This study sought to examine the effects of the food restriction performed in different stages of pregnancy on maternal leptin plasma concentrations and on the productive performance of both the rabbit does and their litters. A total of 40 primiparous non lactating New White Zealand females were randomly assigned into four groups according to their nutritional treatments during the pregnancy. Control group (C) was provided with 130 g/d of commercial food. The other three groups were fed with a restricted amount of food (30% restriction, 90 g/d) from day 0 to 10 day (R1), from day 9 to 18 (R2) and from day 19 to 28 of pregnancy (R3). At the end of the restriction period, the does returned to standard ration. Productive performance of R1 and control groups were comparable. The rabbits of R1 group showed a rapid increase in weight after the re-feeding and the lower values of leptin (P<0.001). This compensatory growth was not evident in other experimental groups. R2 recorded lower litter weight at weaning (P<0.05) and higher pre-weaning mortality than control group (26.98 vs. 16.85 %). R3 showed lower litter size (P<0.01), born alive (P<0.01), weight at kindling (P<0.05), litter weight at weaning (P<0.05) and higher perinatal (16.13 vs. 7.94%) and pre-weaning mortality (26.67 vs. 16.85 %) compared to control group. Milk production of the R3 was lower than in control (P<0.05). The effects of restricted feeding on pregnancy depend on the stage of privation during the pregnancy period: while a food restriction in early pregnancy did not seem to determine significant differences in productivity, a restriction in the last third of pregnancy, a critical period for energy homeostasis, resulted in the reduction of performance and impaired milk production. Food restriction reduced plasma leptin concentrations, in particular during the first period of pregnancy. However, the trend of leptin in pregnancy period and its relationship with body weight and fat reserves requires further study.

Effects of fasting during pregnancy in rabbit does / G. Brecchia, L. Menchetti, R. Cardinali, A. Polisca, A. Troisi, M. Maranesi, C. Boiti (PROCEEDINGS WORLD RABBIT CONGRESS). - In: Proceedingh world rabbit congress[s.l] : s.n., 2012 Sep. - pp. 341-345 (( Intervento presentato al 10. convegno World rabbit congress tenutosi a Sharm El-Sheikh nel 2012.

Effects of fasting during pregnancy in rabbit does

G. Brecchia;
2012

Abstract

This study sought to examine the effects of the food restriction performed in different stages of pregnancy on maternal leptin plasma concentrations and on the productive performance of both the rabbit does and their litters. A total of 40 primiparous non lactating New White Zealand females were randomly assigned into four groups according to their nutritional treatments during the pregnancy. Control group (C) was provided with 130 g/d of commercial food. The other three groups were fed with a restricted amount of food (30% restriction, 90 g/d) from day 0 to 10 day (R1), from day 9 to 18 (R2) and from day 19 to 28 of pregnancy (R3). At the end of the restriction period, the does returned to standard ration. Productive performance of R1 and control groups were comparable. The rabbits of R1 group showed a rapid increase in weight after the re-feeding and the lower values of leptin (P<0.001). This compensatory growth was not evident in other experimental groups. R2 recorded lower litter weight at weaning (P<0.05) and higher pre-weaning mortality than control group (26.98 vs. 16.85 %). R3 showed lower litter size (P<0.01), born alive (P<0.01), weight at kindling (P<0.05), litter weight at weaning (P<0.05) and higher perinatal (16.13 vs. 7.94%) and pre-weaning mortality (26.67 vs. 16.85 %) compared to control group. Milk production of the R3 was lower than in control (P<0.05). The effects of restricted feeding on pregnancy depend on the stage of privation during the pregnancy period: while a food restriction in early pregnancy did not seem to determine significant differences in productivity, a restriction in the last third of pregnancy, a critical period for energy homeostasis, resulted in the reduction of performance and impaired milk production. Food restriction reduced plasma leptin concentrations, in particular during the first period of pregnancy. However, the trend of leptin in pregnancy period and its relationship with body weight and fat reserves requires further study.
Rabbits; pregnancy; food restriction; reproductive performance; leptin
Settore VET/02 - Fisiologia Veterinaria
set-2012
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/688264
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