Adaptation of rabbit by managemental intervention towards microclimatological changes

Ten grower rabbits of the age group 6–7 weeks each of Gray Giant (GG), Black Brown (BB), New Zealand White (NZW) and Soviet Chinchilla (SC) breed, in total forty rabbits were used for the study. Rabbits were maintained individually in indoor cage system of housing. Intervention was made by way of fitting electric fans @ one fan/15 m ² of area and allowed to run throughout the day around 9 hours. It was revealed that reduction of live weight in NZW, SC, GG and BB rabbit per unit increase of maximum temperature was highly significant and it was 85.90 g, 93.98 g, 116.45 g and 101.43 g respectively before intervention. However, after intervention ie arrangement of cooling by ceiling fans the reduction in live weight in NZW, SC, GG and BB rabbit per unit increase of maximum temperature was much lower ie 29.96 g, 40.04 g, 58.46 g and 83.88 g respectively. So, modified management has helped to reduce the adverse impact of maximum temperature on live weight of rabbit. It was revealed that average daily gain was reduced significantly by 6.51g, 12.50g, 16.78g and 14.84g in NZW, SC, GG and BB rabbit respectively per unit rise of air temperature before intervention. However, after implementation of intervention reduction of growth was 4.88 g, 8.46 g, 11.70 g and 12.76 g in NZW, SC, GG and BB rabbit respectively per unit rise of air temperature. So, this lesser reduction of growth was due to implementation of intervention. Significantly higher pulse rate and respiration rate in NZW breed indicated higher adaptability of NZW rabbit in the agro climatic condition of Goa