Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-ttngx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-14T16:12:41.029Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Long-term effect of selection for litter size and feeding programme on the performance of reproductive rabbit does 2. Lactation and growing period

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

F. Quevedo ,
C. Cervera ,
E. Blas ,
M. Baselga  and
J. J. Pascual
F. Quevedo
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, 46071. Valencia, Spain
C. Cervera
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, 46071. Valencia, Spain
E. Blas
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, 46071. Valencia, Spain
M. Baselga
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, 46071. Valencia, Spain
J. J. Pascual*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, 46071. Valencia, Spain
*
†Corresponding author: Email: jupascu@dca.upv.es
Get access

Abstract

A total of 166 crossbred does were used to study the possible long-term effect of two types of crossbred does (H1 v. H2, old and current generations, respectively) from the cross of different generations of lines selected for litter size, the use of a rearing programme based on a low-energy diet, and the administration of a high-energy diet during reproductive life, on the performance and body condition of lactating rabbit does and their litters until slaughter. The body condition of the reproductive rabbit does increased in the successive cycles to the fourth parturition, being maintained from this moment on. Animals more selected for litter size at weaning presented a greater food intake (+3%; P<0·05) and milk yield (+6%; P<0·05) during the first 21 days of lactation, which could be related to greater maternal aptitude. The difference in the weight of pups at slaughter time (+24 g for H2 respect to H1 pups) was one third lower than that expected from the generation response of the paternal line (0·45 g/day), perhaps related to the different enteropathy incidence depending on the genetic type. The use of a high-energy diet during the reproduction period increased the milk yield (+22%; P<0·05) of does, as the growth (+16 g at weaning day; P<0·05) and survival index (+2%; P<0·05) of the litters during lactation, but could produce a more sudden weaning of pups as a consequence of their lower pre-weaning food intake (−42%; P<0·05), which has been related with a greater health risk index during the growing period (+4·2%; P<0·05). Reproductive does given a high fibre diet during the rearing period (from 3 kg live weight to 28th day of the first pregnancy) reached parturition with a higher live weight than does that received a moderate energy diet restricted during this same period (+142 g; P<0·05). All other parameters controlled for the lactating does and their litters were not affected by the type of diet received during the rearing period. Females that were not effectively mated at first AI (11 days post partum) showed a greater increase in their perirenal fat thickness between partum and the 11th day of lactation than those lactating females that showed an effective mating (+0·22 v. +0·37 mm, respectively; P<0·05).

