Feed restriction of pregnant nulliparous rabbit does: consequences on reproductive performance and maternal behaviour

An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of feed restriction of young pregnant rabbit does during early (10 days), mid (15 days), and late gestation (20 days) on progesterone level, feed intake, reproductive and productive performance and maternal behaviour. Forty nulliparous rabbit does were classified into four equal groups (10 does/group). The first group was the control group (C) the does were fed ad libitum from day of mating and throughout pregnancy. The other three groups were the restricted groups in which the does were restricted to 1.32 of maintenance requirements during the first 10 days (R10), the first 15 days (R15) and the first 20 days of pregnancy (R20). At the end of each restriction period does of R10, R15 and R20 returned to ad libitum feeding. Compared to control group does of R15 and R20 showed significantly (P < 0.05) increased voluntary feed intake during the last stage (21 days to kindling) of pregnancy (292 ± 16 g/day, 325 ± 12 g/day Vs 251 ± 14 g/day) which resulted in better preparturient maternal behaviour, heavier does at kindling (3025 ± 15 g, 2975 ± 14 g Vs 2796 ± 15 g) with heavier kits (49.79 ± 2.84 g, 54.45 ± 2.90 g Vs 43.93 ± 4.10 g) and litters (387 ± 14 g, 396 ± 19 g Vs 338 ± 28 g) at birth in addition to heavier litters at weaning (2570 ± 48 g, 2685 ± 65 g Vs 2235 ± 65 g). Results of R10 and C groups were comparable. No significant differences (P < 0.05) were recorded between control and the different restricted groups for progesterone level during pregnancy, fertility and kindling rates nor doe weight at end of lactation. In conclusion, restriction of young pregnant rabbit does for the first 15 or 20 days of pregnancy stimulated voluntary feed intake during late pregnancy and might improve their performance without adversely affecting progesterone level or embryonic mortality, however further investigations are needed to elucidate its effect on doe performance for more than one cycle and the effect of such prenatal restriction on the future performance of their kits.