<b>Reproductive performance of rabbits does submitted to different levels of digestible energy on diet and litter weaning ages</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v31i2.6619

Abstract

Were evaluated 240 litters from 80 first-birth WNZ rabbit does, submitted to a reproductive rhythm of 42d during three reproductive cycles. The rabbit does were allocated in a completely randomized design in a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial scheme (diets with 2600 and 2800 kcal DE kg^-1 versus young rabbits weaned at 28 and 35 days old versus three reproductive cycles). No effect of digestible energy levels was observed on live weight of females in the moment of litter weaning and fertility rate for the three reproductive cycles. The best body conditions of the females who weaned the litters at 28 days old enhanced the fertility rate during the experimental period. Except for litter size at parturition, which was smaller in the first cycle, litter size at 21 day olds and at weaning were not influenced by any of the studied factors. The litter live birth weight was lower than for the second and third reproductive cycles. The lower energetic level in the diet (2,600 kcal DE kg^-1) reduced the litter weight at 21 day olds and at weaning only for the rabbit does weaning the litters at 28 days olds. The results suggest the use of diet with 2,800 kcal DE kg^-1 only when the rabbit does wean the litters at 28 days old. Weaning at 28 days old allows the best body conditions for the rabbit does and higher rate fertility