A divergent selection experiment for litter size
variability has been carried out successfully in rabbits. The aim of this work
was to determine the evolution of body weight and perirenal fat thickness
throughout the productive lifespan of females in the high litter size
variability (H) line and the low litter size variability (L) line. The traits
measured in females from both the H and L lines were body weight and perirenal
fat thickness at the first mating and delivery, the second mating and delivery,
and the last mating. Statistical analyses were performed using Bayesian
methods. The H and L lines showed similar body weights in the
first and second reproductive cycles. However, the L line exhibited higher
perirenal fat thickness than the H line at the second delivery (9.19 mm vs. 9.00 mm, respectively P = 87%),
despite having almost one young rabbit more at birth. At the end of
reproductive life, the H line had a 4.4% higher body weight and a 3.4% higher
perirenal fat thickness than the L line. In conclusion, decreasing litter size
variability improves the mobilisation and management of body fat reserves in
females from the second reproductive cycle.
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