Transitory disturbances in growing lactating rabbits after transient doe-litter separation.
To determine the effect of a transient doe-litter separation (48 h) on milk production and feed intake from 1 to 21 days post-partum, a control group (C) in which litters had free access to nursing, and a biostimulated group (B) in which litters were separated from their does from d 9 to d 11 post-partum were used. Total milk production was higher in (C) than in (B) does (5090+/-1.1 g vs. 4593+/-150 g, P < 0.05). On days 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the lactation period, milk production was 40% (P < 0.0001), 18% (P < 0.05), 15% (P < 0.05), and 15% (P < 0.01) higher in (C) than in (B), respectively. No significant differences were observed in feed intake during the period studied (7961+/-352 g in (C) does, and 7834+/-329 g in (B) does). After fasting, 11-day-old kits showed lower gut weight, body weight, empty stomach relative weight (RW), stomach content RW and small intestine RW (P < 0.05), but the differences disappeared at 21 days of age. A reduction in villous height (P < 0.065) was observed in separated kits at 11 days old compared to 9- and 11 -day-old control kits (579.0+/-28.4 vs. 664.64+/-27.6, and 724.33+/-24.1 microm, respectively), but no differences were observed at either 16 or 21 days of age. Specific jejunal lactase activity increased significantly in 11-day-old separated kits (P < 0.05). A significant increase in sucrase activity at 21 days in both groups (P < 0.05) was detected. In conclusion, a fasting period of 48 h at 9 days of age does not compromise the subsequent development of certain digestive parameters of young rabbits.
Rebollara
Pilar García
PG
Departamento de Producción Animal, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain. prebollar@pan.etsia.upm.es
Espinosaa
Ana
A
Lorenzo
Pedro Luis
PL
Carabaño
Rosa
R
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000254:growth & development; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development*; D043322:Lactase / Q000378:metabolism; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism*; D009929:Organ Size; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011817:Rabbits / Q000502:physiology*; D013393:Sucrase / Q000378:metabolism; D015430:Weight Gain
D043322:Lactase; D013393:Sucrase