Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-wq2xx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T15:56:34.968Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Early solid additional feeding of suckling rabbits from 3 to 15 days of age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2017

L. Kacsala ,
Zs. Szendrő ,
Zs. Gerencsér ,
I. Radnai ,
M. Kovács ,
R. Kasza ,
I. Nagy ,
M. Odermatt ,
T. Atkári  and
Zs. Matics
L. Kacsala
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, H-7400, Hungary
Zs. Szendrő
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, H-7400, Hungary
Zs. Gerencsér
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, H-7400, Hungary
I. Radnai
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, H-7400, Hungary
M. Kovács
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, H-7400, Hungary
R. Kasza
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, H-7400, Hungary
I. Nagy
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, H-7400, Hungary
M. Odermatt
Affiliation:
Olivia Ltd, Mizse 94, 6050 Lajosmizse, Hungary
T. Atkári
Affiliation:
Olivia Ltd, Mizse 94, 6050 Lajosmizse, Hungary
Zs. Matics*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, H-7400, Hungary
*
†E-mail: matics.zsolt@ke.hu
Get access

Abstract

Studies have shown that nutrient requirement of suckling kits is not satisfied, but they can be fed a double quantity of milk (double nursing) resulting in improved BW and weight gain. The aim of our trials was to give additional solid feed during the early suckling period (3 to 15 days of age) when rabbit kits drink exclusively milk. Two experiments were conducted with animals from Pannon Rabbit Breeding Program. In experiment 1 (n=77 does, 734 kits) the does received commercial feed (C) or C pellet supplemented with 0.2 g powdered thyme/kg (CT). Within both dietary groups of the does three groups of litters were formed: no additional solid creep feeding (N); soya bean-based pellet (S); S pellet with 1% added powdered thyme (ST). In group S and ST, cylinder-shaped solid pellets were made. At the beginning (3 days of age) two pieces of pellets were placed daily into the nestbox after nursing. Later on it was increased to six pellets till 15 days of age. The kits consumed the additional solid feed (S and ST), however, it did not affect the BW, weight gain or survival. In experiment 2 (n=30 does, 240 kits) all does consumed commercial feed. The additional feed for kits was based on commercial piglet feed. Three groups were formed: the litters in control group were fed no additional solid feed (K), kits were fed additionally with pellets (8 mm of diameter) based on piglet feed powder, pellet adhesive and water (PI), and extra glycerin powder was added to the mixture of piglet feed powder and water (PG). The experiment lasted from the age of 3 days till 21 days. At the beginning six pellets were placed on the nest material. Later on the amount was gradually increased to 24 pellets till age of 15 days. The kits consumed the pellets. The BW of PI group differed from group PG at age of 5, 9, 12 and 21 days by +7.3%, +6.5%, +5.9%, +4.8%, respectively (P<0.05) and from group K at age of 12 days by +5.9% (P< 0.05). The differences were more expressed at age of 16 and 19 days in favour of group PI (from K by +7.1%, +6.9% and from PG by +5.9%, +5 8%, respectively, P<0.01) and at 21 days of age (from K by +6.2%, P<0.01). To find appropriate composition of creep feed for kits further studies are needed.

Keywords

additional feedingrabbitpiglet feedsuckling kitsBW
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , January 2018 , pp. 28 - 33
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2017 

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

Altbäcker, V, Hudson, R and Bilkó, Á 1995. Rabbit-mothers’ diet influences pups’ later food choice. Ethology 99, 107–116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Combes, S, Gidenne, T, Cauquil, L, Bouchez, O and Fortun-Lamothe, L 2014. Coprophagous behaviour of rabbit pups affects implantation of cecal microbiota and health status. Journal of Animal Science 92, 652–665.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Davies, JS, Widdowson, EM and McCane, RA 1964. The intake of milk and the retention of its constituents while the newborn rabbit doubles its weight. British Journal of Nutrition 18, 385–392.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Drewett, R, Kendrick, K, Sanders, D and Trew, A 1982. A quantitative analysis of the feeding behaviour of suckling rabbits. Developmental Psychobiology 15, 25–32.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gidenne, T, Lebas, F and Fortun-Lamothe, L 2010. Feeding behaviour of rabbits. In Nutrition of the rabbit (ed. C de Blas and J Wiseman), pp. 233–252. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
González-Mariscal, G 2007. Mother rabbits and their offspring: timing is everything. Developmental Psychobiology 49, 71–76.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gyarmati, T, Szendrő, Zs, Maertens, L, Biró-Németh, E, Radnai, I, Milisits, G and Matics, Zs 2000. New possibilities of raising rabbit young by alternative nursing methods. Poljoprivreda 6, 136–139.Google Scholar
Hudson, R and Distel, H 1982. The pattern of behaviour of rabbit pups in the nest. Behaviour 79, 255–271.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jilge, B, Kuhnt, B and Landerer, W 2000. Circadian thermoregulation in suckling rabbit pups. Journal of Biological Rhythms 15, 329–335.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kovács, M, Szendrő, Zs, Milisits, G, Biró-Németh, E, Radnai, I, Pósa, R, Bónai, A, Kovács, F and Horn, P 2006. Effect of nursing method and faeces consumption on the development of bacteroides, lactobacillus and coliform flora in the caecum of the newborn rabbits. Reproduction Nutrition Development 46, 205–210.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lebas, F 1975. Le Lapin de chair, ses besoins nutritionnels et son alimentation pratique. ITAVI, Paris, France. pp. 1–50.Google Scholar
Maertens, L, Lebas, F and Szendrő, Zs 2006. Rabbit milk: a review of quantity, quality and non-dietary affecting factors. World Rabbit Science 14, 205–230.Google Scholar
McNitt, J and Moody, GL Jr 1988. Milk intake and growth rates of suckling rabbits. Journal of Applied Rabbit Research 11, 117–119.Google Scholar
Morgado, E, Gordon, MK, Minana-Solis, MC, Meza, E, Levine, S, Escobar, C and Caba, M 2008. Hormonal and metabolic rhythms associated with the daily scheduled nursing in rabbit pups. American Journal of Physiology, Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 295, 690–695.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Retore, M, Scapinello, C, Murakami, AE, Araujo, IG, Neto, BP, Felssner, KS, Sato, J and Oliveira, AFG 2012. Nutritional evaluation of vegetable and mixed crude glycerin in the diet of growing rabbits. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia 41, 333–340.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spencer, SA and Hull, D 1984. The effect of over-feeding newborn rabbits on somatic and visceral growth, body composition and long-term growth potential. British Journal of Nutrition 51, 389–402.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spencer, SA, Small, GP and Hull, D 1985. The effect of overfeeding newborn rabbits on the rate of skeletal maturation, as determined using a radiographic technique. British Journal of Nutrition 53, 233–239.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Szendrő, Zs, Gyarmati, T, Maertens, L, Biró-Németh, E, Radnai, I, Milisits, G and Matics, Zs 2002. Effect of nursing by two does on the performance of sucking and growing rabbits. Animal Science 74, 117–125.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zarrow, MX, Denenberg, VM and Anderson, CO 1965. Rabbit: frequency of suckling in the pup. Science 150, 1835–1836.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed