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60754

Comparison between the Behavior, Productive Performance and Stress Level of Different Weaning Ages of Young Rabbits

Article

Last updated: 24 Dec 2024

Subjects

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Tags

Animal, Poultry and Environmental Health

Abstract

Thirty six, New-Zealand, white growing rabbits of both sexes were divided into three equal groups (12 animals / group) according to the weaning age (21, 28 and 35 day). The mean duration of the behavioral patterns and productive parameters were measured weekly. Concerning the behavior of growing rabbit, the mean duration of food consumption (min.) and drinking (min.) increased significantly (P ≤ 0.01) in 28 day weaning than 21 and 35 day. The mean duration of resting (min.) increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) while, the mean duration of locomotory behavior (min.) decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.01) in later weaned groups (35 day) than early weaning (21 day). Concerning the productive performance of growing rabbits, the highest body weight (g) and daily weight gain (g) were obtained in later weaning age group (35 day). The lowest daily weight gain (g) was noted in the third week of growing. The highest mortality rate (%) was observed in rabbits weaned at 21 days of age. Cortisol hormone levels (ng/ml) increased significantly (P ≤ 0.01) in early (21, 28 day) than later (35 day) weaned rabbits at weaning and at slaughtering. Our results suggest that later weaning of young rabbits at 35 day improves the growth rate, behaviors and allows young rabbits to live with minimal stress levels during the growing period.
 

DOI

10.21608/scvmj.2018.60754

Keywords

growing rabbits, Weaning age, Cortisol, body weight

Authors

First Name

Ahmed

Last Name

Ali Abd El-Aal

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Hygiene, Zoonoses and Animal Behavior, Faculty of Vet. Med., Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt

Email

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City

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Orcid

-

Volume

23

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

9217

Issue Date

2018-06-01

Receive Date

2018-01-26

Publish Date

2018-06-01

Page Start

41

Page End

52

Print ISSN

1110-6298

Online ISSN

2682-3284

Link

https://scvmj.journals.ekb.eg/article_60754.html

Detail API

https://scvmj.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=60754

Order

4

Type

Original Article

Type Code

992

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Suez Canal Veterinary Medical Journal. SCVMJ

Publication Link

https://scvmj.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Comparison between the Behavior, Productive Performance and Stress Level of Different Weaning Ages of Young Rabbits

Details

Type

Article

Created At

22 Jan 2023