Technical Note: HEALTH STATUS OF COMMERCIAL RABBITRIES IN THE IBERIAN PENINSULA. A PRACTITIONER'S STUDY

Rosell, J. M.

doi:10.4995/wrs.2003.505

Cited by 18 publications

(23 citation statements)

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“…Indeed, negligible genetic correlations between longevity and litter size traits were found in a line selected for litter size at weaning (Sánchez et al, 2006). However, Rosell (2003) and have described discrete and seasonal factors (e.g. human and/or environmental) associated with an increment in sanitary risks, especially in young high reproductive does .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental sensitivity differs between rabbit lines selected for reproductive intensity and longevity

Savietto

Cervera

Blas

et al. 2013

Animal

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To better understand the mechanisms that allow some animals to sustain their productive effort in harsh environmental conditions, rabbit does from two selection lines (LP and V) were housed in normal (NC), nutritional (NF) or heat (HC) challenging environmental conditions from first to third partum. The LP line (n = 85) was founded on reproductive longevity criteria by selecting does from commercial farms that had a minimum of 25 partum with more than 7.5 kits born alive per parity. Line V (n = 79) was constituted from four specialised maternal lines into a composite synthetic line and then selected by litter size at weaning for 36 generations. Female rabbits in NC and NF environments were housed at normal room temperature (18°C to 24°C) and fed with control [11.6 MJ digestible energy (DE)/kg dry matter (DM)] or low-energy diets (9.1 MJ DE/kg DM). HC does were housed at high room temperatures (25°C to 35°C) and fed the control diet. Female rabbits in the HC and NF environments ingested 11.5% and 6% less DE than NC does, respectively ( P < 0.05). These differences between environments occurred in both lines, with the differences being higher for LP than for V does (+6%; P < 0.05). Milk yield responses followed those of energy intake also being higher for LP does (+21.3 g/day; P < 0.05). The environmental conditions did not affect the perirenal fat thickness (PFT), but a genotype by environment interaction was observed. In NC and HC, the PFT was higher for line V (+0.23 and +0.35 mm, respectively; P < 0.05) than for LP does, but this was not the case at NF (−0.01 mm). Moreover, the PFT evolution was different between them. In the NC environment, LP does used the accreted PFT in late lactation (−0.29 mm), whereas V does did not (−0.08 mm). Conversely, in the HC environment, LP does showed a flat PFT evolution in late lactation, whereas V does accumulated PFT. In the NF environment, LP and V does had a similar PFT evolution. There was also a litter size reduction for V does of −2.59 kits total born in HC and −1.78 kits total born in NF environments, whereas this was not observed for LP does. The results for LP does indicate a direct use of DE ingested for reproduction with little PFT change, whereas V does actively use the PFT reserves for reproduction.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental sensitivity differs between rabbit lines selected for reproductive intensity and longevity

Savietto

Cervera

Blas

et al. 2013

Animal

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“…During this time, the doe could be a source of such pathogens (Peeters, 1988;Matthes, 1993;Rossi, 2007). In addition, bacterial enteropathies may occur, partly as mixed infections together with intestinal coccidiosis (Löliger et al, 1969, Coudert et al, 2000, Rosell, 2003 and also facilitated by the access of the kits to the mother's feed (Pascual and Mayo, 2001). This feed typically contains -in order to meet the increased nutritional needs of the mother during lactation-higher proportions of non-structural carbohydrates (to that recommended for the kits), which can overtax the digestive system of the kits (Pole et al, 1980;Cheeke, 1994).…”

Section: Housingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, injury of the teats and related diseases are also common. Mastitis is a relevant disease in does, with a prevalence of 6% (Rosell, 2003;Rosell and de la Fuente, 2009;Sánchez et al, 2012). This can be caused by injury of the teats, and also by the negative effects of stress (Fetherston, 1998).…”

Section: Housingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In non-commercial rabbitries, mortality rates of does of around 46% per year have been reported in a study by Hoffmann (1990). We suggest that apart from the well-known contributors to female morbidity or the necessity for culling, such as diseases, consequences of cage design (e.g., sore hocks) and hygiene problems (Morisse, 1990;Rosell, 2003;Tetens, 2007;Bertazzoli and Rivaroli, 2008;Rosell and de la Fuente, 2009), the practice of prolonged nursing -given its negative consequences-should also be taken into account in rabbit production.…”

Section: Influence Of Rearing Management On Mortality and Fertility Omentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of rearing mangement on health in domestic rabbits: a review

Schlolaut¹,

Hudson

Rödel

2013

World Rabbit Sci.

