Performance, health, bacterial metabolites and intestinal histomorphology in does and growing rabbits fed diets with increasing lignocellulose-to-cellulose proportions. 2022

Eva-Maria Saliu, and Ronald Krieg, and Beatriz Martínez-Vallespín, and Annette Simon, and Jürgen Zentek
Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Adequate levels of dietary fibre can reduce the risk of intestinal health disorders in rabbits after weaning. Therefore, it was the aim of the study to investigate the impact of different lignocellulose and cellulose addition to rabbits' diets on performance and intestinal traits in lactating does and weaned rabbits. A total of 60 rabbit does (4.41 ± 0.45 kg body weight) were fed isonitrogenous diets with lignocellulose and cellulose inclusion rates [%] of 0/8, 2/6, 4/4, 6/2 and 8/0, resulting in dietary lignin-to-cellulose ratios of 0.26, 0.30, 0.32, 0.34 and 0.40, respectively. The diets were fed from 4 d ante partum (a.p.) until day 28 post partum (p.p. weaning). After weaning, 40 young rabbits from each feeding group were fed the same diets for 12 d, when 10 rabbits per group were sacrificed. Body weight gain (BWG), feed intake and feed conversion ratio were obtained. Gastrointestinal content and gut tissue were obtained from the growing rabbits and pH, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) concentration and gut morphology were investigated. Digestive disorders were scored, and the sanitary risk index was calculated. Does fed the highest lignocellulose addition increased their feed intake [g · kg BW-1 · d-1] in the first two weeks p.p. (p < 0.001) and increased BWG (p < 0.001) but without impact on their offsprings' performance. Weaned rabbits fed the highest lignocellulose inclusion showed a reduced feed intake and increased sanitary risk index. Additionally, a higher number of rabbits showed intestinal disorders for a short time (1-2 d, p < 0.001). In the colon content, a higher pH and a lower dry matter content were observed in this group. Caecal contents of 40-d old rabbits showed lower total SCFA, acetate and propionate and higher i-valerate and L-lactate concentrations after feeding diets with high lignocellulose contents. The diet did not influence the acetate-to-propionate ratio. No histomorphological changes were observed in the jejunum, while crypt depth and width were reduced in the caecum of weaned rabbits fed diets with lignocellulose addition. It can be concluded that different proportions of lignocellulose to cellulose addition to rabbits' diets have an impact on health and performance with differences between does and weaned rabbits. While a high lignocellulose inclusion proved beneficial for does, for weaned rabbits, a lower addition should be preferred.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007774 Lactation The processes of milk secretion by the maternal MAMMARY GLANDS after PARTURITION. The proliferation of the mammary glandular tissue, milk synthesis, and milk expulsion or let down are regulated by the interactions of several hormones including ESTRADIOL; PROGESTERONE; PROLACTIN; and OXYTOCIN. Lactation, Prolonged,Milk Secretion,Lactations, Prolonged,Milk Secretions,Prolonged Lactation,Prolonged Lactations
D008031 Lignin The most abundant natural aromatic organic polymer found in all vascular plants. Lignin together with cellulose and hemicellulose are the major cell wall components of the fibers of all wood and grass species. Lignin is composed of coniferyl, p-coumaryl, and sinapyl alcohols in varying ratios in different plant species. (From Merck Index, 11th ed) Lignins
D011422 Propionates Derivatives of propionic acid. Included under this heading are a broad variety of acid forms, salts, esters, and amides that contain the carboxyethane structure. Propanoate,Propanoic Acid,Propionate,Propanoates,Propanoic Acid Derivatives,Propanoic Acids,Propionic Acid Derivatives,Propionic Acids,Acid, Propanoic,Acids, Propanoic,Acids, Propionic,Derivatives, Propanoic Acid,Derivatives, Propionic Acid
D011817 Rabbits A burrowing plant-eating mammal with hind limbs that are longer than its fore limbs. It belongs to the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, and in contrast to hares, possesses 22 instead of 24 pairs of chromosomes. Belgian Hare,New Zealand Rabbit,New Zealand Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbit,Rabbit,Rabbit, Domestic,Chinchilla Rabbits,NZW Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbits,Oryctolagus cuniculus,Chinchilla Rabbit,Domestic Rabbit,Domestic Rabbits,Hare, Belgian,NZW Rabbit,Rabbit, Chinchilla,Rabbit, NZW,Rabbit, New Zealand,Rabbits, Chinchilla,Rabbits, Domestic,Rabbits, NZW,Rabbits, New Zealand,Zealand Rabbit, New,Zealand Rabbits, New,cuniculus, Oryctolagus
D002482 Cellulose A polysaccharide with glucose units linked as in CELLOBIOSE. It is the chief constituent of plant fibers, cotton being the purest natural form of the substance. As a raw material, it forms the basis for many derivatives used in chromatography, ion exchange materials, explosives manufacturing, and pharmaceutical preparations. Alphacel,Avicel,Heweten,Polyanhydroglucuronic Acid,Rayophane,Sulfite Cellulose,alpha-Cellulose,Acid, Polyanhydroglucuronic,alpha Cellulose
D004032 Diet Regular course of eating and drinking adopted by a person or animal. Diets
D005232 Fatty Acids, Volatile Short-chain fatty acids of up to six carbon atoms in length. They are the major end products of microbial fermentation in the ruminant digestive tract and have also been implicated in the causation of neurological diseases in humans. Fatty Acids, Short-Chain,Short-Chain Fatty Acid,Volatile Fatty Acid,Acid, Short-Chain Fatty,Acid, Volatile Fatty,Fatty Acid, Short-Chain,Fatty Acid, Volatile,Fatty Acids, Short Chain,Short Chain Fatty Acid,Short-Chain Fatty Acids,Volatile Fatty Acids
D005260 Female Females
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000821 Animal Feed Foodstuff used especially for domestic and laboratory animals, or livestock. Fodder,Animal Feeds,Feed, Animal,Feeds, Animal,Fodders

