Productive performance, metabolic and hematologic parameters of gestating nulliparous rabbit does according to dietary protein level

Abstract

Objective: This study aims at investigating the productive performance, metabolic, and hematological profiles of Algerian local rabbits does during their first pregnancy and according to dietary protein content. Materials and methods: A total of 52 nulliparous rabbit does, 3,116 ± 72.9 g live weight, were allocated individually to three groups (17/18 females per group) being on isoenergetic diets [2,600 kcal Digestible Energy (DE)/kg] that differ in their digestible protein content by 15%, 17%, and 19%, respectively, for L, M, and H diets. All these diets were provided ad libitum . Results: The use of a high protein diet did not affect does weight and feed intake during the pregnancy period. Statistically, no significant difference ( p > 0.05) was recorded in born or alive litter size and birth weight. There was no effect of diet and sampling time ( p > 0.05) on plasma metabolites but there were significant effects of sampling time ( p < 0.0001) on the metabolic parameters studied with prolificacy used as a covariate. Hematologic indices in pregnant rabbits were not affected by the diet exceeded the red blood cells rate that increased significantly ( p < 0.05) with the increase in dietary protein content during the different periods of gestation. Conclusion: The use of a high protein diet has no effect on weight during the pregnancy period. No effect of diet and sampling time on plasma metabolites and hematological profiles are recorded; however, significant effects of sampling time are recorded on the metabolic parameters.

Challenges in rabbit doe feeding, including the young doe

“…When compared to other rearing feeding programmes, this management achieved the best performance results during the first reproductive cycle. Finally, Saidj et al (2019) observed that, when increasing the crude protein (CP) content from 150 to 170 g/kg in diets with 10.9 MJ DE/kg, no significant differences were observed at metabolic level (glucose, urea, triglycerides total protein and blood cells counts) and in reproductive performance (female feed intake and live weight, as well as litter performance).…”

“…Figure 2: Meta-analysis on the effect of composition of the feed received during the rearing period on the conception rate in the first artificial insemination, stillborn ratio and feed intake during lactation of primiparous rabbit does. Built from literature (Xiccato et al, 1995;Nizza et al, 1997;Pascual et al, 2002;Quevedo et al, 2005;Arias-Álvarez et al, 2009;Rebollar et al, 2011;Martińez-Paredes et al, 2012, 2018Saidj et al, 2019). LW: liveweight.…”

Effect of severe dietary restriction on growth and slaughter characteristics of non-selected growing rabbits

“…Several research projects have been conducted in Algeria to improve the quality of rabbit feed for growing rabbits (Kadi, 2012;Guermah, 2016;Djellal, 2019) and for rabbits does (Saidj et al, 2016(Saidj et al, , 2019. The objective of the present work is to assess the effects of dietary restriction, by time-limited access to the feeders, on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing rabbits issued from non-selected line of Algerian local populations.…”

Effects of Heat Stress on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, Physiological Components, and Biochemical Parameters in Local Algerian Growing Rabbits

“…Several researchers have investigated the characterization of the local rabbit population in Algeria since it is a popular population used by family farms with low sensitivity to heat (Ilès, 2017;Belabbas et al, 2019;Saidj et al, 2019). However, only a few studies have focused on the effect of heat stress on rabbits' production and productivity traits.…”