|
|
Effect of season of the year and dietary zinc supplementation on doe and buck performance of new Zealand white rabbits, under Egyptian conditions
|
|
Abstract: The numbers of thirty bucks and forty eight does mature (5 - 7 month) New Zealand White rabbits were used in the present study. The rabbits were randomly allotted to six treatment groups, (5 bucks and 8 does each), three groups were reared during winter season and the other three groups were reared during summer (as the hot season). Within each season, the three groups were dietary supplemented with zinc oxide to supply 0, 50 or 100 mg zinc/kg diet, respectively.
Temperature-humidity index values were 55.42 and 89.14 under winter and summer conditions, respectively, indicating exposure to very severe heat stress (over than 86.0) during summer. Semen characteristics were significantly (P<0.00l) affected by the year season. During summer, semen ejaculate volume, sperm cell concentration and sperm motility percentage decreased significantly (P<0.00l) than in winter season, while abnormal spermatozoa parentages increased significantly (P<0.00l) during summer than during winter. The increase values were 19.90, 77.82 and 31.28% in semen ejaculate volume, sperm cell concentration and semen motility, respectively, while sperm abnormalities decreased by 34.35% during winter than in summer season. Serum urea, creatinine and ALT decreased significantly (P<0.00l, 0.01 and 0.05), while AST and cholesterol values increased significantly (P<0.00l and 0.05) during winter season than during summer season,
Semen traits were affected significantly (P<0.00l) by zinc addition, except semen volume which was not affected. Serum total protein, albumin, globulin, urea-N, AST and ALT increased as a result of increasing zinc level supplementation in the diets.
Regarding the interaction effect, pre-weaning litter weight increased when rabbits reared during winter season as compared with those reared during summer. Rabbit reared during winter recorded higher litter weight at weaning with 31.55% than those reared during the summer. Doe rabbits fed diets supplemented with zinc recorded higher pre-weaning litter size and weight. The higher litter size and weight were obtained in doe rabbits fed a diet supplemented with 100 mg zinc. Bunny mortality rate decreased significantly (P<0.0l) with dietary zinc supplementation. Doe milk yield was significantly (P<0.00l) affected by zinc additive during the suckling period.
Keywords: Blood, litter size and weight, milk yield, rabbits, season, zinc.
|
| Publication year |
2008
|
| Pages |
1-14
|
| Availability location |
معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
|
| Availability number |
|
| Organization Name |
|
| serial title |
Egyptian Journal of Rabbit Science
|
| ISSN |
1110-2594
|
| Author(s) from ARC |
|
| External authors (outside ARC) |
محمد صلاح عياط
جامعة الزقازيق
|
| Agris Categories |
Animal physiology - Nutrition
|
AGROVOC
TERMS |
Blood.
Litter size.
Milk yield.
Performance testing.
Rabbits.
Seasons.
Zinc.
|
| Publication Type |
Journal
|