EFFECT OF MATRICARIA CHAMOMILLA CH12 WEANING STRESS IN PIGS

Abstract

Weaning is a phase of life that creates stress in pigs causing damage to the welfare and health of pigs. The Matricaria chamomilla cH12 reduced stress management in cattle, but has not been tested in pigs. Study evaluated the effect of Matricaria chamomilla cH12 in the stress of weaning. We used 16 male pigs Landrace animals with 28 days of age, randomly divided into two groups (8 animals/group), the control group (GC) received diet without and other group (GMc) received diet containing addition Matricaria chamomilla cH12. Blood samples were collected from pigs on days 1, 14, 24 and 30 after weaning for determination of serum cortisol radioimmunoassay. Piglets were stressed out the next day weaning with a significant increase (P <0.05) in serum cortisol concentration above the baseline. But piglets adapted to it, 30 days after weaning, the serum cortisol showed a significant linear decrease (R2=0,88; P<0.01) returning the basal concentration. However, piglets GMc the group at any time after weaning showed up stressed and serum cortisol was 61.8 in group GMc %, 43.5%, 77.2% and 32.0% lower than the GC on days 1, 14, 24 and 30 after weaning, even so, the serum cortisol did not differ significantly between (P>0,05) groups. But these results show the physiological effect of chamomilla. Matricaria chamomilla cH12 can be used for the decrease of the stress of weaning pigs and the weaning acts as stressor agent, but the animals adapt. Keywords: swine. weaning. cortisol. homeopathy. Matricaria chamomilla.