Effect of light intensities on reproductive performance, nursing behaviour and preference of rabbit does

Abstract

The aim of the experiment was to compare the reproductive performance and nursing behaviour of rabbit does reared under 2 different light intensities and observe the preference of does among cages with different light intensities. Female rabbits were randomly housed in 2 identical rooms, under the same housing conditions in wire-net cages. The 2 rooms only differed in the light intensity; group L: 150-200 lux (n=54 does, 230 inseminations), group D: 10-20 lux (n=54 does, 232 inseminations). Reproduction data from the first 5 consecutive reproductive cycles were evaluated. Nursing behaviour of the does (n = 24) was observed at the 2 nd or 4 th lactation. The preference of does (n=8) among 4 cages with different light intensities (10, 35, 75 or 155 lux) was examined. There were 6-7% difference between the 2 groups in the number of kits born in total and those born alive (born total: 11.25 vs.

A new parameter describing fertility in rabbits at the farm level: the kit index

“…Hoy: The kit index 2015; Maertens and De Bie, 2017). Large differences between breeding rounds and seasons of the year have also been reported (Schüddemage, 1999;Matics et al, 2016). Fluctuations between breeding rounds can occur in both the KR and the LS, and may be either random or influenced by several factors.…”

Hol érzi jól magát a nyúl? Kérdezzük meg a nyulakat is!

“…Bár nem találtunk kísérleti közleményt arra vonatkozóan, hogy a nyulaknak milyen megvilágításintenzitás szükséges, de a legtöbb szakkönyv minimum 30-50 luxot javasol(Szendrő Zs. et al 2016).Preferenciatesztben néztük meg, hogy az anyanyulak milyen fényintenzitást preferálnak(Matics et al 2016). A négy egymásba nyíló ketrecben 10, 35, 75 és 155 lux megvilágítást alkalmaztunk.…”