Influence of low dietary starch/fibre ratio around weaning on intake behaviour, performance and health status of young and rabbit does

Abstract

The influence of a low starch/fibre ratio (S/F) diet given to rabbits and does around weaning on their performance and health status was studied. In the LS group (n = 29 litters), the rabbits were fed a low S/F (0.68) diet (LS diet: 11.7 DE MJ·kg"1 DM) from day 18 to day 44; then they were changed to a fattening diet (F diet: 12.5 DE MJ·kg-1 DM). In the HS group (n = 29 litters), the rabbits were fed a high S/F (0.98) diet (HS diet: 12.6 DE MJ·kg-1 DM) from days 18 to 32 (weaning), and after weaning they received the F diet. From day 18 to weaning, the females and litters were fed the same diet. From day 18 to day 21, after the feed change, the LS females' feed intake dropped (-6%). As a consequence, they lost weight (-4%), and produced less milk from days 21 to 24 than the HS females (-17%; P < 0.05). Moreover, a high mortality was registered for the LS females (7/29 vs. 0/29, in LS vs. HS respectively; P = 0.01). From day 25 to weaning, the feed intake of the litters was lower in the LS group than in the HS group (-13%; P < 0.05). Consequently, at weaning, the live weight of the LS rabbits was lower (-6%; P < 0.01). From days 18 to 32, mortality was higher in the LS group (5.2 vs. 0.8%; P < 0.01). After weaning, feed intake tended to be higher in the LS group, and on day 44, live weight did not differ between the groups. From days 32 to 44, morbidity tended (P = 0.06) to be lower for the LS rabbits. In conclusion, young rabbits would not regulate their feed intake according to the dietary DE level. Moreover, a feed change for females, at the lactation peak, reduced their intake level, leading to a lower milk production. This also induced a lower health status both in the females and in the liters.