Effect of diets with different digestible energy content on the performance of rabbit does

One hundred and ninety-two lactations from a total of 59 New Zealand × Californian rabbit does were used to study the influence of the dietary energy content on the reproductive performance of rabbit does. Three experimental diets (L, M and H) were formulated to give the same fibre content and different digestible energy (DE) content (9.9, 11.1 and 12.2 MJ DE kg−1 DM) using cereal starch as the main energy source. Primiparous does given diet H showed a higher live weight during the first gestation (p < 0.01), but no differences in the live weight were found at partum. Primiparous does on diet H showed significantly higher DE intake and live weight gain (p < 0.01) during lactation, but their milk yield was lower (p < 0.05) than those given diets L and M. Rabbit does showed a higher live weight at the second mating when the dietary energy content was increased (p < 0.001), and this was maintained subsequently. Diet H decreased the food intake of multiparous does throughout the reproductive cycle, and especially during lactation (p < 0.001). Milk yield during the last two weeks was lower for multiparous does given H diet (p < 0.01). Neither the size nor the weight of litters was significantly affected by the type of diet during lactation, but mortality at partum was higher for H diet (p < 0.05). Thus, the high starch diet increased the live weight and the DE intake of primiparous rabbit does during lactation, but it did not improve the performance of their litters and could induce an excessive live weight of gestating rabbit does.