Efficiency of housing establishment for rabbits’productivity
Abstract: A total of 24 does, 24 bucks and 689 offspring of New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits were used in this study. Productive performance and thyroid activity were assessed as affected by seasonal conditions in three models of housing throughout one year of production. These were differed mainly in roofing type, concrete roof (model 1), double metal sheets roof (model 2) and single metal roof (model 3).The results confirmed that model 2 (double metal sheets roof) accommodated better and comfort conditions in all seasons than the other two models. Rabbits kept in model 2 showed the highest values of feed intake (FI), total body gain (TBG), T3 and T4 concentrations and T4/T3 ratio than those in models 1 and 3. The overall increases (%) in model 2 than those in models 1 and 3, respectively were 7.9 and 15.4 for FI, 53.3 and 125.2 for TBG, 21.5 and 104.5 for T4 level, 20.7 and 46.7 for T3 and 2.5 and 39.8 for T4/T3 ratio respectively. It is clear that the reduction in all studied traits was more obvious in model 3. The overall averages for does, bucks and kits, respectively were 166.6, 149.9 and 84.1 g/dl for feed intake (FI), 463.2, 244.8 and 933.2 g for total body gain (TBG), 37.1, 37.7 and 37.6 ng/ml for T4 level and 1.4, 1.6 and 1.6 ng/ml for T3 level respectively. Does, bucks and kits raised during winter showed the highest values (%) compared with those in summer, respectively by 15.3, 11.8 and 2.7 for FI, 6.5, 27.0 and 29.5 for T4 level, 7.1, 20.0 and 20.0 for T3 level. In winter, does showed higher values of TBG than in summer, while bucks and kits showed the opposite trend.
Key words : Rabbits, housing, seasons, feed intake, body gain , hormones.
Publication year 2005
Pages 425-434
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى - الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
Country Egypt
City شرم الشيخ
serial title Proceeding of the 4th International Conference on Rabbit Production in Hot Climate
Department Rabbit, Turkey and Water Fowl Research Department
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    جمال عاشور جامعة القاهرة
Agris Categories Animal physiology - Reproduction
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Feed intake. Hormones. Housing. Performance testing. Rabbits. Seasons.
Publication Type Conference/Workshop
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