Determination of the lactation curve in rabbits, using the modified beta function

The purpose of this research was to characterize the lactation curve in rabbits; important aspect to adjust rations and obtain maximum performance in production systems. A modified beta function was used, with estimators of: height (κ), ascent (α) and descent (β) of 374.60 ± 10.271; 0.5616 ± 0.015 and 0.4369 ± 0.014 respectively. The day of maximum production (DMP) and the maximum production (PM) of the average curve was achieved at 16.78 d with a volume of 189.01 g.d-1. Parameter estimators, as well as WMD and PM of individual lactations, were analyzed using the mixed model with repeated measures, which included the fixed effects: genotype (G), number of parity (P) and litter size. (C), and the random effect of the animal nested within genotype A(G). For κ, significant differences were found (p ≤ 0.05), increasing its value with the size of the litter. In α, significant differences were only detected in P with the highest parameter value in primiparous females (p ≤ 0.05). The β parameter was only affected by C. The WMD and PM were affected (p ≤ 0.05) by P and C. The PM was higher in multiparous rabbits and increased with C (p ≤ 0.05). The modified beta function adequately describes the lactation curve of rabbits.

• Main Author: Gómez Ramos, Benjamín (author)
• Other Authors: Maldonado, Isaías de Jesús (author), Roman Bravo, Rafael Maria (author), Garcidueñas Piña, Rogelio (author), Aranguren Méndez, José Atilio (author)
• Format: article
• Language: spa
• Published: 2023
• Online Access: https://revistasespam.espam.edu.ec/index.php/Revista_ESPAMCIENCIA/article/view/360