<b>Dietary fiber levels on rabbit does’ performance on the first and second reproductive cycles</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v26i1.1930

Abstract

The experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary acid detergent fiber levels (15.1; 17.9; 20.6; 23.0% ADF) on the performance of 64 New Zealand White rabbit does, during first and second reproductive cycles. The experimental diets contained 2850 kcal/kg digestive energy (DE), 19.8% crude protein (CP) and 28.8% starch. In the first cycle, the feed intake in pregnancy presented quadratic variation (P<0.01) due to the increment of ADF, with better value estimated to 19.9% ADF, and on lactation there was a linear rise (P<0.0001). The weight of pups at birth and at weaning showed quadratic variation (P<0.005). On the second cycle, there was positive linear effect (P<0.001) of diets on feed intake. The animals receiving larger ADF level in diet presented a larger variation of corporal weight until the end of the experimental period. In this cycle, the pups weight showed the same tendency, but without statistical difference. There was no effect (P>0.05) of treatments on litter size. More fibrous diets provided greater milk production (P<0.02).