EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE AND HEALTH STATUS OF DWARF RABBITS FROM WEANING TO MATURITY

This study was carried out to follow the somatic development of dwarf rabbits from weaning to adult age, according to their gender. One hundred and forty five “coloured dwarf” rabbits of six wk of age weighing 514±27 g were used. The animals were housed in individual cages and were fed ad libitum with a commercial pelleted diet. Individual body weight and feed consumption were measured twice a week to determine weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion index. Health status was controlled daily in order to identify animals with reduction in live weight, diarrhoea events, or with teeth problems. At 20 and 45 wk of age the animals’ fatness was evaluated by measuring their skin fold width. From 19 wk of age onwards the live weight of females (F) was significantly higher than that of males (M) (P<0.05). Up to 20 wk of age the feed intake and the weight gain were higher in F than M whereas from 40 wk of age onwards the situation was reversed. At 45 wk of age the skin fold width was significantly higher in M than in F (4.28 vs 3.56 mm, respectively; P<0.001). During the first 20 wk of age 9 rabbits died for digestive problems whereas 13 were excluded for sickness and 5 for overgrowth of teeth. The teeth problems were also seen in other 42 rabbits at the end of the trial but it did not lead to animal’s exclusion. The results showed a clear sex dimorphism in live performances, resulting in higher live weight in F than M at adult age. For this reason feed companies should consider diversified diets according to the gender. The live weight at 45 wk of age exceeded the standard values of the considered dwarf breed.