Effects of different percentages of sucrose in drinking water on reproductive performance and energy balance of primiparous lactating rabbit does

The feeding of a liquid sucrose was used to verify the energy intake and the reproductive performance of primiparous rabbit doe during the first 10 days of lactation. During lactation the groups received the same diet (DE 11.2 MJ/kg) supplemented or not with sucrose in the drinking water (0, 2.5, 5 and 10%). Dietary treatment did not affect the energy intake and reproductive performance of the does. The liquid diet reduced the voluntary intake of solid feed and the total DE intake (solid + water) was quite the same in all the groups (from 2738 to 3276 kJ/doe/d); however the calculated energy equilibrium showed a deficit ranging from -3.2 to 12.4%.