Related Publications

Eva-Maria Saliu, and Ronald Krieg, and Beatriz Martínez-Vallespín, and Annette Simon, and Jürgen Zentek
July 1967, The Cornell veterinarian,
Eva-Maria Saliu, and Ronald Krieg, and Beatriz Martínez-Vallespín, and Annette Simon, and Jürgen Zentek
July 2021, Translational animal science,
Eva-Maria Saliu, and Ronald Krieg, and Beatriz Martínez-Vallespín, and Annette Simon, and Jürgen Zentek
December 2019, Poultry science,
Eva-Maria Saliu, and Ronald Krieg, and Beatriz Martínez-Vallespín, and Annette Simon, and Jürgen Zentek
January 2024, Journal of animal science,
Eva-Maria Saliu, and Ronald Krieg, and Beatriz Martínez-Vallespín, and Annette Simon, and Jürgen Zentek
April 2006, Poultry science,
Eva-Maria Saliu, and Ronald Krieg, and Beatriz Martínez-Vallespín, and Annette Simon, and Jürgen Zentek
June 2016, Tropical animal health and production,
Eva-Maria Saliu, and Ronald Krieg, and Beatriz Martínez-Vallespín, and Annette Simon, and Jürgen Zentek
May 2018, Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience,
Eva-Maria Saliu, and Ronald Krieg, and Beatriz Martínez-Vallespín, and Annette Simon, and Jürgen Zentek
April 1983, Laboratory animals,
Eva-Maria Saliu, and Ronald Krieg, and Beatriz Martínez-Vallespín, and Annette Simon, and Jürgen Zentek
January 1997, Journal of animal science,
Eva-Maria Saliu, and Ronald Krieg, and Beatriz Martínez-Vallespín, and Annette Simon, and Jürgen Zentek
September 2023, Tropical animal health and production,
Copied contents to your clipboard!