Performance of Suckling Rabbits Fed a Low Fibre Concentrate

Giovanni Piccolo,Carmelo Di Meo,Antonino Nizza,Fulvia Bovera,Maria Pia Gazaneo

doi:10.5713/ajas.2005.1421

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two diets different in crude fibre content and ingredients on performance and on caecal characteristics of rabbits around weaning. Thirty litters from thirty New Zealand White does were divided at Day 18 in two groups fed, respectively, a low fibre concentrate (LFC, consisting mainly of soybean meal, delactated whey, barley) from Day 18-28 followed by a creep feed (CF, consisting mainly in alfalfa meal, barley and wheat bran) from Day 29-32, and a CF from Day 18-32. After weaning (32 days) both groups were fed the CF ad libitum for two weeks. During the pre-weaning period, mortality, milk intake and solid feed intake (from Day 20) were recorded daily, while the live weight of kits was recorded twice, at 18 and 32 days. At day 28, one rabbit/litter was slaughtered in order to obtain data on caecal content characteristics. After weaning, the rabbits were located in collective cages, feeding ad libitum CF; feed intake, live weight and mortality were recorded weekly for two weeks. During the pre- weaning period, there were no differences between the groups in milk and solid feed intake and, by consequence, in live weight at weaning; instead, the mortality was higher (12.5 vs 4.5%) for the group (A) that changed diet at 28 days. Group A showed also a higher caecal pH (6.12 vs. 5.72), propionate to butyrate ratio (0.73 vs. 0.46), ammonia content (9.3 vs. 7.1 mmol/l), but a lower total volatile fatty acid content (66.8 vs. 82.1 mmol/l) than B Group, probably due to the dried milk whey in the concentrate. After weaning, there were no significant differences between the two groups. The authors concluded that the use of a low fibre concentrate for suckling rabbits is not recommended. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2005. Vol 18, No. 10 : 1421-1424)

Highlights

The live weight at weaning in rabbits is strongly related to milk intake, kits from smaller litters, generally, show a higher weight at weaning than the kits from larger litters (Poigner et al, 2000) due to the higher milk availability (Mc Nitt and Lukefahr, 1990; Sabater et al, 1993)
Rabbits’ solid feed intake, is low and increases more slowly when milk availability is higher (Pascual et al, 2001)
A higher pre-weaning solid feed intake may well accelerate the maturation of the digestive process and facilitate the transition to exclusively solid feed

Summary

Introduction

The live weight at weaning in rabbits is strongly related to milk intake, kits from smaller litters, generally, show a higher weight at weaning than the kits from larger litters (Poigner et al, 2000) due to the higher milk availability (Mc Nitt and Lukefahr, 1990; Sabater et al, 1993). Gyarmati et al (2000) showed that kits suckling milk twice a day from two does, increased milk intake by 89% and body weight at 21 days by 70% in comparison with kits suckling once a day from their mother. Rabbits’ solid feed intake (that generally starts around 20 days of age), is low and increases more slowly when milk availability is higher (Pascual et al, 2001). Little research has so far been undertaken in this direction, and no definitive conclusions are currently

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Results