Effect of Season on New Zealand White (NZW) Rabbits' Behaviorand Reproductive and productivePerformance

Abstract

This work was carried out at the experimental animal center belonging to Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University through the period from July 2017 to the end of February 2018 to study the effect of season of year on behavior, reproductive and productive performance of breeding rabbits using 24 New Zealand White rabbits (18 females & 6 males) with age of 7 months. These animals were randomly assigned to two equal groups. One of these groups was reared during summer season under hot ambient temperature ranged from 28.7° C to 31.8° C and relative humidity ranged from 44.1 to 65.7 %, while the other group was reared during winter season under temperature ranged from 13° C to 20.4° C and relative humidity ranged from 51.55 to 63.3 %. All rabbits were reared under the same managerial conditions. Does were mated with mature bucks. Rabbits under heat stress during summer season showed low frequency of feeding, grooming and investigatory behaviors and low birth & weaning weight of kids. While there was no effect of the season on gestation length, litter size at birth ,conception rate, kindling rate or mortality rate. from this work, we can conclude that the behavior, reproductive and productive performance were negatively affected during summer season than during winter season.

Effects of a Nanoencapsulated Moringa Leaf Ethanolic Extract on the Physiology, Metabolism and Reproductive Performance of Rabbit Does during Summer

“…Heat stress induces various biological reactions and behavioral changes to cope with high ambient temperature and maintain thermal homeostasis [ 3 , 14 ]. Under heat stress, female rabbits express a high respiratory rate and water intake and low feed intake as adaptive mechanisms for high ambient temperature, which may negatively affect rabbit does’ reproductive performance if maintained for a long time [ 32 , 33 ].…”

“…Rabbit does are sensitive to heat stress, which is considered to be an important factor influencing their fertility and has negative effects on their reproductive and physiological traits [ 3 , 32 , 54 , 55 ]. In hot climates, the breeding of rabbits is stopped in most rabbit farms due to low reproductive performance and associated health problems.…”

“…Rabbit does are more susceptible to injury due to these effects as they exhibit critical physiological and hormonal changes during their reproductive cycles [ 3 , 4 ].The search for safe and effective naturally occurring feed supplements is considered to be a promising solution that can be applied to improve the harmful effects of heat stress. Phytochemicals are natural bioactive and non-nutritive plant chemicals that positively affect health [ 5 , 6 , 7 ].…”

Calcium anacardate as source of phenolic compounds in diet for New Zealand White female rabbits

“…The dietary inclusion of calcium anacardate at 1.0% in the diets of female rabbits promoted lower feed intake compared to 0 and 0.5%, although no effect on weaning weight was observed (Table 3). During the lactation period, female rabbits tend to increase feed intake and body weight in the first and second week postpartum, but, due to the high requirements for milk maintenance and production, they may lose weight mainly in the lactation peak that occurs in the third week, representing a negative energy balance that promotes the mobilization of body reserves to meet the nutritional demands of this stage (Fortun-Lamothe, 2006;Mahmoud, 2013;Machado et al, 2020). As the used diets were formulated to be isonutrient and isoenergetic, the differences in feed intake could be related to the presence of calcium anacardate, but also to other factors such as litter size and body condition of the female rabbits (Mahmoud, 2013).…”

“…During the lactation period, female rabbits tend to increase feed intake and body weight in the first and second week postpartum, but, due to the high requirements for milk maintenance and production, they may lose weight mainly in the lactation peak that occurs in the third week, representing a negative energy balance that promotes the mobilization of body reserves to meet the nutritional demands of this stage (Fortun-Lamothe, 2006;Mahmoud, 2013;Machado et al, 2020). As the used diets were formulated to be isonutrient and isoenergetic, the differences in feed intake could be related to the presence of calcium anacardate, but also to other factors such as litter size and body condition of the female rabbits (Mahmoud, 2013). Contrastingly, Azoz & Basyony (2012) observed an increase in the feed intake of female rabbits during lactation with the supplementation of 1.0 and 1.5% dehydrated pomegranate residue, whose phenolic substances were able to act as enzyme modulators and metal chelators, reducing oxidative stress and improving the productive performance of the animals.…”