Effect of immunostimulator Baypamun on plasma cortisol concentration in gilts regrouped during the late stage of pregnancy

The goal of these investigations was to check whether or not the treatment of gilts with the immunostimulator Baypamun (BPM) before their transfer from the prefarrowing to farrowing house could indirectly prevent an increase of plasma cortisol by inducing non-specific immunity. The study comprised 40 one-year-old gilts of Swedish Landrace breed in late phase of pregnancy assigned into four groups of 10 animals each. Group 1 was sampled before transfer (Day 0) and served as a negative control. A positive control (Group 2) was transferred (at Day 0) to the farrowing unit, and then, the blood samples were taken at D 1, 3 and 5 following the transfer. Groups 3 and 4 were treated intramuscularly (i.m.) with 2 mL of BPM at D 3 and 1, or 7 and 5, respectively, prior to the transfer, and sampled the same days as Group 2. Significantly lower levels of cortisol (P0.05) were recorded at Day 3 (after the transfer) in the gilts from Groups 3 and 4 than in the gilts from Group 2. Moreover, the preparation compensates for severe increase of cortisol in the gilts from Group 3 at Day 1 immediately after the transfer. Accordingly, BPM could be recommended for the prophylactic use as anti-stress preparation for the exposure of swine to the acute stress due to regrouping.