Reproductive robustness differs between generalist and specialist maternal rabbit lines: the role of acquisition and allocation of resources

[EN] Background: Farm animals are normally selected under highly controlled, non-limiting conditions to favour the expression of their genetic potential. Selection strategies can also focus on a single trait to favour the most specialized animals. Theoretically, if the environment provides enough resources, the selection strategy should not lead to changes in the interactions between life functions such as reproduction and survival. However, highly specialized farm animals can be required for breeding under conditions that differ largely from selection conditions. The consequence is a degraded ability of specialized animals to sustain reproduction, production and health, which leads to a reduced lifespan. This study was designed to address this issue using maternal rabbit lines. A highly specialized line with respect to numerical productivity at weaning (called V) and a generalist line that originated from females with a long reproductive life (called LP) were used to study the strategies that these lines develop to acquire and use the available resources when housed in different environments. In addition, two generations of line V, generations 16 and 36, were available simultaneously, which contributed to better understand how selection criteria applied in a specific environment changed the interplay between functions related to reproduction and survival. Results: We show that, under constrained conditions, line LP has a greater capacity for resource acquisition than line V, which prevents excessive mobilization of body reserves. However, 20 generations of selection for litter size at weaning did not lead to an increased capacity of nutrient (or resource) acquisition. For the two generations of line V, the partitioning of resources between milk production, body reserves preservation or repletion or foetal growth differed. Conclusions: Combining foundational and selection criteria with a specific selection environment resulted in female rabbits that had a different capacity to deal with environmental constraints. An increased robustness was considered as an emergent property of combining a multiple trait foundational criterion with a wide range of environmental conditions. Since such a strategy was successful to increase the robustness of female rabbits without impairing their productivity, there is no reason that it should not be applied in other livestock species.The authors thank Juan Carlos Moreno Pardo, Luis Rodenas Martinez and Eugenio Martinez Paredes for their technical support, and Doctors Manuel Baselga Izquierdo, Enrique Blas Ferrer and Concha Cervera Fras for their valuable comments in the first version of this work. We also thank the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (Project AGL2011-30170-C02-01) for the economic support.Savietto, D.; Friggens, NC.; Pascual Amorós, JJ. (2015). Reproductive robustness differs between generalist and specialist maternal rabbit lines: the role of acquisition and allocation of resources. Genetics Selection Evolution. 47(2):1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12711-014-0073-5111472Knap, P. W. (2005). Breeding robust pigs. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 45(8), 763. doi:10.1071/ea05041Havenstein, G., Ferket, P., & Qureshi, M. (2003). Growth, livability, and feed conversion of 1957 versus 2001 broilers when fed representative 1957 and 2001 broiler diets. Poultry Science, 82(10), 1500-1508. doi:10.1093/ps/82.10.1500Havenstein, G., Ferket, P., & Qureshi, M. (2003). Carcass composition and yield of 1957 versus 2001 broilers when fed representative 1957 and 2001 broiler diets. Poultry Science, 82(10), 1509-1518. doi:10.1093/ps/82.10.1509Hansen, L. B. (2000). Consequences of Selection for Milk Yield from a Geneticist’s Viewpoint. Journal of Dairy Science, 83(5), 1145-1150. doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(00)74980-0Poggenpoel, D. G., Ferreira, G. F., Hayes, J. P., & du Preez, J. J. (1996). Response to long‐term selection for egg production in laying hens. British Poultry Science, 37(4), 743-756. doi:10.1080/00071669608417904Estany, J., Camacho, J., Baselga, M., & Blasco, A. (1992). Selection