investigation of early feed intake: does suckling rabbit ...€¦ · high incidence of digestive...
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EAAP Annual Meeting 28th August 2018 Session 27
Investigation of early feed intake: does suckling rabbit have pellet preferences?
C. Paës, L. Fortun-Lamothe, T. Gidenne, K. Bebin, C. Davoust, J. Duperray, C. Gohier, G. Rebours, A. Debrusse, P. Aymard, S. Combes
Charlotte PAËS PhD Student
Supervised by Dr. Combes and Dr. Gidenne
High incidence of digestive disorders around weaning
Context of the study
antibiotics
Hypothesis : Early feeding could guide microbiota implantation process, thus improve rabbit health
No access to feedbefore 15-17d
2
Nat
ion
al W
ildlif
eFe
der
atio
n
High incidence of digestive disorders around weaning
Context of the study
antibiotics
Hypothesis : Early feeding could guide microbiota implantation process, thus improve rabbit health
Objectives : (1) Gain more knowledge on early feeding ability(2) Determine how to stimulate pups solid feed intake with attractivepellet presentation
No access to feedbefore 15-17d
3
Nat
ion
al W
ildlif
eFe
der
atio
n
3
Milking control
4
d4
d9d32
Material and methods : animal husbandry
18
3 35 : weaning
Milking control
2 kinds of pellets
available
5
: feed in the nest(daily measurements from d8)
: feed outside the nest
d4
d9d32
Material and methods : animal husbandry
15 18
3 35 : weaning
Milking control
2 kinds of pellets
available
6
: feed in the nest(daily measurements from d8)
: feed outside the nest
: classical fattening
d4
d9d32
Material and methods : animal husbandry
15 18 70
Dynamic of suckling rabbit early feed intake
From 8d to 17d, total consumption of 2.5 g of DM/rabbitand total dry feed consumption = 0.6% of total fresh milk consumption
7
Trial 1. and trial 2.
0.00
0.25
0.50
0.75
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Age (days)
Ea
rly fe
ed
in
take
(
g o
f D
M/d
ay/r
ab
bit)
Dynamic of suckling rabbit early feed intake
From 8d to 17d, total consumption of 2.5 g of DM/rabbitand total dry feed consumption = 0.6% of total fresh milk consumption
8
Trial 1. and trial 2.
3.8
19.3 18.3
36.4
65.1
72
83.3
93.2
0
25
50
75
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Age (days)
Litte
rs c
on
su
min
g fe
ed
in
th
e n
est (%
)
1
2
3
90 100 110 120 130
Litter weight at 3 days (g/rabbit)
To
tal fe
ed
in
take
be
twe
en
15
an
d 1
7d
(
g o
f D
M/r
ab
bit)
Milk consumption (g/rabbit)
60
80
100
120
Dynamic of suckling rabbit early feed intake : investigation of inter-litter variability
Which variables affect feedconsumption from 7 to 20 days-old ?
Effects p-value
Age ***
Feed treatment NS
Litter weight at 3 d ***
Milk consumption NS
Nest quality NS
9
Trial 2.
R2 = 0.40 (p=0.05)
Material and methods : experimental feed
Trial 1.
Diam (mm)
Tested in pairs
→ 6 treatments (n=60 litters)
A
2
10
B C D
3 4 6
0
25
50
75
100
AB AC AD BC BD CD
Treatment
Re
lative
fe
ed
co
nsu
mp
tio
n (
%)
Pellet
A
B
C
D
Example treatment AB :
relative consumption pellet A=𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝐴
𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝐴 +𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝐵∗ 100
Nest
11
Trial 1.
**
Did pellet diameter affect suckling rabbit consumption ?
0
25
50
75
100
AB AC AD BC BD CD
Treatment
Re
lative
fe
ed
co
nsu
mp
tio
n (
%)
Pellet
A
B
C
D
0
25
50
75
100
AB AC AD BC BD CD
Treatment
Re
lative
fe
ed
co
nsu
mp
tio
n (
%)
Pellet
A
B
C
D
Example treatment AB :
relative consumption pellet A=𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝐴
𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝐴 +𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝐵∗ 100
o **** ******
Nest Feeders
12
Trial 1.
