Early weaning of young rabbits : a review

Abstract

In the present work, the main recent literature concerning early weaning of young rabbits was reviewed. Available information about the possible effect of early weaning practice on reproductive females (corporal condition and health status), weaned kits (changes of caecum fermentation and digestive enzymatic activities) and growing rabbits (performance and health status) was revised. Early weaning at 21-25 days seems to be a feasible practice that could have interesting possibilities from a productive point of view. This practice should decrease the usual reserve mobilization of does during the last days of lactation and could allow a specific and more adequate nutrition of kits around weaning time. However, more information about the positive or negative effects of early weaning on the performance and pathology incidences is need. At this respect, a higher effort on the study of adequate management systems and weaning diets should be required in the future.