Eight 15-week-old pigs, reared under specific pathogen-free conditions, were inoculated with Streptococcus suis serotype 2. The animals were monitored before and after challenge by measuring rectal temperature, recording specific clinical symptoms and collecting blood samples for haptoglobin determination. Twenty-four hours after infection, the average haptoglobin plasma concentration of the animal group increased significantly and reached a maximum 4 days post-inoculation, followed by a constant mean level until the end of the trial on day 10. In spite of individual differences between the animals, an increase in haptoglobin concentration of at least 2.5 times above normal was observed in all infected pigs 1 day after challenge. Twenty-four hours after challenge, lameness was observed in five animals and an elevated body temperature was observed in seven of the eight experimental infected animals. These are the classical clinical symptoms of streptococcal infection. Haptoglobin was shown to increase in acute S. suis infection in pigs.

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This investigation was carried out on 17 Brown Swiss cattle in the Central Research Institute of Konya during the winter and lasting until the end of spring. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein during the 7 th and 8 th month of gestation and after birth and on the 15 th day after parturation. Blood gas analyses and other chemical parameters were measured by using a Blood Gas Analyzer and Autoanalyzer Instruments. At the same time, liver biopsy samples were obtained from each cow during the experiment in order to observe any fat infiltration to the liver. Blood-ionized calcium (ICa) and normalized calcium (norm Ca) concentrations decreased significantly at parturation. The same parameeters were significantly elevated on the 15 th day after parturation. The other metabolic profiles that were measured changed in significantly during the experiment. Fat infiltration to the liver was observed in a few cows but the level of fat infiltration was not severe.

Current research is focusing on integrated longitudinal assessment of animal welfare at farm-level. Housing and management systems may influence pain, discomfort, fear, hunger and abnormal behaviour of farm animals. Poor health records and increased levels of haptoglobin have been shown to correlate with an unfavourable environment but, as yet, few data are available regarding variation between individual animals. Hence, a project was carried out using 78 pig farms (farrow-to-finish), 19-20 in each season, with data on housing and management being collected during visits. At slaughter, pathological findings and blood samples were taken from 60 pigs from each farm. Blood samples were analysed for Lawsonia intracellularis (PIA), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, salmonella, and haptoglobin values (HAP) (10 samples). Data were analysed with descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. Housing and management characteristics were considered separately and integrated according to Berns (1996). Pigs from higher-ranking farms (ie those scoring higher for housing [space score] and management [sanitary barriers, cleaning, disinfection, climatic control, breeding protocol]) showed lower HAP levels (P < 0.04), with lower within-farm variability (P < 0.06). HAP levels were higher in pigs infected with PIA (P < 0.04) or having lung lesions (P < 0.02). A negative correlation was found between fasting before transport and lung lesions, HAP levels being lower when pigs with lung lesions were fasted. Haptoglobin sampling in the slaughterline is, therefore, relevant for integrative welfare assessment of slaughter pigs at individual level and for longitudinal monitoring at farm level.