Abstracts of the "XXXVII Symposium de Cunicultura de ASESCU". Barbastro (Spain) 24-25th of May 2012.

Abstract

The annual Congress of the Spanish Association of Cuniculture (ASESCU) was held in Barbastro (province of Huesca, autonomous community of Aragón) on 24-25th May of 2012. The 37th edition was mainly devoted to analyse the present situation of the rabbit sector, as well as some new aspects in relation to diseases of the rabbit. It was presented an overview of the situation of the rabbit farming in Aragón, a commercial analysis of the rabbit farming sector in Spain, a main paper on the role of rural development as a complement to rabbit farming, and an analysis of the production cost of rabbit meat. Main papers related to parasite control and mixomatosis were also presented in 2 different conferences. Moreover 2 round tables were held on a new variant of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus and a Sectorial Plan for the Spanish rabbit sector, respectively. Furthermore, a total of 18 communications were presented both in working sessions of oral communications and posters. Nutrition session analysed the influence of fibre type on its digestibility, the characterisation of intestinal microbiota in rabbits after weaning, the utilisation of distillers dried grains with solubles as well as of beet pulp in diets for fattening rabbits, the effect of dietary restrictions on the growth of fattening rabbits, and the effect of a prebiotic, a probiotic or a symbiotic in diets for fattening rabbits. Technico-economic management session studied the evolution of technical results of the Spanish farms during 2008-2011, as well as technical and economical implications of reproductive rhythms and weaning age for the profitability of farms. Genetics session evaluated the effect of divergent selection for residual variance of litter size on the embryo development. Ethology session analysed sex influence in rabbit mutual olfactory relationships. Reproduction session studied prediction of body fat deposits from perirenal fat measurements using ultrasound. Meat quality session analysed the effect of a supplementation with vegetable DHA on the growing and fattening performances and meat quality of the rabbit. Pathology section studied the effect of selection for reproduction or longevity on blood lymphocyte populations of does under conventional and heat stress conditions, the origin of staphylococcosis in rabbits, the epidemiology of staphylococcosis, pasteurellosis and bordetellosis in Portugal, and several works related to a new variant of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus.