Productive performance, metabolic, and hematologic parameters of pregnant nulliparous rabbit does according to...

This study aims at investigating the productive performance, metabolic, and hematological profiles of Algerian local rabbits does during their first pregnancy and according to dietary protein content.

A total of 52 nulliparous rabbit does, 3,116 ± 72.9 g live weight, were allocated individually to three groups (17/18 females per group) being on isoenergetic diets [2,600 kcal Digestible Energy (DE)/kg] that differ in their digestible protein content by 15%, 17%, and 19%, respectively, for L, M, and H diets. All these diets were provided ad libitum.

The use of a high protein diet did not affect does weight and feed intake during the pregnancy period. Statistically, no significant difference (p > 0.05) was recorded in born or alive litter size and birth weight. There was no effect of diet and sampling time (p > 0.05) on plasma metabolites but there were significant effects of sampling time (p < 0.0001) on the metabolic parameters studied with prolificacy used as a covariate. Hematologic indices in pregnant rabbits were not affected by the diet exceeded the red blood cells rate that increased significantly (p < 0.05) with the increase in dietary protein content during the different periods of gestation.

The use of a high protein diet has no effect on weight during the pregnancy period. No effect of diet and sampling time on plasma metabolites and hematological profiles are recorded; however, significant effects of sampling time are recorded on the metabolic parameters.