response of growth rate in rabbits for meat production. Genetics Selection Evolution, 24(6), 527. doi:10.1186/1297-9686-24-6-527Garcı́a, M. L., & Baselga, M. (2002). Estimation of genetic response to selection in litter size of rabbits using a cryopreserved control population. Livestock Production Science, 74(1), 45-53. doi:10.1016/s0301-6226(01)00280-9Horan, B., Dillon, P., Faverdin, P., Delaby, L., Buckley, F., & Rath, M. (2005). The Interaction of Strain of Holstein-Friesian Cows and Pasture-Based Feed Systems on Milk Yield, Body Weight, and Body Condition Score. Journal of Dairy Science, 88(3), 1231-1243. doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(05)72790-9Lucy, M. C. (2001). Reproductive Loss in High-Producing Dairy Cattle: Where Will It End? Journal of Dairy Science, 84(6), 1277-1293. doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(01)70158-0Felver-Gant, J. N., Mack, L. A., Dennis, R. L., Eicher, S. D., & Cheng, H. W. (2012). Genetic variations alter physiological responses following heat stress in 2 strains of laying hens. Poultry Science, 91(7), 1542-1551. doi:10.3382/ps.2011-01988Vicente, J. S., Llobat, L., Viudes-de-Castro, M. P., Lavara, R., Baselga, M., & Marco-Jiménez, F. (2012). Gestational losses in a rabbit line selected for growth rate. Theriogenology, 77(1), 81-88. doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.07.019Lavara, R., Vicente, J. S., & Baselga, M. (2012). Estimation of genetic parameters for semen quality traits and growth rate in a paternal rabbit line. Theriogenology, 78(3), 567-575. doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.03.002Rauw, W. ., Kanis, E., Noordhuizen-Stassen, E. ., & Grommers, F. . (1998). Undesirable side effects of selection for high production efficiency in farm animals: a review. Livestock Production Science, 56(1), 15-33. doi:10.1016/s0301-6226(98)00147-xTheilgaard, P., Sánchez, J., Pascual, J., Berg, P., Friggens, N. C., & Baselga, M. (2007). Late reproductive senescence in a rabbit line hyper selected for reproductive longevity, and its association with body reserves. Genetics Selection Evolution, 39(2), 207. doi:10.1186/1297-9686-39-2-207Sánchez, J. P., Theilgaard, P., Mínguez, C., & Baselga, M. (2008). Constitution and evaluation of a long-lived productive rabbit line1. Journal of Animal Science, 86(3), 515-525. doi:10.2527/jas.2007-0217Van Noordwijk, A. J., & de Jong, G. (1986). Acquisition and Allocation of Resources: Their Influence on Variation in Life History Tactics. The American Naturalist, 128(1), 137-142. doi:10.1086/284547Reznick, D., Nunney, L., & Tessier, A. (2000). Big houses, big cars, superfleas and the costs of reproduction. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 15(10), 421-425. doi:10.1016/s0169-5347(00)01941-8Theilgaard, P., Baselga, M., Blas, E., Friggens, N. C., Cervera, C., & Pascual, J. J. (2009). Differences in productive robustness in rabbits selected for reproductive longevity or litter size. animal, 3(5), 637-646. doi:10.1017/s1751731109003838Savietto, D., Cervera, C., Blas, E., Baselga, M., Larsen, T., Friggens, N. C., & Pascual, J. J. (2013). Environmental sensitivity differs between rabbit lines selected for reproductive intensity and longevity. animal, 7(12), 1969-1977. doi:10.1017/s175173111300178xEstany, J., Baselga, M., Blasco, A., & Camacho, J. (1989). Mixed model methodology for the estimation of genetic response to selection in litter size of rabbits. Livestock Production Science, 21(1), 67-75. doi:10.1016/0301-6226(89)90021-3Vicente, J.-S., Viudes-de-Castro, M.-P., & García, M.-L. (1999). In vivo survival rate of rabbit morulae after vitrification in a medium without serum protein. Reproduction Nutrition Development, 39(5-6), 657-662. doi:10.1051/rnd:19990511Besenfelder, U., & Brem, G. (1993). Laparoscopic embryo transfer in rabbits. Reproduction, 99(1), 53-56. doi:10.1530/jrf.0.0990053Ferrian, S., Guerrero, I., Blas, E., García-Diego, F. J., Viana, D., Pascual, J. J., & Corpa, J. M. (2012). How selection for reproduction or foundation for longevity could have affected blood lymphocyte populations of rabbit does under conventional and heat stress conditions. