Effect of controlled nursing with one-day fasting on rabbit doe performance

acute˜cs, E. Szudouble; Bonanno, Adriana; Gódor-Surmann, K.; Kustos, K.

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2008.01.007

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Controlled nursing was another practice identified as affecting the doe fertility (0.34, CI 95% [0.14-0.55]), the viability of rabbits at the nest (0.26, CI 95% [0.02-0.49]) and the mortality during the fattening period (-0.29, CI 95% [-0.52--0.06]). Controlled nursing was proven to naturally enhance does' receptivity at AI and subsequently their fertility (Eiben et al, 2007(Eiben et al, , 2008 but its impact on kit mortality was not so well established (Le Normand et al, 1994;Coureaud et al, 1998;Eiben et al, 2007 and2008). Our study tended to provide new evidence in favour of controlled nursing as a way to enhance the viability of young rabbits.…”

Section: Factors Affecting Doe Fertility and Viability Of The Rabbitsmentioning

confidence: 70%

Husbandry factors and health conditions influencing the productivity of French rabbit farms

et al. 2015

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In 2009, productivity data from 95 kindling to finishing rabbit farms in France were analysed to identify rearing factors and health conditions that influenced their productivity. Farm productivity, expressed on a yearly basis, was described with 4 productivity indexes: doe fertility and prolificacy, viability of young rabbits in the nest and mortality during the fattening period. The productivity data were obtained with the technical support of the farm and expressed in a standardised way. The average numerical productivity observed in the sample of farms was 50.9 rabbits produced per doe and per year (confidence interval at 95% [CI 95% ; 49.6-52.2]). The husbandry management and health conditions were described based on a questionnaire filled out during an interview with the farmer and a farm visit. Explanatory data were organised into meaningful blocks relative to biosecurity measures, maternity management, sanitary context and farm structure. The relationship among the 4 thematic blocks and the productivity indexes was studied in a single model using a partial least squares (PLS) regression model. Fertility (81.0%, CI 95% [80.0-82.0]), viability of young at nest (85%, CI 95% [85.0-85.3]) and mortality rate during fattening (7.2%, CI 95% [6.4-7.9]) were significantly associated with common factors related with maternity management and the health context, whereas prolificacy (9.7 live kits per parturition, CI 95% [9.5-9.9]) was mostly influenced by a specific set of variables pertaining to those 2 blocks. Farm structure and biosecurity measures had a limited impact on fertility and on kit viability before weaning. The health conditions of the doe herd and the fattening rabbits were found to be significantly associated with several productivity indexes, but their impacts on productivity were as high as the impact of the other blocks. Genetic strain of the females, doe replacement strategy and nursing and weaning practices appeared to significantly influence reproductive performance, viability of kits before weaning and mortality rate during the fattening period. Maternity management therefore seemed to be the key point in rabbit unit management that governed the numerical productivity of the farm.

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Section: Factors Affecting Doe Fertility and Viability Of The Rabbitsmentioning

confidence: 70%

Husbandry factors and health conditions influencing the productivity of French rabbit farms

et al. 2015

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“…This can be explained by the already mentioned late age at first service, as well as extensive reproductive rhythm, properly performed culling strategy, and controlled nursing. Eiben et al [ 4 ] also observed the positive effect of controlled nursing on reproductive performance in rabbits with higher fertility rate compared to free nursing (85.5% vs. 71.1%; p < 0.05).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Even though there is a common assumption that rabbit does are commercially used for reproduction for a maximum of 8–10 reproductive cycles, only a few studies support this decision statistically [ 2 ]. This comes as no surprise since most research on reproduction in rabbits presents results for two to three reproductive cycles, which are only a small part of their reproductive life [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Moreover, the vitality and growth of kits during the lactation period is dependent on the milk production and promoted by the unique chemical composition of rabbit milk.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive Performance of Hycole Rabbit Does, Growth of Kits and Milk Chemical Composition during Nine Consecutive Lactations under Extensive Rhythm

Ludwiczak

Składanowska-Baryza

Kuczyńska

et al. 2021

Animals

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The goal of this study was to analyze the reproductive performance of does, growth of their kits, and chemical composition of their milk over nine consecutive parities in order to indicate the boundary of female reproductive profitability. The novelty of this study results from the combinations of three factors: extensive reproductive rhythm, commercial farming conditions, and a period of nine consecutive parities, showing the actual lifespan of a rabbit doe on commercial farms. The data was collected on 60 Hycole females kept at a commercial rabbit farm. Throughout the study, 32 does were excluded due to different reasons (e.g., excluded by means of selection—43.8% and mortalities—25.0%). The does were first inseminated at 28 weeks of age. Following artificial inseminations were conducted 14–15 days after each parturition. All kits were weaned at the age of 35 days. The following characteristics were analysed: body weight of rabbit does at artificial insemination, milk production per lactation, litter size, litter weight, average kit weight, and milk chemical composition. Rabbit does had a significant decrease in kindling rate between the eighth and the ninth parity (by 10.0 percentage points; p = 0.039). The litter size at weaning in the ninth parity was significantly lower to litters weaned at other analysed parities. The amount of milk produced per lactation was affected by the parity order (6.31–6.76 kg; p = 0.042). The litter weights on day 21 and 35 were the lowest at ninth parity. The content of total solids (TS), solids-not-fat, and fat was affected by the parity order on both analysed lactation days. The content of TS and fat in rabbit milk was characterized with a decreasing trend over the analysed period, on both lactation days. The results clearly indicate that rabbit does under extensive reproductive cycles characterize with a very good reproductive performance and can be successfully used for reproduction even up to the eighth parity. However, further research is needed if keeping them longer will not be profitable.

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“…It has drawbacks, however, for both the doe and the kits. After repeated cycles of concurrent pregnancy and lactation, does decrease their fertility and lose body mass (Bonanno et al, 2002;Eiben et al, 2008). The metabolic mechanisms underlying this 'unavoidable' physical deterioration are not clearly understood.…”

Section: Biostimulation: Impact On Does and Kitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuroendocrinology applied to rabbit breeding

González‐Mariscal

2021

World Rabbit Sci.

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Successful rabbit production relies heavily on the use of adequate practices that enhance specific aspects of reproduction, such as mating, ovulation and lactation. Regardless of the type of production unit or strain of rabbits used, these processes rely on a complex chain of neuroendocrine steps that include particular hormones, peripheral stimuli and activation of discrete brain regions. Such is the case, for instance, of reflex ovulation, which occurs in response to copulation but is inhibited throughout lactation. Little is known about the mechanisms mediating lactational anoestrus and the restoration of oestrus following the cancellation of a single suckling episode (biostimulation). Nevertheless, the latter procedure (adopted worldwide to accelerate reproduction) has unwanted consequences for the doe and her litter. After successive episodes of biostimulation, the former shows a loss of fertility and body mass. In the kits, alterations are observed in their neuroendocrine response to mildly aversive stimulation in adulthood, as well as reductions in sexual behaviour. In addition to milk intake, a good nest is essential for normal litter growth and development. If this is not available, or if it deteriorates, rabbit caretakers can easily (re) build one from hair sheared off other rabbits or using synthetic material. Lactating does will nurse equally well their own or ‘alien’ young, placed inside the nest. It is crucial to have a minimum of six suckling kits in the nest, as the doe relies on this stimulation to maintain a normal nursing behaviour, i.e., only once a day throughout lactation. Recent work is revealing the similarities and differences in the responsiveness to mating among oestrous, lactating and biostimulated does. The relevance of these findings for the likelihood of reflex ovulation and the additional contribution of factors contained in the semen warrant more in-depth research. New insights on these issues, essential to reproductive neuroendocrinology, can emerge by fostering a richer interaction between academic laboratories and rabbit production settings worldwide.

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Effect of controlled nursing with one-day fasting on rabbit doe performance

Cited by 8 publications

References 29 publications

Husbandry factors and health conditions influencing the productivity of French rabbit farms

Husbandry factors and health conditions influencing the productivity of French rabbit farms

Reproductive Performance of Hycole Rabbit Does, Growth of Kits and Milk Chemical Composition during Nine Consecutive Lactations under Extensive Rhythm

Neuroendocrinology applied to rabbit breeding

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