Effects of lactation, energetic deficit and remating interval on reproductive performance of primiparous rabbit does.

摘要

151 female rabbits were assigned at their first parturition (day 0) to 1 of 3 treatment groups (A, non-lactating does and ad lib. feeding; R, non-lactating does and restricted feeding, L: lactating does and ad lib. feeding). 18 additional females were slaughtered at parturition. Experimental females were presented to the male on days 3 (groups A3, L3 and R3 groups, n = 25, 26 and 26 respectively) or 10 (A10, L10 and R10 groups, n = 25, 25 and 24) and were slaughtered on day 28 after parturition. Compared with does slaughtered on day 0, adipose tissues were lighter in weight in L (-66%) and R (-32%) females whereas they were heavier in A females (+40%; P<0.01). It is suggested that the L and R females were in energy deficit. Receptivity (80 vs. 98%) and conception rate (51 vs. 83%) were lower in L than in A females (P<0.01) regardless of the day of male presentation. Ovulation rate (-14%) and conception rate (-26%) were lower in R3 than in A3 does (P<0.05). Ovulation rate was 24% lower in the L10than in the A10 group (P<0.01). The uterine contents were lighter (by 25%) in L and R than in A does (P < 0.001) regardless of the day of male presentation. It is suggested that the energy deficit associated with milk production can partly explain the negative influence of lactation on reproductive performance.