Relationship between Body Chemical Composition and Reproductive Traits in Rabbit Does

Abstract

The relationship among live weight, chemical body composition and energy content (at artificial insemination (AI) and three days before parturition), estimated by bioelectrical impedance with fertility rates and the percentage of kits born alive, was studied during the first three AI. The first AI was conducted at 16 weeks of age in 137 rabbit does that weighted 3.91 ± 0.46 kg. Their body chemical composition was 17.4 ± 0.50%, 16.1 ± 2.6%, 1067 ± 219 kJ/100 g body weight, for protein, fat and energy, respectively. An increase in body protein, fat and energy content at the first AI did not affect fertility at the first AI but improved it at the second AI (p ≤ 0.030). Moreover, an increase in body fat and energy content at the second AI improved fertility at the second AI (p ≤ 0.001). Fertility at the third AI was positively influenced by body protein at the third AI and the increase in body protein and fat between the second parturition and the third AI (p ≤ 0.030). The percentage of kits born alive at the first and at the second AI improved with the increase in body protein at the first AI (p ≤ 0.040). In conclusion, a minimal body protein and fat content is required at the first AI to optimize the reproductive performance in young does.

Challenges in rabbit doe feeding, including the young doe

“…In addition, the rabbit does that had a high PFT at the first AI showed a PFT evolution pattern different from the rest of the females until the second parturition, not being able to recover the body condition that they had at the time of the first parturition (Martińez-Paredes et al, 2019). In contrast, the body composition (body protein, fat and energy estimated by bioelectrical impedance) at first AI did not influence the fertility rate at the first parturition, but did so at the second one (Taghouti et al, 2021). These authors reported that the increase in body protein and fat combined with a low body protein/energy ratio at first AI improved the fertility rate at the second parturition.…”