74,963 research outputs found
Effect of silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) pupae oil dietary inclusion on growth performance, digestibility and carcase traits of growing rabbits
No full textThe study aimed to evaluate the effect of the dietary inclusion of silkworm (Bombyx mori) oil (SWO) in rabbit diets as a total replacement of sunflower oil on growth performance, carcase traits, total tract apparent digestibility (TTAD) and nutritive value of the diets. A total of n = 64 mixed-sex weaned rabbits (5-week-old) were pair-housed in cages and fed with a commercial diet containing 1.3% sunflower oil (control). From 7 to 10 weeks of age, two experimental groups were formed: half of the rabbits received a control diet, and the other half received a diet where the sunflower oil was replaced by the SWO. During the trial, growth parameters and feed intake were weekly recorded to calculate productive parameters. At 10 weeks of age, rabbits were slaughtered and dissected to determine carcase traits. In parallel to the growth trial, another twenty-four 55-day-old rabbits were individually housed in digestibility cages and randomly assigned to one of the two experimental groups (n = 12 rabbits/group) to study the TTAD and nutritive value of the diets. Overall, the dietary inclusion of SWO did not affect the in vivo performance and carcase traits of rabbits. Additionally, the TTAD of rabbits was unaffected by SWO inclusion, although the SWO diet exhibited lower digestible energy (DE) compared to the control diet (p < .05). These findings emphasise the importance of further investigating the nutritive value of SWO-supplemented diets in future studies. In conclusion, SWO can be considered a promising energy source for growing rabbits, an alternative to conventional vegetable oils
Rabbit's preference for cages and pens with or without mirrors
No full textFive week-old Pannon White rabbits were housed in a closed climatized rabbitry and randomly
assigned to pens (56 rabbits) having a basic area of 1 m2 with a stocking density of 16 and 12
rabbits/m2 or to 18 individual cages (0.24 m2; 1 rabbit/cage; stocking density of 4 rabbits/m2). The
pens and the cages were divided into 2 parts and animals could move freely among the 2 parts through
swing doors. The vertical sides of one part of the pens and cages were completely covered with
mirrors while the other part was covered with white plastic panels. A 24 hour video recording was
performed twice a week using infrared cameras and the number of rabbits in each pen and cage was
counted with a frequency of 15 minutes (96 times a day). The duration of the trial was 6 weeks. The
lighting period was 16L/8D. Rabbits were fed ad libitum a standard diet and water was available ad
libitum from nipple drinkers. Throughout the entire rearing period 67% of the individually caged
rabbits showed a preference for the part of the cage enriched with mirrors (P<0.001). This preference
slightly decreased with increasing age. The strong preference toward the part of the cage provided
with mirror walls was independent of the time of day. That is, during the active period (11:00 pm –
05:00 am), which corresponds to the dark part of the day, rabbits still preferred the mirror-side even
though they were not able to see their own reflected image at that time. Neither rearing rabbits in
groups under different stocking densities (12 vs. 16 rabbits/m2) nor the presence of conspecifics
reduced the interest toward mirrors. 65% of animals living at the stocking density of 16 rabbits/m2 and
61% of those living at the density of 12 rabbits/m2 were found on the side with mirrors (P<0.001)
during all the recordings. Group-penned rabbits showed a decisive preference toward mirrors during
the active period (71 to 74% for stocking densities of 12 and 16 rabbits/m2, respectively; P<0.001).
