EFFECT OF SEX AND ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS ON PERFORMANCE AND PHYSIOLOGY OF RABBIT

Abstract

The cramped conditions in which rabbits are housed in intensive breeding units have drawn criticism because it prevents them from exhibiting behaviours unique to their species. A research was done using a total of 40 weaner rabbits comprising of 20 of males (M) and 20 females (F) housed based on sex in galvanized battery cage hutches equipped with concrete feeders and drinkers and kept either indoor (I) or outdoor (O) for 56 days. The rabbit were grouped based on sex and housing system in a 2×2 factorial arrangement given rise to four treatments as follows: Treatment (T) 1: 10 MI, T 2: 10 F I, T 3: 10 M O, T 4: 10 F O. Growth performance, blood, body physiology and stress marker data was collected using standard procedures and subjected to analysis of variance in a completely randomized design using the SAS (2010) software package. Rabbits reared under the outdoor system had significantly (P<0.05) higher feed intake (4521.6g) than rabbits reared indoor (4184.9g). Rectal temperature, body temperature, haematological parameters were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by sex and housing systems. Rabbits reared outdoor had significant (P<0.05) higher creatinine level (0.99 mgdl^-1) than those reared indoor (0.62 mgdl^-1). FO rabbits had a significantly (P<0.05) higher cortisol level (6.59 and 6.94) when compared with the cortisol level of their male counterpart (4.44 and 4.93). It was concluded that growth performance was not different between male and female rabbits while cortisol level of female rabbits reared outdoor are higher than male rabbits. It was recommended that rearing rabbit indoor housing reduces stressors.