Abstracts of the XXXVI Symposium de cunicultura de ASESCU, 2011

Abstract

[EN] The annual Congress of the Spanish Association of Cuniculture (ASESCU) was held in Peñíscola (province of Castellón, autonomous community of Valence) on 12-13th May of 2011. The 36th edition was devoted to analyse the actual situation of the rabbit sector. It was presented an overview of the situation of the rabbit farming in the province of Castellón, an analysis of the factors that determine the final price of the rabbit meat in the market. Moreover, a special session devoted to the rabbit farmers studied the environmental control in the farms and the main factors influencing the profitability in the rabbit farming. Main papers related to coccidiosis, mixomatosis and, and a summary of the norm extension carried out by the Spanish Rabbit Interprofessional (INTERCUN) were also presented in three different conferences. Furthermore, a total of 32 communications were presented in seven working sessions. Nutrition session analysed diet digestibility in lactating does, the increasing of soluble fibre and starch in diets for growing rabbits, the effect of a feed restriction in fattening rabbits, pre-weaning feeding management of growing rabbits and does, the inclusion of palm kernel meal in diets for growing rabbits, and the digestibility of Lablab purpureus and Stizolobium niveum. Technico-economic management session studied concepts for improving profitability of farms. Genetics session evaluated several maternal lines and cross does for longevity, and studied doe genetic origin, environmental conditions during lactation and kit survival during the fattening period. Ethology session analysed aggressiveness in breeding does, the effect of type of cage on does behaviour, and evaluated sampling techniques for assessing does behaviour. Reproduction and Body Composition session studied several aspects related to the body composition of does, the application of biolectrical impedance for its assessment, the effect of different treatments of ovulation induction, and the relation between the performance of the does and plasma concentration of non-esterified fatty acids. Carcass Quality session analysed the prediction of intramuscular fat and fatty acid content in rabbit meat by near infrared spectroscopy, the nutritional quality of rabbit meat fed with a feed enriched in Omega 3, risk factors related to rabbit digestive pathologies on carcass classification, the anatomical assessment and meat quality, and prediction of rabbit carcass composition using visual image analysis. Pathology section studied the use of the Pheneplate System for autovaccine design, the effect of heat stress on the immune system of rabbit does, the characterization of nasal carried Staphylococcus aureus strains, the pharmacokinetic of marbofloxacin and several fluoroquinolones, and the development of a subunit vaccine against rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus.