EFFECT OF A PARAMUNITY INDUCER ON REPRODUCTIVE-PERFORMANCE OF GILTS

Optimal reproductive performance of gilts is an economically important characteristic which is influenced amongst others by the general heal th condition of the animal. In the present pilot study, we examined wh ether reproductive performance of gilts that were transported from a b reeding to a commercial farm can be improved by paramunization, e.g. b y enhancing the non-specific immunological response of the animal. Thr ee groups of gilts were submitted to various treatments as follows. Th e first group received no treatment and served as the control group. T he gilts of the second group were injected twice with a paramunity ind ucer derived from a sheep parapoxvirus (Baypamun liquid, Bayer, German y), once 2 days before the transport and a second time 2 h before depa rture. The gilts of the third group were treated as those of the secon d group, but received an additional injection 2 days after their arriv al at the commercial farm. Gilts were compared up to their first farro wing with regard to the appearance of oestrus, the number of the gilts which became pregnant, and the cost of supportive medication. Their l itter size at farrowing, the number of piglets born alive and the litt er weight have also been recorded. The results show that the number of gilts that showed oestrus and became pregnant was increased after Bay pamun liquid treatment, particularly in the third group. The cost of s upportive medication per gilt was much lower in treated groups compare d to untreated animals. The treatment did not have a significant effec t on the total number of piglets born, but some beneficial effect was seen in the number of piglets born alive and the average piglet weight at blah of gilts treated three times with Baypamun liquid. It was con cluded that paramunization of gilts at the time of transport may impro ve their reproductive performance.