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Insights into suckling rabbit feeding behaviour: acceptability of different creep feed presentations and attractiveness for sensory feed additives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 February 2020

C. Paës ,
L. Fortun-Lamothe ,
G. Coureaud ,
K. Bébin ,
J. Duperray ,
C. Gohier ,
E. Guené-Grand ,
G. Rebours ,
P. Aymard  and
C. Bannelier
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C. Paës
Affiliation:
GenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, Toulouse INP, F-31326Castanet-Tolosan, France CCPA, ZA du Bois de Teillay, F-35150Janzé, France
L. Fortun-Lamothe
Affiliation:
GenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, Toulouse INP, F-31326Castanet-Tolosan, France
G. Coureaud
Affiliation:
Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, CNRS, INSERM, Université Claude Bernard, Lyon 1, F-69675Bron Cedex, France
K. Bébin
Affiliation:
CCPA, ZA du Bois de Teillay, F-35150Janzé, France
J. Duperray
Affiliation:
EVIALIS, Lieu dit Talhouët, F-56250Saint Nolff, France
C. Gohier
Affiliation:
MiXscience, 2 avenue de Ker Lann, F-35170Bruz, France
E. Guené-Grand
Affiliation:
WISIUM, Rue de l’église, BP50019, F-02407Chierry, France
G. Rebours
Affiliation:
TECHNA, Route de St-Étienne-de-Montluc, F-44220Couëron, France
P. Aymard
Affiliation:
GenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, Toulouse INP, F-31326Castanet-Tolosan, France
C. Bannelier
Affiliation:
GenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, Toulouse INP, F-31326Castanet-Tolosan, France
A. M. Debrusse
Affiliation:
GenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, Toulouse INP, F-31326Castanet-Tolosan, France
T. Gidenne
Affiliation:
GenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, Toulouse INP, F-31326Castanet-Tolosan, France
S. Combes*
Affiliation:
GenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, Toulouse INP, F-31326Castanet-Tolosan, France
*
†E-mail: sylvie.combes@inrae.fr
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Abstract

In young rabbit, digestive disorders are frequently observed around weaning. Stimulating the onset of feed intake in the suckling rabbit might be a way to promote gut health. The aim of this study was to determine the rabbit’s acceptability for different feed presentations and its preferences for flavours at an early stage of life. Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of physical form and flavouring on creep feed attractiveness. All the diets tested were provided in the nest from 3 to 17 days, and the daily intake per litter was recorded as of 8 days of age. In the first trial, five feed presentations were tested separately (n = 60 litters). Three dry presentations were chosen: commercial pellet (P), crumb from commercial pellet (cP) and crumb from beet pulp pellet (cBP). Hydrated feeds were also provided with either raw fodder beetroot (B) or a semi-solid feed in agar gel form produced with fodder beetroot juice and pulp (gB). In the second trial, double-choice tests were performed on four feed gels (n = 72 litters), leading to six comparison treatments. These agar gels were made of pellet mash without or with a sensory additive: one non-odorised control gel and three gels with 0.20% banana flavour, 0.06% red berry flavour and 0.10% vanilla flavour, respectively. In the first trial, kits ate more gB in fresh matter than other feed presentations (P < 0.001), with a total intake of 7.0 ± 1.8 g/rabbit from 8 to 17 days. In DM, the total consumption of pellets P (1.6 ± 0.4 g of DM/rabbit) was the highest together with the gB form (1.4 ± 0.4 g of DM/rabbit), whereas cBP was barely consumed (0.3 ± 0.1 g of DM/rabbit). Gel feed supplemented with vanilla was slightly more consumed than other flavoured and non-odorised gels (relative consumption of 57% when compared to control gel; P = 0.001). The gel feed intake was independent of the milk intake but was correlated with the litter weight at 3 days (r = 0.40, P < 0.001). In both trials, rabbit growth before and after weaning was not affected by the type of creep feed provided. Our results confirmed that providing creep feed promotes the solid intake of rabbits at early stages. Gel feed form motivated rabbits to eat and vanilla flavour supplementation increased the feed palatability. Those creep feed characteristics should be explored further for seeking effective stimulation of the onset of the feed intake in suckling rabbit.

Keywords

rabbit kitcreep feedsolid feed intakepreferenceflavouring additive
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 14 , Issue 8 , August 2020 , pp. 1629 - 1637
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2020

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