This study aimed at evaluating the effect of the group size (3 vs. 4 does) in a part-time group housing system and the litter size (9 vs. 10 vs. 11 kits per litter) on the lactation performance and kit mortality, besides body material and energy balance of multiparous rabbit does from kindling to weaning within one reproduction cycle. A total of 72 multiparous pregnant does were used. Nine does, individually housed, were slaughtered immediately after kindling to determine the initial empty body (EB) composition. The remaining 63 does were housed in the D3 or D4 pens with 3 or 4 does/pen, respectively, and kept collectively from their arrival at the experimental farm (11 d before kindling) until 2 d before kindling. Then, the does with their kits were individually kept until 18 d after kindling and then joined again from 18 d to 33 d (weaning). After kindling, the litter size was standardized at 9 kits (L09), 10 kits (L10), or 11 kits (L11), according to a bi-factorial arrangement based on doe group size and litters size. As for the effect of group size in pens, performance of rabbit does at kindling and during lactation and litter growth were not affected, whereas body lipid balance tended to be more favourable in groups with 3 does than with 4 does (P=0.10). As for the effect of litter size, pen feed intake differed during lactation (P<0.05), and kits from L09 and L10 litters showed similar weaning weights (on average 923 g) and higher than what measured in kits of L11 litters (845 g; P<0.001). As for body balance of reproducing does, on the whole, L09 and L10 does showed a better body condition in comparison with L11 does.
Effects of group size on performance and energy balance of rabbit does kept in a part-time group housing system with different litter size
Xiccato G.
;Pirrone F.;Bordignon F.;Birolo M.;Trocino A.
2024
Abstract
This study aimed at evaluating the effect of the group size (3 vs. 4 does) in a part-time group housing system and the litter size (9 vs. 10 vs. 11 kits per litter) on the lactation performance and kit mortality, besides body material and energy balance of multiparous rabbit does from kindling to weaning within one reproduction cycle. A total of 72 multiparous pregnant does were used. Nine does, individually housed, were slaughtered immediately after kindling to determine the initial empty body (EB) composition. The remaining 63 does were housed in the D3 or D4 pens with 3 or 4 does/pen, respectively, and kept collectively from their arrival at the experimental farm (11 d before kindling) until 2 d before kindling. Then, the does with their kits were individually kept until 18 d after kindling and then joined again from 18 d to 33 d (weaning). After kindling, the litter size was standardized at 9 kits (L09), 10 kits (L10), or 11 kits (L11), according to a bi-factorial arrangement based on doe group size and litters size. As for the effect of group size in pens, performance of rabbit does at kindling and during lactation and litter growth were not affected, whereas body lipid balance tended to be more favourable in groups with 3 does than with 4 does (P=0.10). As for the effect of litter size, pen feed intake differed during lactation (P<0.05), and kits from L09 and L10 litters showed similar weaning weights (on average 923 g) and higher than what measured in kits of L11 litters (845 g; P<0.001). As for body balance of reproducing does, on the whole, L09 and L10 does showed a better body condition in comparison with L11 does.
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