Consequences of maternal stress during gestation on immunity and health of new-born animals in farm species

Abstract

The rate of mortality before weaning is high in farm mammals. In France, it varies between 11 and 14% depending on the species (foals, kids, lambs, piglets, calves), but it can be lower than 5% or exceed 20% in some farms. Approximately half of the mortality occurs during the 48 first hours after birth. Gestating females have to face numerous environmental stressors, including inappropriate housing conditions, which also question industrial farming acceptability. The present review synthesizes data from the scientific literature aiming at determining if stress in gestating females can impair health and survival of their offspring. It mainly focuses on pigs and ruminants and shows that prenatal stress might act through mechanisms related to alterations in maternal behaviour, foetal development and acquisition of the neonate passive and active immunity.