J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1977. 45:48-53.
© 1977 American Society of Animal Science
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Influence of Weight and Age on the Body Composition of Young Doe Rabbits

J. C. de Blas, A. Torres, Maria J. Fraga, E. Pérez and J. F. Gálvez

Universidad Politecnica de Madrid1, Spain

Abstract

Twenty-seven doe rabbits of the Giant of Spain breed (mature weight, 4 to 4.5 kg) were slaughtered in groups when they were 3, 4 and 5 months old.

The existence of a significant influence of age on dry matter (DM) (P<001), fat (P<001), ash (P<05) protein (P<01) and energy (P<.01) content of the body was confirmed.

To quantitatively determine the influence of weight on body composition, six types of simple regression equations were applied and those giving the highest coefficient of determination were chosen. For live weight the coefficients of determination were:

DM (R2 = .34), fat (R2 = .58), ash (R2 = .49), protein (R2 = .45) and energy (R2 = .58), (all P<.01). No influence on the body composition was found for either milk intake or milk conversion.

The net energy requirements of growth in kcal/day and kcal/g live weight gain were also determined, confirming that the net requirement per gram live weight gain increased with increasing weight but did not vary with different growth rates, and the net nitrogen requirement did not vary either with the live weight or the growth rate.

The specific effect of age on body composition, independent of its effect via live weight, was demonstrated. This influence was quantified by introducing correction coefficients in the equations relating body composition to live weight.

In the same way, a regression was obtained which established a relationship between fat and water as percentages of live weight (R2 = .73). The dry fat-free body composition was practically constant, independently of age and weight. Finally, the energy percentage was calculated via another regression from the fat and protein percentages (R2 = .84).

Footnotes

1 Departamento de Nutrición Animal E.T.S. Inge-nieros Agrónomos.






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