**
o P<0.1
Did pellet diameter affect suckling rabbit consumption ?
Relationship between feed preference and physical pellets characteristics
FeedDiameter
(mm)Hardness (MPa)
Durability
Pellet A 2.0 1.2 ab 95 a
Pellet B 3.0 1.4 b 95 a
Pellet C 4.0 1.4 b 92 a
Pellet D 6.0 1.1 a 86 b
How to explain these preferences ?
▪ No clear preferences for a specific pellet in the nest▪ Outside nest : pellet A is attractive / aversion for pellet D
Small diameter might explain preferences for A over B and CLarge diameter and low durability might explain low palatability of D
13
Trial 1.
Material and methods : experimental feed
Trial 1.
Diam (mm)
Tested in pairs
→ 6 treatments (n=60 litters)
A
Trial 2.
2
⌀ 2,5 mm
4
4.8
5.6
Different compression rates (= die channel length / die diameter)
Testedin pairs
→ 6 treatments (n=63 litters)
✓Pellet physical and chemical properties controlled 14
⌀ 4 mm
4.6
5
6
B C D
3 4 6
E
F
G
C
H
I
0
25
50
75
100
CH CI HITreatment
Re
lative
co
nsu
mp
tio
n (
%)
Pellet
C
H
I
Did compression rates affect suckling rabbit consumption ?
15
Nest Feeders⌀ 4 mm
⌀ 2,5 mm : no compression rate effect
*
0
25
50
75
100
CH CI HITreatment
Re
lative
co
nsu
mp
tio
n (
%)
Pellet
C
H
I
**
Trial 2.
Incr
easi
ng
com
pre
ssio
n r
ate
H
I
✓First success to stimulate and evaluate kits consumption from 8dwith pellets
✓Better knowledge of early feeding consumption :
16
• Low quantities compared to milk (0.1 - 2%)
• Variability in the feeding onset and in the amount consumed
• Significant effect of the initial litter weight
• Pellet diameter can modify palatability outside of the nest→ small diameter pellet may be of interest
Conclusion
✓First success to stimulate and evaluate kits consumption from 8dwith pellets
✓Better knowledge of early feeding consumption :
17
• Low quantities compared to milk (0.1 - 2%)
• Variability in the feeding onset and in the amount consumed
• Significant effect of the initial litter weight
• Pellet diameter can modify palatability outside of the nest→ small diameter pellet may be of interest
Conclusion
Prospects :Analysis of early dietary intervention on growth
performance, microbiome composition and rabbit health
Thanks for your attention !
18Contact information : [email protected]
19
Material and methods : animal husbandry (2)
Between 15d and 18d :
Doe
Doe feeder
Kits
Kit
s fe
ed
er
Kits fe
ed
er
Nest
Pellet 1Pellet 2
20
0
25
50
75
100
AB AC AD BC BD CD
Treatment
Re
lative
fe
ed
co
nsu
mp
tio
n
fro
m 1
3d
to
17
d (
% o
f to
tal fe
ed
co
nsu
me
d in
nu
mb
er
of p
elle
ts)
Pellet
A
B
C
D
Nest
Data in number of pellets
0
25
50
75
100
AB AC AD BC BD CD
Treatment
Re
lativ
e f
ee
d c
on
sum
ptio
n
fro
m 1
3d
to
17
d (
%)
Pellet
A
B
C
D
Data in grams
21
0
25
50
75
100
AB AC AD BC BD CD
Treatment
Re
lative
co
nsu
mp
tio
n
fro
m 1
5d
to
32
d in
th
e fe
ed
er
(%
of to
tal fe
ed
co
nsu
me
d in
nu
mb
er
of p
elle
ts)
Pellet
A
B
C
D
Data in number of pellets
Feeders
0
25
50
75
100
AB AC AD BC BD CD
Treatment
Re
lative
fe
ed
co
nsu
mp
tio
n
fro
m 1
5d
to
32
d (
%)
Pellet
A
B
C
D
Data in grams