Study on the amelioration of heat stress on rabbits

The present study was carried out in the rabbitry belonging to Animal Physiology Research Lab., Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Egypt. This study aimed to improve the reproductive performance by determined the physiological and biological reactions of doe rabbits under hot environmental conditions (summer season) by added highly concentrated nutritional supplement and using different housing models (three indoors housing models differed only in the roof and outdoors housing). A total number of 60 mature New Zealand White rabbits (NZW) (48 does and 12 bucks) were used in this investigation. The does weighting 2350-2830 g and aging 5-6 months were used is this experiment. The bucks weighting 3000-3500 g and aging 6-7 months were used for mating, only. The animals were equally and randomly divided into four groups each (12 does + 3 bucks) for four housing models. Each groups were divided into 2 subgroups, first is control and second is treatment with 0.5ml/L/day Synertox compound. Results showed that double iron sheets roof accommodate and ideal house for raising rabbits than the other two indoors models.