Effect of dehulled white lupine seeds on the milk production and milk composition in rabbit does and the growth performance of their litters before weaning

Abstract

The effect of dehulled white lupine seeds (DWLS, cv. Zulika) on milk production and composition in rabbit does and growth performance of their litters before weaning was evaluated. In total, 24 Hyplus rabbit does were allocated into 2 experimental treatments (12 does/treatment; third parturition) and were fed one of the two lactation diets. The litters were standardized to 8 kits after the birth and were offered one of the two weaning diets from days 17 to 32 of age (weaning). Two lactation diets and two weaning diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isoenergetic. The control lactation diet (L-SBM) contained 13% soybean meal (SBM) and 5% sunflower meal (SFM) as the main crude protein (CP) sources, whereas the experimental lactation diet (L-DWLS) was based on 18% DWLS. The control weaning diet (W-SBM) contained 7% SBM as the main CP source, whereas the experimental weaning diet (W-DWLS) was based on 7% DWLS. No significant differences were detected between treatments regarding performance and milk production in rabbit does during the entire lactation period. Feeding L-DWLS diet increased n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids content (PUFA n-3; P < 0.001) and PUFA n-3:C20:4n-6 ratio (P < 0.001) in milk. In litters of rabbit does fed the L-DWLS diet higher milk intake:solid feed intake ratio (P = 0.024) was observed. So, DWLS can be considered as a novel feed component in rabbit diets, without adverse effects on performance of rabbit does and their litters.