Impact of dietary energy content and feed level on the digestive efficiency in growing rabbit
2013
Knudsen, Christelle | Combes, Sylvie | Briens, C. | Duperray, J. | Rebours, G. | Salaun, J.M. | Travel, A. | Weissman, D. | Gidenne, Thierry | Tissus animaux, nutrition, digestion, écosystème et métabolisme (TANDEM) ; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse (ENVT) ; Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP) ; Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP) ; Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-École nationale supérieure agronomique de Toulouse (ENSAT) ; Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP) ; Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT) | Groupe CCPA | IN VIVO NSA | Groupe Techna | Cenbtre d'Affaires Odyssée ; Sanders | Institut Technique de l'AVIculture (ITAVI) | INZO Chierry
Restricted feeding is commonly used in rabbit breeding to reduce mortality and morbidity but results in decreased growth and lower slaughter yield. A high energy diet offered at 75% of the ad libitum (AL) intake could prevent these detrimental effects. The aim of this work was to study the consequences of such a feeding strategy on the digestive efficiency of growing rabbits. 48 animals were divided into four groups differing in dietary energy content (2417 (HE) vs 2168 kcal DE/kg GM) and feeding level (AL or restricted at 75% (R)) according to a 2x2 experimental design. Animals were fed the experimental diets from weaning (35 d of age) to 74 d of age, and feed restriction was applied from 35 to 63 d. Digestive efficiency was assessed during feed restriction (42 to 46 d) and after one week of AL feeding (70 to 74 d). Feed restriction improved fecal digestibility of organic matter (OM, +3.8pts), protein (+5.4pts) and fiber (NDF +5.5pts, ADF +5.9pts; p<0.001). The digestibility of OM (+6.1pts), protein (+4.7pts) and fiber (NDF +7.2pts, ADF +6.2pts; p<0.001) was higher in HE animals. Interaction between DE content and feeding level was significant for OM and ADF digestibility: R animals fed the HE diet had better digestibility (+5.4pts and +8.9pts) compared to the HE AL fed animals. When returning to an AL feeding, no effect of the previous feeding level was observed while the effects of DE content on the digestibility of protein (+2.9pts), OM (+4.3pts, p<0.001) and NDF (+4.3pts, p<0.01) were maintained. In conclusion restricted feeding of a high energy diet would be favorable to the digestive efficiency, thus growth and slaughter yield.
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