Keywords

body conditiongrowthlactationnutrition programmesrabbitsselection
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 82 , Issue 5 , October 2006 , pp. 751 - 762
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bennegadi, N., Gidenne, T. and Licois, D. 2001. Impact of fibre deficiency and sanitary status on non-specific enteropathy of the growing rabbit. Animal Research 50: 401–413.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bolet, G. and Fortun-Lamothe, L. 2002. Relationship between body condition and reproductive performance in rabbit does. Proceedings of the third meeting of Cost Action 848, Ispra, comm. no.23.Google Scholar
Costa, C., Baselga, M., Lobera, J., Cervera, C. and Pascual, J. J. 2004. Evaluating response to selection and nutritional needs in a three way cross in rabbits. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics 121: 186–196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De Blas, J. C., Taboada, E. G. G., Nicodemus, N. and Méndez, J. 1995. Effect of substitution of starch for fiber and fat isoenergetic diets on nutrient digestibility and reproductive performance of rabbits. Journal of Animal Science 73: 1131–1137.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Feki, S., Baselga, M., Blas, E., Cervera, C. and Gómez, E. 1996. Comparison of growth and feed efficiency amonng rabbit lines selected for different objetives. Livestock Production Science 45: 87–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fernández-Carmona, J., Alqedra, I., Cervera, C., Moya, J. and Pascual, J. J. 2003. Use of lucerne-based diets in reproductive rabbit does. Animal Science 76: 283–296.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fernández-Carmona, J., Blas, E., Pascual, J. J., Maertens, L., Gidenne, T., Xiccato, G. and Garcia, J. 2005. Recommendations and guidelines for applied nutrition experiments in rabbits. World Rabbit Science 13: 209–228.Google Scholar
Fortun-Lamothe, L., Gidenne, T., Debray, L. and Chalaye, F. 2001. Intake regulation, performances and health status according to feeding strategy around weaning. Proceedings of the second meeting of the COST Action 848Godollo, HungaryJune 29–30, p. 40.Google Scholar
García, M. L. and Baselga, M. 2002a. Estimation of correlated response on growth traits to selection in litter size of rabbits using a cryopreserved control population and genetic trends. Livestock Production Science 78: 91–98.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
García, M. L. and Baselga, M. 2002b. Estimation of genetic response to selection in litter size of rabbits using a cryopreserved control population. Livestock Production Science 74: 45–53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Groeneveld, E. 1990. PEST user's manual. Institute of Animal Husbandry and Animal Behaviour, FAL, Germany.Google Scholar
Gyarmati, T., Szendro, Zs., Maertens, L., Biró-Németh, E., Radnai, I., Milisits, G. and Matics, Zs. 2000. Effect of suckling twice a day on the performance of suckling and growing rabbits. Proceedings of the seventh world rabbit congressValencia, vol. C, pp. 283–290.Google Scholar
Lebas, F. 1993. Amélioration de la viabilité des lapereaux en engraissement par un sevrage tardif. Cuniculture 20: 73–75.Google Scholar
Lebas, F. and Fortun-Lamothe, L. 1996. Effects of dietary energy level and origin (starch vs oil) on performance of rabbit does and their litters: average situation after 4 weanings. Proceedings of the sixth world rabbit congressToulouse, France, vol. 1, pp. 217–222.Google Scholar
McNitt, J. I. and Moody, G. L. 1988. Milk intake and growth rates of suckling rabbits. Journal of Applied Rabbit Research 11: 117–119.Google Scholar
Maertens, L. and De Groote, G. 1990. Feed intake of rabbit kits before weaning and attempts to increase it. Journal of Applied Rabbit Research 13: 151–158.Google Scholar
Morisse, J. P. 1985. Pathologie digestive: alimentation et zootechnie. Eleveur de lapins 9: 51–55.Google Scholar
Nizza, A., Di Meo, C. and Esposito, L. 1997. Influence of the diet used before the first mating on reproductive performance of rabbit does. World Rabbit Science 5: 107–110.Google Scholar
Parigi-Bini, R. and Xiccato, G. 1993. Recherches sur l'interaction entre alimentation, reproduction et lactation chez la lapin. Une revue. World Rabbit Science 1: 155–161.Google Scholar
Parigi-Bini, R., Xiccato, G., Dalle Zotte, A., Carazzolo, A., Castellini, C. and Stradaioli, G. 1996. Effect of remating interval and diet on the performance and energy balance of rabbit does. Proceedings of the sixth world rabbit congressToulouse, vol. 1, pp. 253–258.Google Scholar
Partridge, G. G. 1986. Meeting the protein and energy requirement of the commercial rabbit for growth and reproduction. Proceedings of the fourth world congress of animal feedingMadrid, vol. IX, pp. 271–556.Google Scholar
Partridge, G. G., Daniels, Y. and Fordyce, R. A. 1986. The effects of energy intake during pregnancy in doe rabbits on pup birth weight, milk output and maternal body composition change in the ensuing lactation. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 107: 697–708.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Partridge, G. G., Fuller, M. and Pullar, J. 1983. Energy and nitrogen metabolism of lactating rabbit. British Journal of Nutrition 49: 507–516.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pascual, J. J., Castella, F., Cervera, C., Blas, E. and Fernández-Carmona, J. 2000a. The use of ultrasound measurement of perirenal fat thickness to estimate changes in body condition of young female rabbits. Animal Science 70: 435–442.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pascual, J. J., Cervera, C., Blas, E. and Fernández-Carmona, J. 1998. Effect of the high fat diets on the performance and food intake of primiparous and multiparous rabbit does. Animal Science 66: 491–499.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pascual, J. J., Cervera, C., Blas, E. and Fernández-Carmona, J. 1999a. Effect of high fat diets on the performance, milk yield and milk composition of multiparous rabbit does. Animal Science 68: 151–162.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pascual, J. J., Cervera, C., Blas, E. and Fernández-Carmona, J. 2003. High energy diets for reproductive rabbit does: effect of energy source. Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews. Series B: Livestock Feeds and Feeding 73: 27R–39R.Google Scholar
Pascual, J. J., Cervera, C. and Fernández-Carmona, J. 2002. A feeding program for young rabbit does based on all lucerne diets. World Rabbit Science 10: 7–13.Google Scholar
Pascual, J. J., Cervera, C. and Fernández-Carmona, J. 2001. Effect of solid food intake before weaning on the performance of growing rabbits. Proceedings of the second meeting of the COST Action 848Godollo, HungaryJune 29–30, p. 48.Google Scholar
Pascual, J. J., Cervera, C. and Fernández-Carmona, J. 2000b. The effect of dietary fat on the performance and body composition of rabbit in the second lactation. Animal Feed Science and Technology 86: 191–203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pascual, J. J., Tolosa, C., Cervera, C., Blas, E. and Fernández-Carmona, J. 1999b. Effect of diets with different digestible energy content on the performance of rabbit does. Animal Feed Science and Technology 81: 105–117.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Piles, M. and Blasco, A. 2003. Response to selection for growth rate in rabbits estimated by using a control cryopreserved population. World Rabbit Science 11: 53–62.Google Scholar
Quevedo, F., Cervera, C., Blas, E., Baselga, M., Costa, C. and Pascual, J. J. 2005. Effect of selection for litter size and feeding programme on the performance of young rabbit females during rearing and first pregnancy. Animal Science 80: 161–168.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Quevedo, F., Cervera, C., Baselga, M. and Pascual, J. J. 2006. Long-term effect for litter size and feeding programme on the performance of reproductive rabbit does. 1. Pregnancy of multiparous does. Animal Science 82: 739–750.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Statistical Analysis Systems Institute. 1996. User's guide: statistics. SAS nstitute Inc., Cary, NC.Google Scholar
Torres, C., Baselga, M. and Gómez, E. A. 1992. Effect of weight daily gain selection on gross feed efficiency in rabbits. Journal of Applied Rabbit Research 15: 884–888.Google Scholar
Xiccato, G., Parigi-Bini, R., Dalle Zotte, A., Carazzolo, A. and Cossu, M. E. 1995. Effect of dietary energy level, addition of fat and physiological state on performance and energy balance of lactating and pregnant rabbit does. Animal Science 61: 387–398.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Xiccato, G., Bernardini, M., Castellini, C., Dalle Zotte, A., Queaque, P. I. and Trocino, A. 1999. Effect of postweaning feeding on the performance and energy balance of female rabbits at different physiological states. Journal of Animal Science 77: 416–426.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Xiccato, G., Trocino, A., Santori, A. and Queaque, P. I. 2004. Effect of parity order and litter weaning age on the performance and body energy balance of rabbit does. Livestock Production Science 85: 239–251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar