Vol. 9, Issue 3, Part H (2024)

Author(s): Sara Caceres, Roopa K Reddy, Gabriel Moyano, Juan Carlos Illera and Marimuthu Saravanakumar

Abstract: Prenatal stress in sows adversely affects the growth and development of newborn piglets. Hence, the current study aimed to assess the effect of a polyherbal formulation (PHF), on prenatal stress in sows and the immune status of the neonatal piglets. PHF contains three Indian traditional Ayurvedic medicinal herbs, Withania somnifera, Ocimum sanctum, and Emblica officinalis, which is known to have adaptogenic properties. Advanced pregnant sows were grouped on 90th day of gestation into control and PHF groups. The PHF group received PHF as a feed supplement at 30g/day/sow during the perinatal period from the 90th day of gestation up to the 7th day post-partum. The cortisol levels were measured in sows on different days during the last week of pregnancy and a week after farrowing. The sows’ colostrum and immune status of the neonates were assessed by examining the IgG levels on the day of parturition and on post-partum day 7 respectively. There was a non-significant reduction in the peak of cortisol associated to parturition stress in the PHF treated group. Besides, the use of PHF reduced sow stress improving the IgG status of colostrum and consequently in the serum of neonates. In conclusion, PHF supplementation to advanced pregnant sows can considerably reduce the prenatal stress and augment the immune health in neonatal pigs as well.