Maternal effect during pregnancy and lactation in rabbits (a review)

Abstract

Authors summarize the most important knowledge having importance point of view of maternal effect in rabbit. Maternal effects influencing the individual foetuses and the whole litter during gestation are exhibited in body weight at birth, while the degree to which the individual suckling rabbits are supplied with the doe's milk is determined primarily by litter size. The effects of these two factors influencing the production of suckling, growing and adult (does) rabbits, were examined. Results in line with data in the literature able to compensate negative effects basis on birth weight and litter size were also summarized.