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High mortality in rearing of domestic rabbits is not only an economic problem but also an animal welfare issue. Among the reasons for this high mortality are some common rearing practices. In this review, we point out several commonly used management practices, which neither represent adequate housing conditions according to the animals' behavioural requirements nor correspond to their nutritional needs. Sometimes, the doe has to build the nursery nest on the cage floor or in a box with a permanently open entrance, often not protected from the light. This can lead to perinatal mortality due to disturbed behaviour of the mother such as failure to build a proper nest, depositing the kits outside the nest, or infanticide. Furthermore, continuous housing of the doe with the kits does not conform to this species' pattern of unusually limited maternal care. Possibly stimulated by olfactory and acoustic signals emanating from the nest, the doe can disturb the inactivity of the kits by her frequent entries to the nest or attempts to close the entrance. Cooling of the kits caused by maladaptive maternal behaviour under such conditions can also contribute to increased mortality and morbidity during the nursing period. In addition, when the doe is left to nurse the kits longer than four weeks, which does not conform to the reproductive biology of the rabbit, kit morbidity can be increased by the following factors. Although the doe's milk has a high protective role against main digestive disorders, prolonged mother-offspring contact might increase the risk of the kits becoming infected with pathogens such as coccidiosis, EPEC and pasteurellosis persisting in the doe. Pre-disposition of the kits to bacterial enteropathies can be encouraged by the delayed development of the enzymatic system, the delayed establishment of a stable gut flora, as well as by consumption of the doe's feed. The increased energy demands of lactation as well as mastitis incidence due to prolonged suckling by the kits could decrease the fertility and the lifespan of the doe. Feed with a high content of non-fibre carbohydrates (compared to green forage) can promote bacterial enteropathies when given before the development of the kits' digestive functions is completed. The risk of the outbreak of such diseases is enhanced by intestinal coccidiosis and unstable gut flora. Enteropathies are also exacerbated by the use of deep litter as opposed to housing rabbits on perforated floors.

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“…According to Boucher and Leplat (2005) and Rosell et al (2009), digestive diseases are currently the main cause of morbidity in growing rabbits, resulting in dramatic mortality rate increases in fattening rabbitries (Rosell, 2003;Licois, 2004). In recent years, the occurrence of digestive disorders was prevented by the inclusion of antibiotics in the feed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary effect of short-chain organic acids on growth performance, mortality and development of intestinal lymphoid tissues in young non-medicated rabbits

et al. 2011

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AbstrAct:This work aimed to test the effect of a dietary inclusion of formic and citric acids on growth performance, mortality, jejunal histology and development of intestinal lymphoid tissues in growing non-medicated rabbits. To this end, a control diet (diet C; 35.9 and 34.7% NDF and 18.9 and 19.1% CP, on DM basis, in the 28-55 d and 56-77 d periods, respectively) was compared with the same diet supplemented with a blend of microencapsulated formic and citric acids (diet A: diet C enriched with 0.4% and 0.2% in the 28-55 d and 56-77 d periods, respectively). Sixty rabbits weaned at 28 d were assigned to each diet. At 56 and 77 d, 5 rabbits per diet and age were slaughtered to assess caecal traits, jejunal histology and follicular development in the caudal ileal Peyer's patch and the appendix. No dietary effects were observed on growth performance in the 28-55 d period. In the 56-77 d period, average daily gain of rabbits fed diet A was greater than that of control rabbits (48.0 vs. 43.9 g; P=0.019). Mortality rate was not affected by the diet (11.8% on average). Caecal pH, volatile fatty acids and ammonia concentration, and appendix size were not affected by diet. Caecal pH was lower at 77 than at 56 d (6.02 vs 6.19; P=0.016). The concentrations of ammonia (P=0.003) and volatile fatty acids (P<0.001) in the caecal contents increased, respectively, from 9.62 and 70.5 to 14.2 and 81.9 mmol/L when rabbits reached 77 d of age. At 77 d the appendix was heavier (4.30 vs. 3.21 g/kg BW; P<0.001), longer (13.3 vs. 10.4 cm; P<0.001) and wider (1.74 vs. 1.45 cm; P=0.006) than at 56 d. At 56 d, villi of control rabbits were shorter than those of rabbits fed diet A and than those of rabbits aged 77 d, irrespective of the dietary treatment (662 vs. 807 µm; P<0.001). In the Peyer's patch, the average follicle area was greater at 77 than at 56 d of age (118 vs. 88.4 x 10 3 µm 2 ; P<0.001) and was also greater in rabbits fed diet C than in those fed diet A (109 vs. 97.5 x 10 3 µm 2 ; P=0.049). In the appendix, no differences in the average follicle area were found at 56 d of age (115×10 3 µm 2 ), whereas at 77 d the area increase was higher for rabbits fed diet C than for those fed diet A (95.5 vs. 50.8%; P<0.001). In conclusion, including formic and citric acids in growing rabbit diets improved weight gain in the 56-77 period, had a trophic effect on the jejunal mucosa at 56 d and controlled the hypertrophy of gut-associated lymphoid tissues.

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Technical Note: HEALTH STATUS OF COMMERCIAL RABBITRIES IN THE IBERIAN PENINSULA. A PRACTITIONER'S STUDY

Cited by 18 publications

References 1 publication

Environmental sensitivity differs between rabbit lines selected for reproductive intensity and longevity

Environmental sensitivity differs between rabbit lines selected for reproductive intensity and longevity

Impact of rearing mangement on health in domestic rabbits: a review

Dietary effect of short-chain organic acids on growth performance, mortality and development of intestinal lymphoid tissues in young non-medicated rabbits

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