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Long-term implications of feed energy source in different genetic types of reproductive rabbit females: I. Resource acquisition and allocation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 December 2017

A. Arnau-Bonachera ,
C. Cervera ,
E. Blas ,
T. Larsen ,
E. Martínez-Paredes ,
L. Ródenas  and
J. J. Pascual
A. Arnau-Bonachera
Affiliation:
Veterinary School, Biomedical Research Institute (PASAPTA-Pathology group), Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Av. Seminario s/n, 46113 Moncada, Valencia, Spain
C. Cervera
Affiliation:
Institute for Animal Science and Technology, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera, s/n. 46 022 Valencia, Spain
E. Blas
Affiliation:
Institute for Animal Science and Technology, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera, s/n. 46 022 Valencia, Spain
T. Larsen
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Integrative Physiology, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
E. Martínez-Paredes
Affiliation:
Institute for Animal Science and Technology, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera, s/n. 46 022 Valencia, Spain
L. Ródenas
Affiliation:
Institute for Animal Science and Technology, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera, s/n. 46 022 Valencia, Spain
J. J. Pascual*
Affiliation:
Institute for Animal Science and Technology, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera, s/n. 46 022 Valencia, Spain
*
†E-mail: jupascu@dca.upv.es
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Abstract

To achieve functional but also productive females, we hypothesised that it is possible to modulate acquisition and allocation of animals from different genetic types by varying the main energy source of the diet. To test this hypothesis, we used 203 rabbit females belonging to three genetic types: H (n=66), a maternal line characterised by hyper-prolificacy; LP (n=67), a maternal line characterised by functional hyper-longevity; R (n=79), a paternal line characterised by growth rate. Females were fed with two isoenergetic and isoprotein diets differing in energy source: animal fat (AF) enhancing milk yield; cereal starch (CS) promoting body reserves recovery. Feed intake, weight, perirenal fat thickness (PFT), milk yield and blood traits were controlled during five consecutive reproductive cycles (RCs). Females fed with CS presented higher PFT (+0.2 mm, P<0.05) and those fed AF had higher milk yield (+11.7%, P<0.05). However, the effect of energy source varied with the genetic type and time. For example, R females presented a decrease in PFT at late lactation (−4.3%; P<0.05) significantly higher than that observed for H and LP lines (on av. −0.1%; P>0.05), particularly for those fed with AF. Moreover, LP females fed with AF progressively increased PFT across the RC, whereas those fed with CS increased PFT during early lactation (+7.3%; P<0.05), but partially mobilised it during late lactation (−2.8%; P<0.05). Independently of the diet offered, LP females reached weaning with similar PFT. H females fed with either of the two diets followed a similar trajectory throughout the RC. For milk yield, the effect of energy source was almost constant during the whole experiment, except for the first RC of females from the maternal lines (H and LP). These females yielded +34.1% (P<0.05) when fed with CS during this period. Results from this work indicate that the resource acquisition capacity and allocation pattern of rabbit females is different for each genetic type. Moreover, it seems that by varying the main energy source of the diet it is possible to modulate acquisition and allocation of resources of the different genetic types. However, the response of each one depends on its priorities over time.

Keywords

strategyenergy partitioninglife trajectoryanimal fatcereal starch
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 12 , Issue 9 , September 2018 , pp. 1867 - 1876
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2017 

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