The results suggest that the mirrors’ presence offers some advantages, perhaps related to comfort and
welfare that could be used as environmental enrichments for fattening rabbits. However, the
installation costs should be taken into account before considering their use for long time individually
caged animals and for group-penned rabbits
Effect of ambient temperature on the productive and carcass traits of growing rabbits divergently selected for body fat content
No full textRabbits are particularly sensitive to heat stress which can affect productive performance, with rabbit breed/line possibly playing a role on the response to this condition. The study aimed at evaluating the effect of different ambient temperatures on the live performance and carcass traits of growing rabbits divergently selected for total body fat content. The two genetic lines (Lean and Fat) were selected based on the total body fat content estimated by computer tomography during five generations. From birth to slaughter (13 weeks of age), the rabbits were housed in two rooms where the temperature was controlled with air conditioners: in the control room the average ambient temperature was 20 °C and in the high temperature room it was 28 °C. After weaning (35 d), 60 Lean and 60 Fat rabbits/room were housed by two in wire-mesh cages and fed ad libitum with commercial pellets. The BW and feed intake (FI) were measured at 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 weeks of age to calculate the daily weight gain (DWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Mortality was recorded daily. At the end of the experiment, rabbits were slaughtered and carcass traits were measured. Mortality was independent of temperature and line. The temperature significantly influenced the FI, DWG, BW and the fat deposits: they were lower at higher ambient temperature. The effect of temperature differed according to the rabbits' total body fat content. At control temperature, the FI (165 vs 155 g/day; P < 0.05) and FCR (4.67 vs 4.31; P < 0.05) were higher in Fat rabbits, which also had more perirenal (36.2 vs 23.1 g; P < 0.05) and scapular fat (10.8 vs 7.1 g; P < 0.05). At high temperature, no differences in fat depots (14.5 vs 9.8 g; 5.3 vs 3.5 g) were found between the two lines. It can be concluded that temperature × genetic line interaction had an important role in productive and carcass traits, as the effect of temperature differs between Lean and Fat rabbits
Effect of hair shearing on live performance and carcass traits of growing rabbits under hot ambient temperature
No full textThe aim of the study was to examine the effect of hair shearing in growing rabbits reared at high ambient temperature. The live performance and carcass traits of growing rabbits reared at 20°C (not sheared, C, n=50) or at 28°C (not sheared, H, n=50, or sheared at 5, 7 and 9 wk, HS, n=50) were compared. The ambient temperature and relative humidity were 20.5±1.1°C and 54±11% in the 20°C room and 28.8±0.2°C and 35±8% in 28°C room, respectively. Feed intake of H and HS groups decreased by 29.0 and 20.4%, respectively, compared to C rabbits (P<0.001). The same data for weight gain were 24.6 and 16.9% (P<0.001), and for body weight at 12 wk were 16.8 and 11.5% (P<0.001). At the same time, the feed conversion ratio improved (C: 3.53, HS: 3.34, H: 3.31; P<0.001). Nevertheless, the mortality rate of rabbits was not affected by the studied treatment and was overall low (0-4%). No differences were observed in dressing out percentages either (ratio of chilled carcass (CC) to the slaughter weight: 61.6-61.9%). The ratio of liver to CC differed among the experimental groups, with the highest value recorded in C group and the lowest in H group; HS rabbits showed intermediate results (C: 4.86%, HS: 4.27%, H: 3.91%; P<0.001). Lower ratios of fat deposits to reference carcass were also observed in rabbits kept at high ambient temperature (perirenal fat: C: 2.59%, HS: 1.82%, H: 1.60%; P<0.001; scapular fat: C: 0.89%, HS: 0.66%, H: 0.51%; P<0.001). It can be concluded that the negative effect of higher ambient temperature (28 vs. 20°C) on production in growing rabbits can be reduced significantly by hair shearing
Effect of adult weight and CT-based selection on carcass traits of growing rabbits
No full textThe aim of this study was to compare the carcass traits of different genotypes. Maternal line (M; n=31; adult weight/AW/4.0-4.5kg) (selected for number of kits born alive), Pannon White (P; n=32; AW: 4.3-4.8kg), and Large type line (L, n=32; AW: 4.8-5.4kg) (P and L were selected for carcass traits based on CT/Computer tomography/data) rabbits were analysed. Rabbits were slaughtered at 11 wk of age. P rabbits showed the highest dressing out percentage (M=60.2, P=61.3 and L=61.1%, with a significant difference between groups M and P, P<0.05), the lowest ratio of fore part (M=26.0, P=25.7 and L=26.9%, differences were significant between groups M-P and L, P<0.05), and the largest ratio of the hind part (M=37.3, P=38.2 and L=37.2%, differences were significant between groups M-L and P, P<0.05) to the reference carcass. It can be concluded that carcass traits were influenced by CT-based selection
Effect of dietary supplementation of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) on productive performance and carcass traits of growing rabbits
No full textThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation and the length of the supplementation
(between the ages of 5-11 or 8-11 weeks) of the growing rabbits’ diet by Spirulina or/and Thyme on the growing
rabbits’ production. The experiment was conducted at the experimental rabbit farm of the Kaposvár University
using maternal line rabbits (n=294). At weaning the rabbits were randomly sorted to 7 groups (42 rabbits/group).
