New trends in rabbit feeding: influence of nutrition on intestinal health
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Author
Carabaño, R.
Chamorro, S.
García, J.
García-Ruiz, A. I.
García-Rebollar, P.
Gómez-Conde, M. S.
Gutiérrez, I.
Nicodemus, N.
Villamide, M. J.
de Blas, J. C.
Publication date
2008-02-01ISSN
1695-971X
Abstract
The role of gut barrier against pathogens and its interaction with dietary factors in weaned rabbits affected with
digestive disorders, especially epizootic rabbit enteropathy is reviewed. This interaction was studied identifying nutritive
factors that influence gut barrier function of mucosa. It was examined the morphology, and enzyme activity of mucosa
and the gut associated immune system. Besides, it was characterized the substrate that reaches the caecum and its
capacity to favour pathogen bacteria growth, by reviewing the effect of diet on ileal digestibility of nutrients, transit
time and microbiota population. The nutritional factors which affect health of early weaned rabbits are level and type
of both fibre and protein. The optimal dietary level of insoluble fibre to minimise mortality is 30-32%. Furthermore,
a moderate inclusion of soluble fibre (12%) improves mucosa integrity and decreases mortality and the frequency of
detection of Clostridium perfringens and Campylobacter spp in the caecum. The reduction of ileal nitrogen flow had
a positive effect on pups viability and frequency of detection of C. perfringens. Furthermore, dietary supplementation
with 1% of glutamine reduced fattening mortality, the frequency of detection of C. perfringens, and Helicobacter spp,
and diminished the counts of Eimeria spp at the jejunum. In conclusion, a correct diet formulation may help to limit
the epizootic rabbit enteropathy incidence in weaned rabbits.
Document Type
Article
Document version
Published version
Language
English
Subject (CDU)
619 - Veterinary science
Pages
11
Publisher
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
Is part of
Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research
Citation
Carabaño, R., I. Badiola, S. Chamorro, J. García, A. I. García-Ruiz, P. García-Rebollar, M. S. Gómez-Conde, et al. 2008. “New Trends in Rabbit Feeding: Influence of Nutrition on Intestinal Health. A Review.” Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research 6 (S1): 15–25. doi: 10.5424/sjar/200806s1-5346
Program
Sanitat Animal
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- ARTICLES CIENTÍFICS [2811]
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