Articles

What tools for more robust rabbits around weaning?

Abstract

Rabbits are born naked, unable to provide adequate self-thermoregulation if left alone and are only partly mature in sensory, physiological and motor terms. Interactions with the mother are limited. Solid food ingestion begins when the young are able to leave the nest and access their mother's  feeder, although their nutritional needs are different from hers. However, the species has developed physiological and behavioral adaptations such as the mammary pheromone, coprophagia in the nest and maturity of the digestive system that are all assets contributing to enhance viability and robustness around weaning. Husbandry practices potentially favorable to the survival of the young may concern nest manipulation, homogenization of litters’ size and weight, controlled nursing and specific nutrition.

Authors


Sylvie COMBES

sylvie.combes@inra.fr

Affiliation : 1GenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRA, INPT, INP-ENVT, 31320, Castanet Tolosan, France

Country : France


Thierry GIDENNE

Affiliation : 1 GenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRA, INPT, ENVT, 31320, Castanet-Tolosan, France

Country : France


Samuel BOUCHER

Affiliation : 2LABOVET CONSEIL, site des Herbiers, 22 rue Olivier de Serres, 85505, Les Herbiers, France

Country : France


Laurence FORTUN-LAMOTHE

Affiliation : 1 GenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRA, INPT, ENVT, 31320, Castanet-Tolosan, France

Country : France


Gérard BOLET

Affiliation : 1 GenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRA, INPT, INP-ENVT, 31320, Castanet Tolosan, France

Country : France


Gérard COUREAUD

Affiliation : 3 Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, CNRS, INSERM, Université Claude Bernard, Lyon 1, 69001, Lyon, France

Country : France

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