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Journal ArticleDOI

Relationships between body weight at first mating and subsequent body development, feed intake, and reproductive performance of rabbit does

01 Aug 2002-Journal of Animal Science (American Society of Animal Science)-Vol. 80, Iss: 8, pp 2036-2042
TL;DR: Heavy does at first insemination might be able to benefit from the extra amount of BW to cope with the energy deficit during first lactation, and extra BW at start of reproduction improves litter size in the first parity but does not contribute to an improved feed intake or increased BW development during reproduction.
Abstract: A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the relationships between BW at first insemination and subsequent body development, feed intake, reproductive performance, and culling rate of rabbit does. Young rabbit does are vulnerable to body energy deficit in first lactation, resulting in decreased reproductive performance and high replacement rate. Heavy does at first insemination might be able to benefit from the extra amount of BW to cope with the energy deficit during first lactation. Data of three experiments were used in which does were given ad libitum access to feed during rearing and inseminated at 14.5 wk of age. The first two parities of each doe were recorded. Does were categorized in three groups based on their BW at 14.5 wk of age (first insemination): heavy (BW ≥ 4000 g), medium (BW 3500 to 4000 g), and small (BW < 3500 g). Among does that kindled, differences in BW at first insemination were related to differences in voluntary feed intake and body growth rate during rearing. Heavy does consumed more feed per day (+ 45 g/d, P < 0.001) and had a higher BW gain (+ 12 g/d, P < 0.001) than small does from weaning (4.5 wk) to 14.5 wk of age. Body weight at first insemination did not affect BW, feed intake, and culling rate during the first two parities. Heavy does were heavier at first insemination and remained so throughout the reproductive period, but they followed a similar BW curve as medium and small does. A higher BW at first insemination (14.5 wk of age) improved litter size in the first parity (8.9, 7.7, and 6.4 for heavy, medium, and small does, respectively, P < 0.05). Extra BW at start of reproduction improves litter size in the first parity but does not contribute to an improved feed intake or increased BW development during reproduction.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A literature review focusing on the milk yield and milk composition of rabbits and the non-nutritional factors affecting both quantity and quality is presented in this article, where the number of suckling kits, parity order (primiparous vs. multiparous) and the gestation overlapping degree (rapid decline after 17-20 days of gestation).
Abstract: This literature review focuses on the milk yield and milk composition of rabbits and the non-nutritional factors affecting both quantity and quality. Actual highly efficient hybrid does have an average daily milk yield of 250 g or 60 g/kg of live weight during the 4-weeks lactation period. However, compared with cow and sow milk, rabbit’s milk is much more concentrated in fat (12.9 g/100 g), protein (12.3 g/100 g) and energy (8.4 MJ/kg) which explains the extremely rapid growth of the young (weight × 6 after 3 weeks). Characteristic of rabbit milk is also the nearly absence of lactose (<2 g/100 g). At peak lactation, protein output per kg metabolic weight (13.4 g/day/kg 0.75 ( exceeds even those of Holstein milk cows. The non-nutritional factors having the largest impact on the milk yield are the number of suckling kits, the parity order (primiparous vs. multiparous) and the gestation overlapping degree (rapid decline after 17-20 days of gestation). However, also through the reduction of feed intake, heat stress has a detrimental impact especially when the night temperature remains above 25°C. Rabbit milk lipids are highly saturated (70.4% SFA) due to the high content of C 8:0 – C 12:0 (50% of total FA) and further characterised by nearly equal quantities of oleic and linoleic acid and an w-6/w-3 ratio around 4. Finally some data about the amino acid, milk proteins including the immmunoglobulins, mineral and vitamin composition are presented.

106 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Interest and limitations of several strategies to reduce the body energy deficit in reproducing does and to improve their fertility and thus lifespan are discussed: rearing, feeding, management, genetic selection.

105 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: PW rhythm in comparison with the standard one seemed more adapted to doe reproductive physiology even if there was a lower production and risk ofFat thickness, estimated perirenal fat and live weight were higher in PW does than in Control does.
Abstract: Reproductive protocols based on standard (Control: 11 days post-partum) or extended rhythm (PW: post-weaning at 27 days post-partum) were compared. Two groups of fifty 19-week-old New Zealand White females were inseminated for seven consecutive cycles. The kits were weaned at 26 days. On the day of AI, all the does were submitted to ultrasound scanning of the perirenal regions to measure fat thickness. The fertility rate and several indexes of efficiency were calculated. Fat thickness, estimated perirenal fat and live weight were higher in PW does. The does submitted to post-weaning rhythm had a higher sexual receptivity (P < 0.01), and fertility rate (P < 0.01) whereas litter size and pre-weaning mortality were not affected. Primiparous Control does showed a particularly low fertility rate; the value increased successively but was always lower than in PW does. PW rhythm in comparison with the standard one seemed more adapted to doe reproductive physiology even if there was a lower production (35.0 vs. 38.8 rabbit sold/year) and risk of fatness (18% of multiparous does).

49 citations


Cites background from "Relationships between body weight a..."

