L. Fortunlamothe et F. Lebas, EFFECTS OF DIETARY ENERGY-LEVEL AND SOURCE ON FETAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENERGY-BALANCE IN CONCURRENTLY PREGNANT AND LACTATING PRIMIPAROUS RABBIT DOES, Animal Science, 62, 1996, pp. 615-620
The aim of this experiment teas to study the effects of dietary dietar
y energy level and source on foetal growth and survival and mobilizati
on of body stoves in concurrently pregnant and lactating primiparous r
abbit does. Does were given a moderate-energy diet (approximate to 9.9
M) digestible energy (DE) per kg dry matter (DM); group M, no. = 23)
or a high-energy diet (approximate to 12.2 MJ DE per kg DM). In this l
atter case, additional energy came from starch (group S, no. = 23) or
starch and fat (group F, no. = 22). Primiparous rabbit does were mated
within 12 h after parturition and were slaughtered on day 28 of gesta
tion-lactation. During the first 21 days, the DE intake and milk produ
ction were higher in the group F than in the groups S and M (P < 0.05)
. On day 28 of pregnancy, the weight of adipose tissues and liver, as
well as the lipid content of the carcass, were higher in the groups S
and F than in the group M (P < 0.05). Foetal survival and weight were
similar in the three groups. These results indicate that increased ene
rgy level of the diet did not improve foetal survival or growth in con
currently pregnant and lactating primiparous does. On the contrary, it
could reduce the mobilization of fat stores, especially if the energy
source is starch.