Impact of housing conditions on the productive performance and physiological responses of growing NZW rabbits

Abstract EN

The current study was conducted investigated to evaluate the effects of two housing systems on growth performance, carcass traits, and physiological responses of growing rabbits during 28 to 118 days of age under summer conditions of Upper Egypt.

A total of 80 New Zealand White Rabbits, 4 weeks old, were housed individually in metabolic wire cages.

Forty rabbits were reared in open house system (OHS) (36 º C average ambient temperatures and 20% relative humidity) and 40 rabbits were reared in closed house system (CHS) (Constant temperature of 22 ºC and 60% relative humidity).

At 118 days, 10 rabbits per treatment were slaughtered and carcass traits and blood parameters were evaluated.

The results showed that rabbits reared in OHS had significantly(P<0.05) lower final body weight, daily feed intake and daily body gain as well as inferior feed conversion ratio compared to rabbits housed in CHS.

Neither OHS nor CHS Housing system had no significant effects on most of blood parameters.

Spleen% and kidney% were significantly (P<0.05) decreased and intestine percentage was significantly (P<0.05) increased in rabbits reared in OHS when compared to rabbits housed in CHS.

It can be stated that rabbits reared in OHS in dry tropical conditions decreased growth performance and had no any significant effects on most of the carcass traits.

However, more research is needed in future to evaluate reproductive performance and economical return of rabbits raised under Upper Egypt climate.