Food intake in captive leverets before weaning and the composition of the milk of the brown doe-hare (Lepus europaeus).

Daily milk and solid food intakes were studied in leverets before weaning and during 52 lactations in captive doe-hares. Changes in milk composition were studied in parallel during 11 other lactations. With the mode of feeding used (one nursing per 24 hr), milk and solid food intakes were recorded for the first 30 neonatal days. The profile of milk intake had three phases: it showed an increase between D0 and D12, a plateau between D12 and D22, and a decrease between D22 and D30. Solid food intake began at D7 and increased significantly from D14. The mean levels of dry matter, fat and protein in doe hare's milk were similar to those in rabbit's milk The amino acid composition of total protein resembled that of rabbit's milk. There were fewer medium-chain fatty acids (8:0-14:0) in here's milk than in rabbit's milk and the levels of some major minerals (Ca, P, K) were also different. The levels of protein and medium-chain fatty acids (except 14:0) increased significantly with time. On the other hand, the levels of long-chain fatty acids (except 18:0 and 18:3, N = 3) decreased significantly. There was no significant change in the other factors studied.