Effect of severe dietary restriction on growth and slaughter characteristics of non-selected growing rabbits

This work was carried out to study the effects of dietary restriction by time-limited access to the feeders on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Algerian local growing rabbit. Forty-four weaned rabbits, 32-35 days old, were randomly divided into 2 groups, the control group (C) fed ad-libitum throughout the fattening period and the group with restricted access to the feeders (R). During the five post-weaning weeks, the weekly (7 days) feeding program of the R group consisted on a restriction access time (3h) to the feeders during the first 5 days and ad libitum feed distribution for the two remaining days of the week. Two weeks before slaughter (10 to 12 weeks of age), the rabbits from the R group were re-fed ad libitum. Live weight in R group was lower (p<0.05) at 10 weeks of age (1084.7 vs. 1510.7g) but similar to those of the control group at 12 weeks of age. Different daily feed intakes throughout the fattening period and similar average daily gains (R:16.25 g/d vs. C:22.10 g/d; p>0.05). The feed intake index at the end of fattening was significantly higher (p=0.001) in control rabbits (4.15 vs 3.85). Carcass yield was similar (68.07% vs. 65.70%) in the two groups while peri-renal fat weight was higher (p=0.002) in control rabbits (27.17 vs 13.67g). The results of the present study indicate the economic interest of feed restriction strategy by limiting access to feeders, what should be promoted and made widely known to rabbit farmers.