  • ...[16], the body weight in heavier or smaller does remained sufficiently stable throughout the reproductive period....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: How frequent feeding and selection programmes could be affecting resources allocation in reproductive rabbit does, and the possible consequences resulted from these changes, are analysed, as well as the central role of body condition for a suitable female performance considering genetic level, health and welfare.
Abstract: In the present work is analysed how frequent feeding and selection programmes could be affecting resources allocation in reproductive rabbit does, and the possible consequences resulted from these changes, as well as the central role of body condition for a suitable female performance considering genetic level, health and welfare. Resources allocation between functions, and consequently body condition, must be genetically driven. Traditional view of body reserves mobilisation in reproductive rabbit does as a response of feed intake must be moved to an animal view, where feed intake must be considered more as an “output” consequence of the resources allocation in the female to ensure current and future litter viability. To a great extent, future reproductive potential of reproductive rabbit females is decided before first partum. There seems to be enough evidence of a possible threshold for the rabbit female birth weight to reach the beginning of reproductive life in a suitable body condition to maximise their future reproductive potential. The moment of first mating could be identified the last ‘pure’ data of the animal, sign of the animal soma and probably related to their productive potential. The choice of an adequate feeding system during rearing and first pregnancy also seems to be relevant in the reproductive performance of rabbit females in the short and long term. This should allow young females to reach first mating and late pregnancy with a good maturity level, but over-fattening must be avoided to reduce the risk of pregnancy toxaemia and reduced reproduction. The body condition of the females changes during the reproductive cycle and throughout their reproductive life according to their genetically determined level. The problems appear when the animals are forced to differ from this adequate level, increasing susceptibility to disease, other stress factors and eventual failure. The body condition of young rabbit females reaches the peak 10 days before kindling. From this moment to kindling, reproductive rabbit does seem to suffer the highest mobilisation of body reserves, with the body condition showing the lowest level at partum. Negative energy balances detected during lactation do not seem to have the strength of those observed in late pregnancy. Genetic selection in rabbit by litter size at weaning has increased prolificacy but also the ability to obtain resources (more feed intake at the onset of lactation, better energy utilisation during pregnancy), without compromising the survival of rabbit females. However, it could also have increased the sensibility of animals to the environment, addressing more the maternal investment to the future litter respect to the actual under restricted conditions to maximize their selection success “the number”. Rabbit does selected for reproductive longevity have a greater soma (body weight and body condition), which enables them to better cope with the possible productive challenges that they may meet in the course of their productive life. There is also evidence that they have greater plasticity in using their soma, making them more robust to overcome demanding situations. In fact, the response to environment restriction of females coming from a line founded for reproductive longevity criteria was flatter than those obtained for females selected for litter size at weaning in all the traits controlled, highlighting their differences on robustness. In addition, it seems to be evidence of a possible improvement of the immune system modulation in robust animals (lower sensitivity to immunological challenges), although further research effort must be done in the future to confirm this matter.

42 citations


Cites background from "Relationships between body weight a..."

  • ...On the other hand, excessive fatness of rabbit females during the rearing period has also been related with high levels of plasma NEFA and glucose and a higher percentage of stillborn and culled females at first parturition (Rommers et al., 2002; Martínez-Paredes et al., 2012), perhaps related to a higher pregnancy toxaemia risk (Rosell, 2000)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The possibility of applying an in vivo method for scoring the body condition of lactating rabbit does appears promising for use in on-farm reproductive management.

40 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The effects of dietary energy level and added fat were studied by comparative slaughter on 60 primiparous rabbit does in different reproductive states, finding that the LP does showed lower DE intake, milk yield and litter weaning weights than LN does.
Abstract: The effects of dietary energy level and added fat were studied by comparative slaughter on 60 primiparous rabbit does in different reproductive states. Nine does were slaughtered immediately after their first parturition (preliminary slaughter group) to estimate initial empty body composition. The 51 remaining does were divided into three groups and given diets differing in digestible energy (DE) content: M (11·28 MJ/kg dry matter (DM); H (12·16 MJ/kg DM); F (11·93 MJ/kg DM, obtained by the inclusion of 25 g/kg of animal fat). Thirty-six does (12 per group) were remated 3 to 4 days after parturition, after which 20 does were concurrently pregnant and lactating (LP) and gave birth a second time. At the second parturition these does were slaughtered with their new-born litters. The non-mated or non-pregnant lactating does (LN) were slaughtered at the same time. All litters from the first parturition were weaned at the 30th day of age. The diets influenced the DE intake (3·11 v. 3·31 and 3·36 MJ/day, P v. 180 v. 191 glday, P 0·05) (average of LP and LN does). The maternal diet significantly influenced the weight of the sucking litters (first parturition) at 20 days (2409 and 2454 v. 2629 g, P The LP does showed lower DE intake, milk yield (from 10 to 30 days) and litter weaning weights than LN does. Between the first and the second parturition, the LP does had a loss of empty body weight and a negative protein balance (-0·06 of the initial content), while the LN does had an increase in live weight and empty body weight and a positive protein balance (+0·11 of the initial content). Both LP and LN does had a negative energy balance (−0·24 v. −0·25, respectively; P

