Archives of Current Research International

Climate change driven heat stress increasingly challenges livestock and contributes to substantial production losses. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of seasonal stress is essential to understand these physiological disruptions and to develop strategies that can mitigate heat induced production losses. This study evaluated the impact of winter, spring and summer seasons on oxidative stress parameters, hematological and biochemical parameters in Yorkshire pigs reared under intensive production. A total of 24 healthy pigs (12 growers and 12 finishers) were monitored, and blood samples were collected during each season for analysis. Oxidative stress assessment revealed markedly elevated activity of glutathione reductase, significantly low reduced glutathione levels and further elevated malondialdehyde levels during summer season. This confirms oxidative stress with enhanced lipid peroxidation compromising the integrity of the cells. Hematological results showed significantly lower hemoglobin and packed cell volume during winter and summer, with the decline more evident in summer. Total leukocyte count decreased significantly in summer, accompanied by elevated neutrophil percentage, reduced lymphocyte percentage and an increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, likely associated with compromised membrane integrity under seasonal stress. Metabolic enzymes, including alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, gamma glutamyl transferase and lactate dehydrogenase, recorded significantly higher activities during summer, suggesting heat induced metabolic strain and potential tissue leakage. Our findings demonstrate that seasonal stress, particularly summer heat, leads to marked oxidative imbalance and hemato-biochemical alterations in Yorkshire pigs. Understanding these physiological responses is essential for developing management strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of thermal stress on pig health and productivity.