Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T20:34:40.520Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effect of different weaning ages (21, 28 or 35 days) on production, growth and certain parameters of the digestive tract in rabbits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2011

M. Kovács ,
A. Bónai ,
Zs. Szendrő ,
G. Milisits ,
H. Lukács ,
J. Szabó-Fodor ,
G. Tornyos ,
Zs. Matics ,
F. Kovács  and
P. Horn
M. Kovács*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Animal Science, Kaposvár University, 7400 Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, Hungary Research Group of Animal Breeding and Hygiene of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Kaposvár University, 7400 Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, Hungary
A. Bónai
Affiliation:
Research Group of Animal Breeding and Hygiene of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Kaposvár University, 7400 Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, Hungary
Zs. Szendrő
Affiliation:
Faculty of Animal Science, Kaposvár University, 7400 Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, Hungary
G. Milisits
Affiliation:
Faculty of Animal Science, Kaposvár University, 7400 Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, Hungary
H. Lukács
Affiliation:
Faculty of Animal Science, Kaposvár University, 7400 Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, Hungary
J. Szabó-Fodor
Affiliation:
Research Group of Animal Breeding and Hygiene of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Kaposvár University, 7400 Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, Hungary
G. Tornyos
Affiliation:
Faculty of Animal Science, Kaposvár University, 7400 Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, Hungary
Zs. Matics
Affiliation:
Research Group of Animal Breeding and Hygiene of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Kaposvár University, 7400 Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, Hungary
F. Kovács
Affiliation:
Faculty of Animal Science, Kaposvár University, 7400 Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, Hungary Research Group of Animal Breeding and Hygiene of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Kaposvár University, 7400 Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, Hungary
P. Horn
Affiliation:
Faculty of Animal Science, Kaposvár University, 7400 Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, Hungary Research Group of Animal Breeding and Hygiene of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Kaposvár University, 7400 Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, Hungary
*
†E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The effect of different weaning ages, that is, 21 (G21), 28 (G28) or 35 (G35) days, on growth and certain parameters of the digestive tract was examined in rabbits to assess the risk of early weaning attributable to the less-developed digestive system. On days 35 and 42, G35 rabbits had 10% to 14% and 10% higher BW, respectively (P < 0.05), than those weaned at days 21 and 28. In the 4th week of life, early weaned animals had 75% higher feed intake than G28 and G35 rabbits (P < 0.05). The relative weight of the liver increased by 62% between 21 and 28 days of age, and thereafter it decreased by 76% between 35 and 42 days of age (P < 0.05), with G21 rabbits having 29% higher weight compared with G35 animals on day 35 (P < 0.05). The relative weight of the whole gastrointestinal (GI) tract increased by 49% and 22% after weaning in G21 and G28 rabbits, respectively (P < 0.05). On day 28, the relative weight of the GI tract was 19% higher in G21 than in G28 rabbits, whereas on day 35 G21 and G28 animals had a 12% heavier GI tract compared with G35 rabbits (P < 0.05). Age influenced the ratio of stomach, small intestine and caecum within the GI tract; however, no effect of different weaning age was demonstrated. The pH value of the stomach and caecum decreased from 5.7 to 1.6 and from 7.1 to 6.3, respectively, whereas that of the small intestine increased from 6.8 to 8.4 (P < 0.05); the differences between groups were not statistically significant. Strictly anaerobic culturable bacteria were present in the caecum in high amounts (108), already at 14 days of age; no significant difference attributable to weaning age was demonstrable. The concentration of total volatile fatty acids (tVFA) was higher in G21 than in G28 and G35 throughout the experimental period (P < 0.05). The proportion of acetic and butyric acid within tVFA increased, whereas that of propionic acid decreased, resulting in a C3 : C4 ratio decreasing with age. Early weaning (G21) resulted in higher butyric acid and lower propionic acid proportions on day 28 (P < 0.05). No interaction between age and treatment was found, except in relative weight of the GI tract and caecal content. In conclusion, early weaning did not cause considerable changes in the digestive physiological parameters measured, but it resulted in 10% lower growth in rabbits.

