Nutrient digestibility of rabbit does in different stages of reproductive cycle under tropical conditions

Abstract

Effect of stages of reproductive cycle on body weight, feed intake and apparent nutrient digestibility of rabbits was investigated. Pregnant/lactating (PL) does increased their feed intake above pregnant lactating does. Dry matter (DM) digestibility was higher in pregnant does than in lactating, PL or open does. Digestibility of crude fibre, crude protein (CP) and nitrogen-free extractives (NFE) were significantly higher for open and pregnant does than lactating and PL does. Ether extract (EE) digestibility was similar for pregnant, lactating and PL does. Digestible CP requirement of does increased with physiological state from open to PL states. Open and pregnant does were meeting their protein requirement while lactating and PL does were not meeting their requirement. Feed intake was higher for first week pregnant, fourth week pregnant, first week lactating, first week pregnant/fourth week lactating and second week pregnant/fourth week lactating does than open does. DM digestibility was higher for first and fourth week pregnant does than the other physiological stages. EE digestibility was similar for all physiological stages. CP digestibility was higher in fourth week pregnant does than the other physiological stages. Fourth week pregnant does had higher NFE digestibility than first and fourth week lactating and the various stages of concurrent pregnant and lactating does. Open does, first and fourth week pregnant does were meeting their protein requirement while does in the first and fourth week of lactating and stages of concurrent PL were not meeting their requirement.

By-Products as Protein Source for Lactating Grasscutters

“…The adjustments or modifications were more efficient (indicated by less weight loss) among grasscutters with smaller weaned litter sizes due to the lower demand of lactation. The loss of body weight observed for all grasscutters in this study agrees with the findings of Iyeghe-Erakpotobor et al (2007) that crude protein digestibility and the mobilization of fat and protein for milk synthesis increase during lactation in rabbits. Mobilization of body protein stores in lactating doe rabbits to support protein synthesis has been reported (Fraga, 1998).…”

INFLUENCE OF REPLACEMENT EGYPTIAN TREE WILLOW (Salix Safsaf) (LEAVES AND SMALL STEMS) WITH BERSEEM HAY ON SOME REPRODUCTIVE OF DOE RABBITS.

“…Also, differences in feed intake observed by various researchers could be linked to differences in feed types, feed ingredients used, litter size, as well as the stage of maturity of forages used in feeding the rabbit does. Rabbit does moderate their nutrient intake to provide for their fetuses and for mammary glands development required during lactation (Iyeghe Erakpotobor et al, 2006). Another aspect related to the lower intake of the half-simplified diet could be the presence of polyphenols in the Salix Safsaf leaves (8.32%), which may affect the palatability of the diet especially during the pregnancy periods.…”

Effects of animal type (wild vs. domestic) and diet alfalfa level on intake and digestibility of European adult rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

“…In rabbits, as in other animals, many factors can affect feed intake and digestibility. The diet composition, notably the level and type of fibre, starch and protein (De Blas & Mateos, ; Gidenne, Pinheiro, & Falcão e Cunha, ; Monk, ; Nicodemus, García, Carabaño, & De Blas, ), the age (Gallois, Fortun‐Lamothe, Michelan, & Gidenne, ; Perez, Fortun‐Lamothe, & Lebas, ), and the physiological status of the rabbits (Iyeghe‐Erakpotobor, Oyedipe, Eduvie, & Ogwu, ; Prasad & Karim, ) are some of the variables most frequently studied and reported in literature. The effect of the genotype has been also reported, namely in experiments that compared the feed intake and the digestibility by different rabbit breeds (Oke, Ibe, & Ogbonnaya, ; Ozimba & Lukefahr, ) and rabbit lines (Feki, Baselga, Blas, Cervera, & Gómez, ; Ondruška, Chrastinová, Chrenek, Rafay, & Parkányi, ; Orengo, Piles, Rafel, Ramon, & Gómez, ).…”