Effect of feed restriction level and period on performance and health of growing rabbits

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the level (100%, 90% and 80% of ad libitum) and period (2 and 3 weeks) of post-weaning feed restriction on growth performance and health status of 246 growing rabbits controlled from weaning until commercial slaughter (33-75 d of age). Despite significant effects of restriction program during the restriction period itself and soon after, the differences in final live weights of non-restricted and restricted rabbits were not significant, whereas rabbits submitted to the strongest restriction (80%) still tended to be lighter compared to R90 rabbits (P=0.06). Therefore, daily weight gain from 33 to 75 d of age was lower in R80 compared to R90 rabbits (P=0.04); feed intake was lower in restricted vs. not restricted rabbits and in R80 vs. R90 rabbits. Feed conversion was lower (P=0.04) in restricted rabbits without differences between the two restriction levels (R90 vs. R80). The restriction program, level and period did not affect rabbit health in the entire trial.