and lymphocytopenia, low serum bactericidal and lysozyme activity, and metabolic activity of neutrophils, was detected in animals before farrowing. «Physiological stress», associated with farrowing and postpartum period, which is characterized by a decrease in the absolute and relative content of lymphocytes, absorption capacity of neutrophils, total protein and an increase in the content of stab and segmented neutrophils, metabolic reserve of phagocytes, serum bactericidal and lysozyme activity, was detected in sows during the first week after farrowing. Non-specific immunity in farrowing sows throughout lactation was characterized by a high leukocyte count, absolute and relative number of lymphocytes (except for the period of «physiological stress»), metabolic activity of neutrophils, serum bactericidal and lysozyme activity, with a decrease in its complementary activity and a tendency to a decrease in total protein content.