Keywords

weaning agegrowthdigestive physiologyrabbit
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 6 , Issue 6 , June 2012 , pp. 894 - 901
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alus, G, Edwards, NA 1977. Development of the digestive tract of the rabbit from birth to weaning. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 36, 3 A.Google ScholarPubMed
Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) 2000. Official methods of analysis, 17th edition. AOAC, Arlington, VA, USA.Google Scholar
Bellier, R, Gidenne, T, Vernay, M, Colin, M 1995. In vivo study of circadian variations of the caecal fermentation pattern in postweaned and adult rabbits. Journal of Animal Science 1, 128–135.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bornside, GH, Cohn, IH 1965. The normal microbial flora. Comparative bacterial flora of animals and man. American Journal of Digestive Diseases 10, 844–852.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cesari, V, Toschi, I, Ferrazzi, V, Cesari, N, Grilli, G, Lavazza, A 2007. Effect of weaning age and diet on growth performance, caecal characteristics and potential pathogenic microflora in rabbits. Italalian Journal of Animal Science 6, 755–757.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Combes, S, Michelland, RJ, Monteils, V, Cauquil, L, Soulié, V, Tran, NU, Gidenne, T, Fortun-Lamothe, L 2011. Postnatal development of the rabbit caecal microbiota composition and activity. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 77, 680–689.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
De Blas, C, Mateos, GG 2010. Feed formulation. In The nutrition of the rabbit (ed. C De Blas and J Wiseman), pp. 222–233. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau, Wallingford, UK.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fekete, S 1988. Recent findings and future perspectives of rabbit's physiology. In Proceedings of the 4th Rabbit Congress, pp. 327–343. Budapest, Hungary.Google Scholar
Feugier, A, Smit, MN, Fortun-Lamothe, L, Gidenne, T 2006. Fibre and protein requirement of early weaned rabbits and the interaction with weaning age: effects on digestive health and growth performance. Animal Science 82, 493–500.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gallois, M, Gidenne, T, Fortun-Lamothe, L, Le Huerou-Luron, I, Lalles, PP 2005. An early stimulation of solid feed intake slightly influences the morphological gut maturation in the rabbit. Reproduction Nutrition Development 1, 109–122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gallois, M, Le Huërou-Luron, I, Fortun-Lamothe, L, Lalles, JP, Gidenne, T 2008. Adaptability of the digestive function according to age at weaning in the rabbit: I. Effect on feed intake and digestive functionality. Animal 4, 525–535.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gidenne, T, Fortun-Lamothe, L 2002. Feeding strategy for young rabbits around weaning: a review of digestive capacity and nutritional needs. Animal Science 75, 169–184.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gidenne, T, Jehl, N, Segura, M, Michalet-Doreau, B 2002. Microbial activity in the caecum of the rabbit around weaning: impact of a dietary fibre deficiency and of intake level. Animal Feed Science and Technology 99, 107–118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gouet, P, Fonty, G 1979. Changes in the digestive microflora of holoxenic rabbits from birth until adulthood. Annales de Biologie Animale Biochimie Biophysique 19, 553–566.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gutierrez, I, Espinosa, A, Garcia, J, Carabano, R, DeBlas, JC 2002. Effect of levels of starch, fiber and lactose on digestion and growth performance of early-weaned rabbits. Journal of Animal Science 80, 1029–1037.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
International Standardisation Organisation 2006. Animal feeding stuffs. Determination of amylase-treated neutral detergent fibre content (aNDF). Norme International ISO 16472. Retrieved January 10, 2011, from http://www.iso.orgGoogle Scholar
Kelly, D, Coutts, AGP 2000. Development of the digestive and immunological function in neonates: role of early nutrition. Livestock Production Science 66, 161–167.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kovács, M, Gyarmati, T, Szendrő, Zs, Bencsné, KZ, Donkó, T, Tornyos, G, Lukács, H, Bóta, B 2002. Effect of double nursing and early weaning on development of caecal microflora of the rabbit (in Hungarian). Magyar Állatorvosok Lapja 124, 742–748.Google Scholar
Lebas, F, Laplace, JP 1972. Mensuration viscérale chez le lapin. 1. Croissance du foie, des reins et des divers segments intestinaux entre 3 et 11 semaines d'age. Annales de Zootechnie 21, 37–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maertens, L, Lebas, F, Szendrő, Zs 2006. Rabbit milk: a review of quantity, quality and non-dietary affecting factors. World Rabbit Science 14, 205–230.Google Scholar
Michelland, RJ, Combes, S, Monteils, V, Cauquil, L, Gidenne, T, Fortun-Lamothe, L 2010. Molecular analysis of the bacterial community in digestive tract of rabbit. Anaerobe 16, 61–65.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Padilha, MTS, Licois, D, Gidenne, T, Carré, B, Fonty, G 1995. Relationships between microflora and caecal fermentation in rabbits before and after weaning. Reproduction Nutrition Development 35, 375–386.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Piattoni, F, Maertens, L, Demeyer, D 1995. Age dependent variation of caecal content composition of young rabbits. Archives of Animal Nutrition 48, 347–355.Google ScholarPubMed
Smith, HW 1965. Observations on the flora of the alimentary tract of animals and factors affecting its composition. Journal of Pathology and Bacteriology 89, 95–122.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 2002. For Windows (Microsoft) Inc., version 10.0.Google Scholar
Xiccato, G, Trocino, A, Sartori, A, Queaque, PI 2003. Effect of weaning diet and weaning age on growth, body composition and caecal fermentation of young rabbits. Animal Science 77, 101–111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar