Combined feeding of rabbit female and young: Partial replacement of starch with acid detergent fibre or/and neutral detergent soluble fibre at two protein levels

To evaluate the effects of the composition of weaning diets used for combined feeding both on the performance and body condition of rabbit does and on the growth and health of young rabbits, eight experimental diets were formulated according to a factorial design 2×2×2, the three factors being: i) partial replacement of starch with acid detergent fibre (ADF), ii) partial replacement of starch with neutral detergent soluble fibre (NDSF) and iii) reduction of the crude protein (CP) content from 175 to 145g kg-1 dry matter (DM). The study involved 138 rabbit does and 318 litters fed experimental diets from 17th to 28th day of lactation (weaning). Thereafter, 2371 weaned rabbits (784 in individual cages and 1587 in collective ones) continued receiving the same experimental diets until 49days of age and a commercial finishing diet until 60days of age. Replacing starch with ADF increased feed intake of does (+26±5g DM day-1, P<0.001) but, only with high CP diets, impaired their milk yield (-15±6g day-1, P<0.01) and perirenal fat thickness (PFT) change (-0.41±0.13mm, P<0.01), as well as litter weight at weaning (-154±52g, P<0.01); from weaning to 49days of age, this replacement increased feed intake (+14±2g DM day-1, P<0.001) and impaired live weight gain (-1.6±0.7g day-1, P<0.05), but reduced mortality rate (-10.2%, P<0.001). Replacing starch with NDSF reduced feed intake of does, in greater extent with high CP diets (-34±6g DM day-1, P<0.001) than with low CP diets (-19±7g DM day-1, P<0.01), as well as their milk yield (-16±4g day-1, P<0.001), with impairing PFT change only with high CP diets (-0.30±0.13mm, P<0.05); litter feed intake and weight at weaning were also negatively affected (-14.4±2.5g DM day-1, -202±38g, P<0.001); from weaning to 49days of age, this replacement reduced feed intake (-8±2g DM day-1, P<0.001), impaired live weight gain only with low CP diets (-2.3±1.0g day-1, P<0.05) and reduced mortality rate (-15.1%, P<0.001). Reducing CP content affected negatively feed intake of does (-22±5g DM day-1, P<0.001), as well as their milk yield, this impairment being more important with more starch-less ADF diets (-24±5g day-1, P<0.001) than with less starch-more ADF diets (-13±6g day-1, P<0.05), and, only with more starch-less ADF diets, PFT change (-0.36±0.13mm, P<0.01); litter feed intake was affected negatively (-20.1±2.4g DM day-1, P<0.001), as well as litter weight at weaning, in great extent when fed more starch-less ADF diets (-581±52g, P<0.001) than when fed less starch-more ADF diets (-403±54g, P<0.001); from weaning to 49days of age, this dietary change reduced feed intake (-6±2g DM day-1, P<0.001) and impaired live weight gain (-5.0±0.7g, P<0.001), but reduced mortality rate (-19.9%, P<0.001). Overall, the three dietary changes under study impaired milk yield, body condition of does and litter weight at weaning, although the negative effect of replacing starch with ADF was only observed in the high CP diets; moreover, growth during post-weaning period also decreased. However, in an Epizootic Rabbit Enteropathy context, mortality rate during this period was reduced by these three dietary changes, which effects seemed additive. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.Financial support was provided by the Spanish Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia (Proyecto AGL2006-07596).Martínez Vallespín, B.; Martinez-Paredes, E.; Ródenas Martínez, L.; Cervera Fras, MC.; Pascual Amorós, JJ.; Blas Ferrer, E. (2011). Combined feeding of rabbit female and young: Partial replacement of starch with acid detergent fibre or/and neutral detergent soluble fibre at two protein levels. Livestock Science. 141(2-3):155-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2011.05.014S1551651412-

A note on the consistency of a behavioral play marker in piglets

BACKGROUND: Play behavior has been proposed as a new potential indicator of animal welfare. Animals play only if they are in a relaxed state. Play may improve adaptability to challenging environments which may be of interest in the breeding objective. Little information is available on play behavior in livestock species. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether play behavior in post-weaned piglets can be induced instantly in the presence of additional space and whether play markers are body weight, sex, and litter dependent. It is investigated whether playfulness is elicited by the moment or if this measure is consistent over different days. METHODS: Thirty two piglets from four litters were released into a corridor and video recorded for eight min at 37, 41, 44 and 48 d of age. The first test was considered as an adjustment period and was not included in the analysis. In the second to the fourth test, joyful brusque movements (jumping, turning and running) were recorded with a camera and total number of movements (JOY#) and total time (JOYtime) were estimated individually. Animals were weighed at 41 d of age. RESULTS: Females had higher scores of JOY# and JOYtime than males but this was significant only for JOY# at 41 d of age (P < 0.05). The effect of age was highly significant both for JOY# and JOYtime (P < 0.01). Animals with a higher JOY# and JOYtime also expressed a higher JOY# and JOYtime in the other tests, but this was significant only between 44 and 48 d of age (P < 0.01). Body weight at 41 d of age was not significantly related to JOY# and JOYtime in any of the tests. CONCLUSIONS: Locomotor play was induced instantly by the provision of increased space allowance. Litter origin had a significant effect on play behavior. In addition, locomotor play scores were consistent between two of the three tests