Welfare and Reproductive Performance of Rabbits Under Two Housing Models in the Egyptian Delta Region

Abstract

Concerns about animal welfare due to climate change are growing in the rabbit industry and determining an animal's welfare status is important. So, it is necessary to consider housing conditions as one of the main management criteria. The goal of this study was to examine the preference of rabbits under two housing models of various roofing materials. Twenty-four doses and 6 bucks in a total of NZW rabbits were used in this study. Thermos-respiratory, some physiological responses, and reproductive performance were evaluated as being impacted by seasonal variables during the course of one year of production in two styles of housing. These mostly differed in terms of roofing style, wood roof (1^st model), and single metal roof (2^nd model). The results confirmed that 1^st model accommodated more comfortable zone conditions in all seasons than the 2^nd one. Rabbit kept in the 1^st model showed the lowest values of rectal temperature and respiration rate and the highest values of hematocrit, hemoglobin, Triiodothyronine, and progesterone concentrations in comparison to the 2^nd model. In the second model, the drop in all reproductive examined characteristics was more pronounced. Does raised during spring showed the highest values of litter size and weight in comparison to those in summer and showed higher values of milk yield in winter than in summer. According to the results, it can be concluded that the wooden roof in the 1^st model provided a comfortable zone during razing ambient temperature that improved the reproductive performance of the rabbit.