Effect of Stocking Density on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits and Some Hematological Parameters of New Zealand White Rabbits

摘要

Seventy fives of New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits weaned at 4-weeks of age and weigh (545±3.4g) were used in the present study to investigate the effect of stocking density on their growth performance,carcass traits and some blood parameters. Rabbits were randomly assigned to three stocking densities: 12, 20and 28 rabbits/m (Represented 3, 5 and 7 rabbits/cage of 2 2500 cm2; respectively). Rabbits housed at 12rabbits/m2 had the lowest feed conversion ratio (P=0.053), the highest average daily feed intake (P=0.001), finallive body weight (P=0.003) and average daily weight gain (P=0.001). At 13-week of age, concentration ofhemoglobin (g dL 1), packed cell volume (%), the mean corpuscular volume (fl) and lymphocytes % weresignificantly (P=0.001) high for rabbits stocked at 12 rabbits/m2. Rabbits kept at 28 rabbits/m2 revealed thehighest platelet count and white blood cell count as compared to other groups. The mean corpuscularhemoglobin (pg cell 1), Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (g dL 1) and red blood cell count werenot affected by stocking density. The stocking density had a significant effect on hot carcass weight, dressingout percentage, liver weight and kidney in addition to head percentage. While the other traits were not affectedby the stocking density. Rabbits stocked at 12 rabbits/m2 had the highest hot carcass weight (1418 g), dressingout percentage (66.47%), liver weight (70.65 g) and the lowest kidney and head percentages (0.51 and 6.38%,respectively). It could be concluded that increasing stocking density up to (20 rabbits/m2) induce stressfulcondition in term of increasing WBCs and platelet counts and some disturbance in performance and carcasstraits of NZW rabbits.