Gidenne, T et al: A comprehensive approach of the rabbit digestion: consequences of a reduction in dietary fibre supply

Gidenne, T.; Pinheiro, V.; Falcao e Cunha, L.: A comprehensive approach of the rabbit digestion: consequences of a reduction in dietary fibre supply.
In: Livestock Production Science, Volume 64, Number 2, June 2000, pp. 225-237(13).

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Abstract

The effects of dietary fibre level (20–16–12% acid detergent fibre [ADF]), without variations in the proportions of the fibre fractions (hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin . . . ), were studied with respect to many aspects of rabbit digestion (ileal digestibility, transit, microbial activity), growth and health. For the lowest level of ADF, the voluntary intake of animals was reduced by 25% and weight gain by 9%, during the two weeks postweaning (28–42 days), and there was a sharp increase (P,0.01) of morbidity between 42 and 70 days old. A linear reduction of the whole tract digestibility for OM was observed according to ADF level (21.6 unit per % ADF), without significant changes in fibre digestibility. When ADF level passed from 20 to 12%, ileal digestibility of organic matter increased from 38 to 61%, while it decreased from 27 to 17% in the caeco-colic segment. Starch ileal digestibility was lowered by 5.7 units with the reduction of the ADF/ starch ratio, but remained at a very high level (.93%). A sharp increase in mean retention time between ileum and rectum (138%) was noticed, reaching 19 h for the lowest ADF level. The bacterial fibrolytic activity was significantly reduced with the lowest ADF level (Fig. 1), and pectinolytic activity was more particularly affected (240%). Two weeks after weaning the VFA
level decreased linearly and significantly (P,0.01) with reduction of ADF level, while at 10 weeks no significant effect was observed.

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