The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of season of birth, physiological
status of females, parity order, nest quality, place of birth, occurrence of cannibalism in litter, and sex
of kits on their body weight at birth and growth in a preweaning period. A total of 1696 rabbit kits
born during 3 parities and from 82 rabbit does were used in this study. The survival rate ranged from
88.57% at birth to 74.41% at weaning. Survivor kits always presented a higher body weight than
the dead kits regardless of the study period. Kits born in autumn were significantly heavier at 5 days
(93.73 g vs 88.54 g;P < 0.05) and at 7 days (119.58 g vs 110.94 g; P < 0.05) than those born in
summer. Except at birth, kits gestated in non-lactating females had a significantly higher body weight
compared with those gestated in lactating females, over all the preweaning period (P < 0.05). Regarding
parity order, at birth, kits born from nulliparous were lighter than those born from primiparous
(42.52 g vs 49.80 g; P < 0.05) or multiparous (42.52 g vs 53.20 g; P < 0.05). Kits born from primiparous
females maintained their superiority in terms of weight compared with those born from nulliparous
females throughout the experiment period. However, kits born from primiparous females had a similar
weight compared with those born from multiparous females over the entire study period. Kits born in a
nest of poor quality had a higher body weight at birth and at 7 days compared with those born in a nest
of intermediate (53.09 g vs 46.88 g and 126.91 vs 106.03; P < 0.05, respectively) or excellent qualities
(53.09 g vs 45.56 g and 162.91 g vs 112.85 g; P < 0.05, respectively). However, at 35 days, kits
born in a nest of excellent quality were heavier (P < 0.05). The kits’ body weight was higher when born
on cage than into nest (at birth, 52.25 g vs 44.76 g, at 5 days, 96.62 vs 85.65 g, at 7 days, 120.29 vs
110.24 g and at 14 days, 206.35 g vs 193.69 g). From 21 days, weights and weight gains became similar
between both places of birth. In regard to occurrence of cannibalism in litter, the individual weight
of kits was higher at birth when a kit was born in litter with cannibalism (52 g vs 45.02 g; P < 0.05).
Up to the second week, the body weights of kits were higher when they were born in a litter that did
not exhibit cannibalism at birth. Male kits were heavier than female kits only at birth (47.61 g vs
46.48 g; P < 0.05). In conclusion, the kits’ body weight during the preweaning period was mainly affected
by lactation status, parity order of the dam, and occurrence of cannibalism in litter.
Open Access