72 citations


"Relationships between body weight a..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Kits of small does may have compensated for the lower amount of milk available to them by consuming more pelleted feed as found by Parigi-Bini et al. (1992) and Xiccato et al. (1995)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Changes in body composition during lactation in 40 primiparous rabbits were studied by comparative slaughter to determine the utilization of digestible energy (DE) and digestible protein (DP) and their partitioning between maternal body, milk and foetal tissues.
Abstract: Changes in body composition during lactation in 40 primiparous rabbits were studied by comparative slaughter. The results were used to determine the utilization of digestible energy (DE) and digestible protein (DP) and their partitioning between maternal body, milk and foetal tissues.Twelve does were slaughtered immediately after their first parturition (first slaughter group) to estimate initial body composition. The 28 remaining does were remated 1 to 3 days after parturition and divided into two groups offered a pelleted diet at different levels: group L, fed ad libitum and group R, fed 0·75 of ad libitum. The 19 does that were pregnant (10 of L group, 9 of R group) were kept in individual metabolism cages until their second parturition. They were then slaughtered with their litters.Milk yield was higher (147·0 v. 117·2 g/day, P < 0·02) and live-weight loss was lower (–42 v. –294 g) in group L than in group R. The food intakes were 304·7 and 234·4 g/day, respectively. Body composition of the does changed substantially between the first and second parturition, with a considerable loss of fat and some loss of protein. A large decrease in empty body (digesta-free body) weight was observed in both groups. The loss of energy corresponded to proportionately 0·32 and 0·41 of the initial body energy, in L and R groups respectively.The DE requirement for maintenance was estimated to be 468 kj/day per kg M0·75 and the efficiencies of utilization of DE and body energy for milk production were 0·63 and 0·76, respectively. The efficiency of utilization of DE for foetal tissue synthesis was estimated to be 0·27 throughout pregnancy. The DP requirement for maintenance was 3·80 g/day per kg M0·75 and the efficiency of utilization of DP for milk protein production was 0·76 and of body protein 0·61. The efficiency of utilization of DP for foetal protein synthesis was 0·46.

61 citations


"Relationships between body weight a..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Kits of small does may have compensated for the lower amount of milk available to them by consuming more pelleted feed as found by Parigi-Bini et al. (1992) and Xiccato et al. (1995)....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Doe carcass composition changes revealed that fat was usually mobilized in early lactation and gained as lactation progressed independent of dietary treatment, and the protein content of the fat-free dry matter appeared to be relatively unaffected by the dietary treatments imposed.
Abstract: A study was made in rabbits on the effects of energy intake during pregnanoy on pup birth weight and survival, and on doe body composition and milk output in the ensuing lactation. In addition the experiment examined the effects of varying crudeprotein intakes during lactation on the rate of fat loss of does and the resultant energetic efficiency of milk production.Forty-seven multiparous cross-bred does were used. They were offered one of two diets in pregnancy, either diet HE (14·8 MJ digestible energy (DE)/kg D.M.) to appetite or diet LE (12·9 MJ DE/kg D.M.) at maintenance levels. After parturition seven does on each treatment were slaughtered and their body composition analysed (control groups). In lactation the remaining does were evenly allocated to receive either diet LE (195 g crude protein (CP)/kg D.M.) or diet HP (240 g CP/kg D.M.) to appetite. Litter sizes were standardized to six pups and litter growth rates were used as an indirect estimate of milk production. Does were then killed, at random, on day 9 or day 18 of lactation to give an estimate of changes in body composition as lactation progressed.Does offered diet HE during pregnancy had higher carcass fat levels at parturition than their counterparts offered diet LE (496 cf. 370 g/kg carcass D.M. respectively). Litter size was unaffected by dietary treatment during pregnancy but litter weights at birth were significantly greater in HE does (442 cf. 398 g respectively). Pup mortality at birth, however, was also much higher in these animals (28 cf. 9% respectively). Voluntary food intake in early lactation (day 1—9) was depressed by feeding diet HE during pregnanoy. Milk composition was affected by pregnancy diet, with does offered diet HE producing milk containing significantly higher fat levels (HE 123 g fat/kg milk cf. LE 105 g fat/kg milk).Doe carcass composition changes revealed that fat was usually mobilized in early lactation and gained as lactation progressed independent of dietary treatment. The protein content of the fat-free dry matter appeared to be relatively unaffected by the dietary treatments imposed. The data were used to derive an estimate of the partial efficiency of dietary energy utilization (fc) for milk output and maternal tissue gain. The line of best fit was described by the equation ER = 0·65 (±0·17) MEI-1–25, where ER = milk energy output + carcass energy change and MEI = metabolizable energy intake in MJ.

41 citations

01 Jan 1990

35 citations


"Relationships between body weight a..." refers background in this paper

  • ...This BW loss from weaning of the first litter to kindling of the second litter is related to the high energy demand for fetal growth (Parigi-Bini et al., 1990) and drop in feed intake during the last 10 d of gestation (Partridge et al., 1986; Maer- tens, 1993)....

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