It has been proven that white lupine seeds (WLS) is a suitable crude protein (CP) source for growing-fattening rabbits, as well as for the lactating rabbit does. There are no reports, however, in the literature regarding the effect of blue lupine seeds (BLS) on rabbit doe milk production and composition as well as the growth of their litters. Therefore, the aim of this diploma thesis was to evaluate the effect of lactation and weaning diets based on BLS (Lupinus angustifolius cv Probor) on milk yield and milk composition of the rabbit does, as well as on growth performance and carcass quality of their progeny. Two lactation diets (LLB and LLU, having identical DP/DE ratio) and two weaning diets (VLB and VLU, having identical DP/DE ratio) were formulated. The LLB diet (control) contained WLS (25.0%) as the main CP sources, whereas the LLU diet was based on BLS (28.5%). As a result, the LLB diet had slightly greater ether extract content than did the LLU diet. The VLB diet (control) included WLS (12.0%) as the main CP source, whereas the VLU diet was based on BLS (15.0%). No additional fat was added to any of the diets. A total of 32 Hyplus rabbit does (16 animals per treatment; at the 3rd parturition) were fed 1 of the 2 lactation diets during the entire lactation (35 days). Does were housed in modified cages which allowed controlled suckling (once a day at 7 am) and separate access of does and their litters to feed. Feed intake and milk yield were measured daily during the entire lactation period, whereas litter weight was measured every 7 d. Milk yield was measured by weighing the rabbit does immediately before and after suckling. Five does of each group were used to evaluate milk composition. Milk was collected manually at d 21 of lactation. The litters were standardized to 9 kits on the day of birth. Litters were offered weaning diets with the same CP source as in the lactation diet of their mothers from d 17 to 80 of age. At d 37 of age (weaning), 99 rabbits on each weaning diet were used to evaluate growth performance and health. Feed intake, feed efficiency and milk production of does (on average 263 g/d) were not affected by dietary treatments, as well as milk efficiency (on average 0.59) and the growth of their litters (on average 30.4 g/d per rabbit). Live weight at weaning (P=0.005), milk dry matter (P=0.028) and fat contents (P=0.016), as well as fat output per kg of metabolic weight (P<0.001) were higher in does fed the WLS diet. After weaning, final live weight (by 168 g; P=0.061), average daily weight gain (by 3 g/d; P=0,024) and carcass weights were lower in rabbits fed the diet based on BLS than in those fed with the WLS diet. The number of ill + dead rabbits caused by digestive disease was lower (23 rabbits vs. 38 rabbits; P=0.042) in rabbits fed the diet based on WLS. The results of the diploma thesis confirmed that WLS is a suitable CP source for the rabbit diets. Negative findings such as a higher mobilisation of body reserves of does in the later phase of lactation, as well as the lower final live weight and the higher sanitary risk index of rabbits fed the diets based on blue lupine seeds suggest difference between lupine species in terms of feed efficiency. These findings should be elucidated and confirmed by the comparing with other blue lupine varieties.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:nusl.cz/oai:invenio.nusl.cz:251794 |
| Date | January 2016 |
| Creators | PŘÍDOVÁ, Lenka |
| Source Sets | Czech ETDs |
| Language | Czech |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/masterThesis |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
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