Abstract
Rabbit as homeothermic species is able to keep its core body temperature within ± 1°C regulatory range. In Upper Egypt where high ambient temperature particularly at summer months, rabbit breeding ceases, by virtue of its fur, there is certain inability to dissipate excess body heat. Under uncontrolled ambient environment, most of the observed mortality at summer is due to heat stasis. In this study, we compared white (California) to black (Chinchilla) mature breeds of rabbits. Blood picture and serum hormonal profiles were assessed. The results showed many similarities between the two breeds in terms of blood picture, the serum concentration of tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), but T3/T4 ratio was higher and corticosterone was lower in California than Chinchilla rabbits (P<0.5). Heat loss was higher in male California than other rabbits. The overall results referred to the higher ability of California breed to withstand heat stress compared to Chinchilla rabbits.
Highlights
The skin temperature could give an indication to the response of thermoregulation (Nääs et Rabbit breeding is gaining importance as a al., 2010).producer of meat, wool, and fur because of its prolificacy and higher feed conversion efficiency
Crossbreeding has been established as breeding systems to exploit the heterosis in animal breeding and it could be fruitfully employed in rabbit breeding for increased productivity
Differences between rabbit genotypes in biochemical and hematological values were studied in details in Watanabe heritable
Summary
The skin temperature could give an indication to the response of thermoregulation (Nääs et Rabbit breeding is gaining importance as a al., 2010). In Upper Egypt high ambient temperature in summer months is considered the main threat to the industry. Changes in physiological biochemical and hematological values can be used as indicators of welfare in rabbit breeding (Hoy and Verga 2006). Biochemical and hematological values may be influenced by a number of environmental factors, such as feed components and animal management. Differences between rabbit genotypes in biochemical and hematological values were studied in details in Watanabe heritable. The major form of thyroid hormone in the blood is thyroxine (T4), which has a longer half-life than T3. The work aimed to investigate and compare blood biochemical parameters in two divergent strains of rabbits (black and white) after inbreeding to the 5th generation
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