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 150(1-2), 53-60. doi:10.1016/j.vetimm.2012.08.007Ferrian, S., Blas, E., Larsen, T., Sánchez, J. P., Friggens, N. C., Corpa, J. M., … Pascual, J. J. (2013). Comparison of immune response to lipopolysaccharide of rabbit does selected for litter size at weaning or founded for reproductive longevity. Research in Veterinary Science, 94(3), 518-525. doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2013.01.008García-Diego, F.-J., Pascual, J. J., & Marco, F. (2011). Technical Note: Design of a large variable temperature chamber for heat stress studies in rabbits. World Rabbit Science, 19(4). doi:10.4995/wrs.2011.938Savietto, D., Blas, E., Cervera, C., Baselga, M., Friggens, N. C., Larsen, T., & Pascual, J. J. (2012). Digestive efficiency in rabbit does according to environment and genetic type. World Rabbit Science, 20(3). doi:10.4995/wrs.2012.1152Xiccato, G., & Trocino, A. (s. f.). Energy and protein metabolism and requirements. Nutrition of the rabbit, 83-118. doi:10.1079/9781845936693.0083Fortun-Lamothe, L., & Lebas, F. (1996). Effects of dietary energy level and source on foetal development and energy balance in concurrently pregnant and lactating primiparous rabbit does. Animal Science, 62(3), 615-620. doi:10.1017/s1357729800015174Cervera, C., & Carmona, J. F. (s. f.). Nutrition and the climatic environment. Nutrition of the rabbit, 267-284. doi:10.1079/9781845936693.0267Costa, C., Baselga, M., Lobera, J., Cervera, C., & Pascual, J. J. (2004). Evaluating response to selection and nutritional needs in a three-way cross of rabbits. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 121(3), 186-196. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0388.2004.00450.xQuevedo, F., Cervera, C., Blas, E., Baselga, M., Costa, C., & Pascual, J. J. (2005). Effect of selection for litter size and feeding programme on the performance of young rabbit females during rearing and first pregnancy. Animal Science, 80(2), 161-168. doi:10.1079/asc40850161Friggens, N. C., Ingvartsen, K. L., & Emmans, G. C. (2004). Prediction of Body Lipid Change in Pregnancy and Lactation. Journal of Dairy Science, 87(4), 988-1000. doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(04)73244-0Friggens, N. C. (2003). Body lipid reserves and the reproductive cycle: towards a better understanding. Livestock Production Science, 83(2-3), 219-236. doi:10.1016/s0301-6226(03)00111-8Turer, A. T., & Scherer, P. E. (2012). Adiponectin: mechanistic insights and clinical implications. Diabetologia, 55(9), 2319-2326. doi:10.1007/s00125-012-2598-xTheilgaard, P., Sánchez, J. P., Pascual, J. J., Friggens, N. C., & Baselga, M. (2006). Effect of body fatness and selection for prolificacy on survival of rabbit does assessed using a cryopreserved control population. Livestock Science, 103(1-2), 65-73. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2006.01.007Sánchez, J. P., de la Fuente, L. F., & Rosell, J. M. (2012). Health and body condition of lactating females on rabbit farms1. Journal of Animal Science, 90(7), 2353-2361. doi:10.2527/jas.2011-4065Coureaud, G., Schaal, B., Coudert, P., Rideaud, P., Fortun-Lamothe, L., Hudson, R., & Orgeur, P. (2000). Immediate postnatal sucking in the rabbit: Its influence on pup survival and growth. Reproduction Nutrition Development, 40(1), 19-32. doi:10.1051/rnd:2000117Rosell, J. M., & de la Fuente, L. F. (2009). Culling and mortality in breeding rabbits. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 88(2), 120-127. doi:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2008.08.003Fortun-Lamothe, L., Prunier, A., Bolet, G., & Lebas, F. (1999). Physiological mechanisms involved in the effects of concurrent pregnancy and lactation on foetal growth and mortality in the rabbit. Livestock Production Science, 60(2-3), 229-241. doi:10.1016/s0301-6226(99)00096-2Kirkwood, T. B. . (2002). Evolution of ageing. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, 123(7), 737-745. doi:10.1016/s0047-6374(01)00419-5Kirkwood, T. B. L. (2005). Understanding the Odd Science of Aging. Cell, 120(4), 437-447. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2005.01.027Snell, T. W., & King, C. E. (1977). Lifespan and Fecundity Patterns in Rotifers: The Cost of Reproduction. Evolution, 31(4), 882. doi:10.2307/2407451Stearns, S. C. (1989). Trade-Offs in Life-History Evolution. Functional Ecology, 3(3), 259. doi:10.2307/238936