Effect of dietary energy level, addition of fat and physiological state on performance and energy balance of lactating and pregnant rabbit does

The effects of dietary energy level and added fat were studied by comparative slaughter on 60 primiparous rabbit does in different reproductive states. Nine does were slaughtered immediately after their first parturition (preliminary slaughter group) to estimate initial empty body composition. The 51 remaining does were divided into three groups and given diets differing in digestible energy (DE) content: M (11·28 MJ/kg dry matter (DM); H (12·16 MJ/kg DM); F (11·93 MJ/kg DM, obtained by the inclusion of 25 g/kg of animal fat). Thirty-six does (12 per group) were remated 3 to 4 days after parturition, after which 20 does were concurrently pregnant and lactating (LP) and gave birth a second time. At the second parturition these does were slaughtered with their new-born litters. The non-mated or non-pregnant lactating does (LN) were slaughtered at the same time. All litters from the first parturition were weaned at the 30th day of age. The diets influenced the DE intake (3·11 v. 3·31 and ...