A multi-omics dataset of the response to early plant polysaccharide ingestion in rabbits.

The transition from a milk-based diet to exclusive solid feeding deeply modifies microbiota-host crosstalk. Specifically, early ingestion of plant polysaccharides would be one of the main nutritional components to drive host-microbiota-interaction. To capture the effects of polysaccharides early-life nutrition (starch vs rapidly fermentable fiber) on the holobiont development, we investigated on the one hand the gut bacteriome and metabolome and on the other hand the transcriptome of two host gut tissues.

Early Introduction of Plant Polysaccharides Drives the Establishment of Rabbit Gut Bacterial Ecosystems and the Acquisition of Microbial Functions.

In mammals, the introduction of solid food is pivotal for the establishment of the gut microbiota. However, the effects of the first food consumed on long-term microbiota trajectory and host response are still largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the influences of (i) the timing of first solid food ingestion and (ii) the consumption of plant polysaccharides on bacterial community dynamics and host physiology using a rabbit model.

Part-time grouping of rabbit does in enriched housing: effects on performances, injury occurrence and enrichment use.

Collective housing is perceived as a possible way to improve rabbit welfare, especially among adult females, which are normally individually housed. Part-time group housing seems to allow a better balance between welfare and health than continuous group housing, but practical implementation and consequences for reproductive performance have not been extensively studied. The aim of this work was to compare weight, feed intake, litter size, injury occurrence, body integrity, and spatial location of female rabbits housed part-time in group housing (PGH group, n = 32) or housed individually (IH group, n = 8).

Data set on early feed intake and growth performances of rabbits fed during the suckling period with pellets differing in diameter or compression rate using a double-choice testing design.

Weaning is a critical period for the health of rabbits, with a high sensitivity to digestive diseases. Allowing early consumption of solid feed in the nest of the suckling rabbit could help to maintain its health around weaning. In general, previous studies have focused on feed intake of rabbits when they are able to leave the nest, i.

Insights into suckling rabbit feeding behaviour: acceptability of different creep feed presentations and attractiveness for sensory feed additives.

In young rabbit, digestive disorders are frequently observed around weaning. Stimulating the onset of feed intake in the suckling rabbit might be a way to promote gut health. The aim of this study was to determine the rabbit's acceptability for different feed presentations and its preferences for flavours at an early stage of life.