Syracuse

Quantification of solid feed intake of suckling rabbits and pellets diameter and hardness effectson the dietary preferences. Quantification de l'ingestion d'aliment solide de lapereaux allaités et effets du diamètre et de la dureté des granulés sur leurs préférences alimentaires

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Paes, Charlotte | Fortun-Lamothe, Laurence | Bebin, Karine | Duperray, Joël | Gohier, Charly | Guené-Grand, Emeline | Rebours, Gwenael | Aymard, Patrick | Debrusse, Anne-Marie | Gidenne, Thierry | Combes, Sylvie

Edité par CCSD -

International audience. Stimulation of the early feed intake of suckling rabbits represents an avenue of research to improve robustness by promoting a resilient gut microbiota. This study aimed to (i) quantify and characterize early solid intake as of 8 days (8d) with an innovative feeding system (in the nest, 8-17d; outside ofthe nest in feeders, 15-35d), (ii) to separately determine pellets diameter and hardness effects on their palatability. In the first experiment, four pellets differing by diameters were tested in pairs: 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 6.0 mm. In a second experiment, pellets with the same diameter (2.5 or 4.0 mm) were pelletized with three diet channel lengths: 10, 12, 14 mm or 18, 20 and 24 mm to obtain different hardness. Pellets of a given diameter were tested in pairs against each other (n=10 litters per treatment). Solid feed intake was observed at the litter level as of 8 days (0.02 ± 0.02 g of DM/rabbit). A total of 1.63 ± 0.76 g of DM/rabbit was ingested in the nest with a high inter-litter variability. The milk intake did not have an effect on the early solid intake (P>0.05). Thelitter weight at equalization was correlated with the feed intake at 2 weeks of age (0.4⩽r⩽0.5; P=0.03). The attractiveness of 2.0-mm-diameter pellets when they were available in the feeders was highlighted (from 61% to 86% of total consumption). Pellet hardness effect on the suckling rabbits dietary preferences still needs to be investigated. The onset of young rabbits’ solid intake may be stimulated with easy access and palatable pellets.Better knowledge of suckling rabbits’ feeding behaviour is opening the way for new studies on microbiota modulation through diet. . L'apport précoce d'aliment solide constitue une piste de recherche pour améliorer la robustesse du lapereau autour du sevrage en contribuant à l'installation d'un microbiote plus résilient. Cette étude visait à 1/ quantifier et caractériser l'ingestion solide du lapereau dès 8 jours (8j) via un système d'alimentation au nid (coupelles ; 8-17j) puis en dehors du nid (mangeoires ; 15-35j) et 2/ déterminer les effets distincts du diamètre et de la dureté des granulés sur leur appétence. Quatre granulés de différents diamètres (2,0 ; 3,0 ; 4,0 et 6,0 mm) avec des taux de compression similaires ont été testés en double-choix dans un premier essai. Dans un second essai, des granulés issus de filières de même diamètre (2,5 ou 4,0 mm), mais ayant différentes épaisseurs (10, 12, 14 mm ou 18, 20, 24 mm) pour générer des duretés différentes, étaient testés deux à deux (n=10 portées par traitement). L'ingestion d'aliment solide a été observée à partir de 8 jours (0,02 ± 0,02 g de MS/lapin). En moyenne, un lapereau a consommé 1,63 ± 0,76 g de MS dans le nid avec une forte variabilité inter-portée. L'ingestion solide précoce des portées n'a pas été affectée par les niveaux d'ingestion de lait (P>0,05) mais a été corrélée positivement avec le poids de portée après égalisation (0,4⩽r⩽0,5 ; P=0,03). L'attractivité du granulé de 2,0 mm de diamètre lorsqu'il était disponible aux mangeoires a été mise en évidence (entre 61% et 86% de la consommation totale). Les effets de la dureté sur les préférences alimentaires restent à approfondir. Nous concluons que l'apport d'un granulé de petit diamètre accessible au nid pourrait contribuer à stimuler l'ingestion solide avant sevrage. Un meilleur contrôle de l'ingestion de granulés par le lapereau allaité représente une première étape pour évaluer la modulation du microbiote digestif induite par cette ingestion précoce. Abstract-Quantification of solid feed intake of suckling rabbits and pellets diameter and hardness effects on the dietary preferences. Stimulation of the early feed intake of suckling rabbits represents an avenue of research to improve robustness by promoting a resilient gut microbiota. This study aimed to (i) quantify and characterize early solid intake as of 8 days (8d) with an innovative feeding system (in the nest, 8-17d; outside of the nest in feeders, 15-35d), (ii) to separately determine pellets diameter and hardness effects on their palatability. In the first experiment, four pellets differing by diameters were tested in pairs: 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 6.0 mm. In a second experiment, pellets with the same diameter (2.5 or 4.0 mm) were pelletized with three die channel lengths: 10, 12, 14 mm or 18, 20 and 24 mm to obtain different hardness. Pellets of a given diameter were tested in pairs against each other (n=10 litters per treatment). Solid feed intake was observed at the litter level as of 8 days (0.02 ± 0.02 g of DM/rabbit). A total of 1.63 ± 0.76 g of DM/rabbit was ingested in the nest with a high inter-litter variability. The milk intake did not have an effect on the early solid intake (P>0.05). The litter weight at equalization was correlated with the feed intake at 2 weeks of age (0.4⩽r⩽0.5; P=0.03). The attractiveness of 2.0-mm-diameter pellets when they were available in the feeders was highlighted (from 61% to 86% of total consumption). Pellet hardness effect on the suckling rabbits dietary preferences still needs to be investigated. The onset of young rabbits' solid intake may be stimulated with easy access and palatable pellets. Better knowledge of suckling rabbits' feeding behaviour is opening the way for new studies on microbiota modulation through diet.

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