Rabbits of the control group (C) received a pellet throughout the experiment (5-11 weeks of age) without any
supplementation. In the other groups the pellet was completed by 5% Spirulina (S), or 3% Thyme (T) or by both
(ST) for the whole (5-11 wk; groups: S-S, T-T, ST-ST), or for end of the growing period (8-11 wk; groups: C-S,
C-T, C-ST). Supplementing the diet by Spirulina or/and Thyme had no effect on the rabbits’ weight gain, body
weight, feed consumption, morbidity and mortality. Significant differences were only found for feed conversion
ratio (8-11, 5-11 weeks) of the C-T and C-C groups to the advantage of the C-T rabbits (P<0.05). The carcass
traits of different groups did not differ significantly. Based on the results the feed supplements applied separately
or jointly had no substantial effect on the growing rabbits’ production and health status
Effect of genotype on productive and carcass traits of rabbits.
No full textThe objective of the study was to evaluate the production and carcass traits of growing rabbits when Pannon White does were inseminated with sires of different size selected for different directions. Pannon White does (n=80), were inseminated with sperm of maternal line (M), Pannon White (P), sire line (L), Hycole terminal sire line (H) bucks. Rabbits were weaned at the age of 35 days (n = 128), housed by twos then at the end of the experiment (at the age of 78 days) they were slaughtered. Progeny of the H bucks had the highest weight gain, feed consumption and body weight (at the age of 11 weeks). Worst results were found for the M and P groups. No differences were found for feed conversion ratio. The P rabbits had the best dressing out percentage highest ratio of the hind carcass part and ratio of the m. Longissimus dorsi. The worst slaughter performance, was shown by the H group. Based on the results it can be concluded that production traits (body weight, feed consumption, weight gain) were determined by the adult weight of the sires. On the contrary for the slaughter performance the effect of CT-aided selection was manifested. As a results of thigh muscle volume selection the hind carcass part ratio and the meat-to-bone ratio of the P rabbits improved
EFFECT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF CHESTUNT HYDROLISABLE TANNIN ON DIGESTIVE EFFICIENCY, GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND MEAT QUALITY IN GROWING RABBITS
No full textThe aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the dietary supplementation of chestnut hydrolysable tannin on the feed digestibility and nutritive value, mortality and growth performance, fatty acid profile and TBARS of cooked Longissimus dorsi (LD) meat. From the age of 18 days the rabbits were fed pellets supplemented with coccidiostat (CC) or with tannin (400 g/100 kg: T400). At weaning (35 d of age) within both groups 5 dietary sub-groups were formed: medicated-free (C0), containing coccidiostatic (CC), or supplemented with increasing levels of chestnut tannin (T200, T400 and T600). Rabbits fed the 5 diets ad libitum until slaughter at 11 weeks of age. The coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients was not affected by the tannin inclusion, substantially, with exception of CTTAD of hemicelluloses, that was lower in T400 and T600 compared to C0 and T200 (P<0.001), the CTTAD of Ca, lower in T400 vs C0 and CC (P<0.05) and CTTAD of DP-to-DE ratio, lowest in CC and T600 (P<0.001). Dietary tannin significantly modified the CTTAD of FA classes. At weaning, the live weight of CC rabbits was significantly higher than that of the T400 rabbits (974 vs 940 g, P<0.05). The other variables related to growth performance, health status and carcass traits were not affected by the tannin supplementation. The T400 diet fed before weaning seemed to be more effective than the 3 tannin levels administered during fattening period on FA profile change in the LD muscle. T400 diet fed before weaning increased SFA and MUFA (P<0.01) and decreased PUFA (P<0.05), decreasing the n-6/n-3 ratio (P<0.01), however. When tannin-supplemented diets were fed during fattening, only T600 diet showed significantly higher (P<0.05) SFA and MUFA contents compared to CC diet. In conclusion, the dietary inclusion of chestnut hydrolysable tannin doesn’t provides improvements in health status, diet nutritive value, growth performance and carcass traits. Dietary hydrolysable tannin supplementation may play a role on lipid metabolism
Behaviour of growing rabbits under various housing conditions
