Effects of dietary starch concentration on the performance of lactating primiparous rabbit does

Abstract

During the first reproductive cycle rabbit does have a negative energy balance caused by foetal development and the concomitant maternal tissue growth. Many authors suggested to reduce the weight’s loss of the does and the reproductive performance through various feeding strategies (Xiccato, 1996). In particular, the addition of fat to the diet does not improve the energy balance of the does; high levels of starch seem to involve serious risks of diarrhoea in pups...

Keywords

• rabbit does, dietary starch, litter and does performances