Impact of inmediate postnatal sucking on mortality and growth of sucklings in field condition.

Farougou, Souaïbou; Kpodékon, M.; Koutinhouin, Bénoît; O.D.H., Brahi; Djago, Y.; Lebas, François; Coudert, Pierre

doi:10.4995/wrs.2006.557

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“… Coureaud et al (2000) observed a close connection between immediate postnatal suckling and kit survival. Similar results were published by Farougou et al (2006) .…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 92%

Management of Reproduction on Small, Medium and Large Rabbit Farms: A Review

Szendrő

Zotte

2012

Asian Australas. J. Anim. Sci

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One of the main goals of small, medium and large farms is to improve the reproductive performance of rabbit does. Stocks of lower productivity can be improved by crossing with intensive breeds. A better nutritional status of both foetuses and suckling kits has a positive effect on their later productivity. Overfeeding young females before first mating can lead to conditions of fattiness. Using restricted feeding or higher fibre content in the feed and changing it for a higher level ad libitum feeding about one week prior to first mating leads to longer lifespan and higher productive level. Intensive reproductive rhythm creates a negative energy balance in does : they are unable to consume enough feed (energy) for the nutritional requirements of foetus and lactation, and therefore lose most of their fat reserves. Furthermore, primiparous does also expend energy because they are still growing. Under intensive conditions, the 42-d reproductive rhythm (re-mating 11 days after parturition) is recommended. Under extensive conditions, the 18 or 25-d mating interval with 35 to 42-d weaning could be suitable. On small farms, natural mating is favoured; on large farms AI is commonly employed. The main advantage of AI is the all-in, all-out system. Hormonal (PMSG) treatment is used with AI to increase receptivity on d 11. Frequent and high level PMSG use can lead to higher anti-PMSG antibody rates. Lower level (max. 20 IU) and less frequent PMSG injection or non-hormonal alternative methods (short dam-litter separation, changing nursing method or lighting programs) are recommended for this reason.

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“… Coureaud et al (2000) observed a close connection between immediate postnatal suckling and kit survival. Similar results were published by Farougou et al (2006) .…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 92%

Management of Reproduction on Small, Medium and Large Rabbit Farms: A Review

Szendrő

Zotte

2012

Asian Australas. J. Anim. Sci

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“…Average weaning weight of kits in litters with 8 or more kits did not exceed 940 g in comparison with kits form smaller litters, where weaning weight was between 1016 g and 1191 g. Results were comparable to that of Poigner et al (2000). Similar trend of higher growth rate in small litters was also observed in Farougou et al (2006).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 70%

“…Rabbit producers must take especial care of nests first week of age (Rosell, 2005). When the hygienic conditions are satisfied, a large part of the mortality before weaning is more related to a biological weakness than to a specific pathology (Farougou et al, 2006). The control of pre-weaning mortality increased the number and weight of rabbits weaned per doe per year (Rashwan and Marai, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth and mortality of SIKA suckling rabbits in Slovenia

PLANINC,

KERMAUNER,

MALOVRH

et al. 2011

aas

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The aim of the study was to estimate some effects on mortality and growth in rabbits. The study was carried out in Slovenian SIKA sire line. In total, 1028 kits of 80 does were included. In the analyses the effects of parity, number of liveborn kits, number of teats, and season of kits birth were analysed. Birth weight was included in the model for mortality, while age was included in the model for growth. Parity, litter size, teat number and season affected the body weights. Body weight varied also according to age. Mortality has changes by litter size, season and initial weight. An average litter size was 8.77 kits born, 8.15 kits born alive and 7.00 kits weaned. The birth to weaning mortality was 14.4% and mortality has steadily declined with age. Average weight up to age 3 days was 72 g and at weaning 959 g. Kits in smaller litters and kits from does with more teats had a higher growth rate. Also kits grow faster in the colder months.

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“…In particular, milk production increased with litter size, reaching its maximum capacity in response to a litter of seven kits [38]. Moreover, a close connection between the birth weight and the ratio of non-suckled kits was reported by several authors [4,39]. According to Argente et al [4], this ratio was higher than 50% when the birth weight was below 40 g and lower than 10% in kits with a birth weight higher than 65 g. Our results also showed a decrease in the correlations of the common litter effect between birth weight and weights recorded at the end of weaning.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Genetic and Phenotypic Parameters of Rabbit Individual Body Weight in the Preweaning Period

Belabbas,

Ezzeroug,

De la Luz García

et al. 2023

Veterinary Sciences

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The preweaning weight of kits has been related to their mortality during the suckling period. Selecting rabbit kits for individual body weight in the first days of life could be interesting; however, better knowledge of body weight’s heritability during the preweaning period is necessary to determine the opportune moment for selection. A total of 1696 growth records of kits from 81 females of the ITLEV2006 synthetic line were analysed in order to estimate the genetic and non-genetic parameters for individual body weight at birth as well as at 5, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days of age. The estimates of heritability (h2) for individual weight were between low (0.11 at birth, 0.16 at 5 days, and 0.17 at 7 days) and moderate (0.21, 0.21, 0.24, and 0.21 at 14, 21, 28, and 35 days, respectively). Weight at birth showed a strong and positive genetic correlation with weight at 5 days (+0.79) and 7 days of age (+0.78), but the correlation was low for the rest of the weight measurements (+0.41, +0.49, +0.54, and +0.54 with weight at 14, 21, 28, and 35 days, respectively). Weight at 5 days and 7 days displayed strong and positive genetic correlations with the rest of the weight measurements (higher than +0.83). The values of the common litter effect (c2) were high, and they increased with age from 0.43 at birth to 0.66 at 35 days of age. The values of the maternal permanent effect (p2) were low compared to those of the common litter effect (c2), varying between 0.04 and 0.11. In conclusion, opting to select for body weight at 5 or 7 days of age would yield a greater response compared to selecting for birth weight. This approach would indirectly increase the kits’ weight at birth and at weaning, thereby reducing preweaning losses.

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Impact of inmediate postnatal sucking on mortality and growth of sucklings in field condition.

Cited by 4 publications

References 3 publications

Management of Reproduction on Small, Medium and Large Rabbit Farms: A Review

Management of Reproduction on Small, Medium and Large Rabbit Farms: A Review

Growth and mortality of SIKA suckling rabbits in Slovenia

Genetic and Phenotypic Parameters of Rabbit Individual Body Weight in the Preweaning Period

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