No full textThe aim of this research was to assess the effects of environmental variables (group size, stocking density, floor type, environmental enrichment) on behaviour - as a welfare indicator - of growing rabbits. Two experiments were carried out with Parmon White rabbits. In experiment 1, 5-week-old rabbits (n = 112) were placed in cage blocks (2 m(2)) with a stocking density of 16 or 12 rabbits/m(2). The cages (0.5 m(2)) differed in the floor type (wire or plastic net) and in the presence or absence of gnawing sticks (white locust). The animals could move freely among the four cages through swing doors. Infrared video recording was performed once a week, the number of rabbits in each cage was counted every half an hour (48 times/day) during the 24 h video recording. Between ages 5 and 11 weeks the rabbits showed a preference towards the plastic net floor (16 rabbits/m(2), 62.5%; 12 rabbits/m(2), 76:5%; P < 0.001). Gnawing stick application significantly affected cage preference: 54.1% (16 rabbits/m(2)) or 53.1% (12 rabbits/m(2)) of the rabbits choose the enriched cages (P < 0.001). In experiment 2, the 5-week-old rabbits were placed either in cages (2 rabbits/0.12 m(2), n = 72) or pens (13 rabbits/0.86 m(2), n = 104) with 16 rabbits/m(2). The floor types were wire or plastic net, with the presence or absence of gnawing sticks on the walls. Video recordings were made at 6.5 and 10.5 weeks of age between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and between 11:00 p.m. and 05:00 a.m. Compared to cages, the rabbits housed in pens spent less time with resting (58% versus 67%) and more time with locomotion (6.7% versus 3.8%) but the frequency of aggressive behaviour (measured by the number of ear lesions) was also higher (0.14% versus 0.01%). In pens the application of gnawing sticks significantly decreased the frequency of ear injuries (0.05% versus 0.22%). The floor type did not affect any behavioural pattern (eating, drinking, movement, resting, comfort, social, investigatory) significantly. The main results showed that growing rabbits have a preference for plastic net floor and cages provided with gnawing sticks. The resting, locomotive and aggressive behaviour was modified by the housing system and the presence of gnawing sticks decreased the frequency of physical injuries
Effect of dam and sire genotypes on productive and carcass traits of rabbits
No full textThe aim of the experiment was to study the effect of dam and sire genotypes on the production and slaughter performance of growing rabbits. The experiment was carried out at Kaposvar University. Pannon White (PW) and maternal line (M) does were inseminated with the sperm of PW, M, large body line (LB), terminal line of Hycole hybrid (H), or colored line (CL) bucks. The mature body size of the M, PW, and CL genotypes was medium. The mature body size of the LB and H genotypes was large. Only PW and LB rabbits were selected for carcass traits based on computer tomograph (CT) scanning data. The rabbits (n = 320) were weaned at the age of 5 wk and housed in a closed climate-controlled rabbitry in wire cages. Rabbits were fed ad libitum a commercial pellet. Rabbits were slaughtered at 78 d of age. Daily BW gain (5.7%, P < 0.001) and G: F (6.2%, P < 0.001) of the progeny of PW does were better than those of the progeny of the M does. The weight of the chilled carcass and body parts was greater for the progeny of the PW does (P < 0.001). The ratio of the hind part compared with the reference carcass was greater in the PW group (P < 0.001); however, the ratio of the fore part was greater in the M group ( P < 0.05). Examining the effect of the genotype of the sires, the BW and daily BW gain were greater in groups H and LB, whereas the progeny of M and CL sires were inferior ( P < 0.05). Body weights at 11 wk of age were H: 2,918 g, LB: 2,793 g, PW: 2,678 g, CL: 2,636 g, and M: 2,585 g ( P < 0.001). Similar differences were found for daily feed intake ( P < 0.05). The G: F differed ( P < 0.05) significantly between groups H and CL. The weights of the chilled carcass and of the body parts were the greatest for the progeny of the H sires, and the smallest in the M group. The differences between the dressing out percentages of the groups were not significant. The ratio of the fore part was greater ( P < 0.05) in groups LB, H, and CL, but the ratio of the middle part was not different. The ratio of hind part related to the reference carcass was largest in progeny of PW and least in LB and CL groups ( P < 0.05). It was concluded that the production of growing rabbits was affected by the adult BW of their sires, but the carcass traits were influenced by their own adult BW and by the CT-based selection
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