EFFECTS OF DIETARY ENERGY CONTENT ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF LOCAL RABBIT DOES

Thirteen rabbit does of local population were used to study the effect of dietary energy content during reproduction on reproductive performance at the second parturition. Three experimental groups were constituted by ten does that received different diets (T, A and B) during reproduction (first and second gestation and lactation). Diets differed in their digestible energy (DE) content (2300, 2450 and 2600 kcal DE for diets T, A and B, respectively) were supplied ad libitum between parturition and weaning. The use of high energy diets shows positive effects in does weight at 3 week post partum and at weaning (3221g for does in group B vs. 2859g for does in group T at weaning) with weight gain mating-weaning does higher in group B (199.5g for does in group B vs 56.1g for does in group A vs 94.4g for does in group T). Feed intake a day is lower in group B (234.9g for does in group B vs. 245.4g for does in group A vs.262.5g for does in group T). There is less mortality at birth for litters in group B. (4.9% for does in group B vs. 16.6 for does in group A vs. 25.3% for does in group T) and there is more birth weaning-mortality for litters in group T.