Thermoregulation in periparturient rabbit does and their neonatal kits with different litter sizes during West African winter

Thermoregulation in periparturient rabbit does and their neonatal kits with different litter sizes during West African winter

The study evaluated the changes in body temperatures and hematological parameters in periparturient rabbit does and the dynamics of body surface temperature in neonatal rabbit kits during West African winter. The variables were measured in 21 rabbits, comprising periparturient (n = 12) and dry (n = ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animal biotechnology Vol. 34; no. 9; pp. 4357 - 4366
Main Authors: Habibu, Buhari, Aliyu, Adamu, Idris, Sherif Y., Buhari, Hajarah U., Galadanchi, Fatima A., Abdulrahman, Musa, Yaqub, Lukman S.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England Taylor & Francis 01-12-2023
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects:
Birth
Body temperature
Body weight
Diurnal variations
gestation
Kindling
Lactation
Litter size
neonatal life
Neonates
Rabbit kits
Rabbits
Surface temperature
Temperature
Thermoregulation
Winter
Rabbit kits
gestation
thermoregulation
lactation
neonatal life
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Summary:The study evaluated the changes in body temperatures and hematological parameters in periparturient rabbit does and the dynamics of body surface temperature in neonatal rabbit kits during West African winter. The variables were measured in 21 rabbits, comprising periparturient (n = 12) and dry (n = 9) does, and after kindling, the kits were grouped based on litter size, into small (4 kits per litter; n = 24) and large (5-7 kits per litter; n = 34) litter. Results revealed that all body temperatures of the does were lower (p < 0.05) during gestation compared with lactation period or dry does in all hours of the day, and the PCV was significantly higher in lactating than dry does. At birth, small litter kits had higher (p < 0.05) body weight and morning body surface temperature than the large litter kits. The large litter kits showed distinct (p < 0.05) diurnal variation in body surface temperature from birth, while diurnal variation in the small litter kits was absent (P > 0.05) in the first three days after birth. It was concluded that pregnant rabbits and large litter kits may have poor thermoregulation during West African winter, and thus, the need for special protective housing to improve productivity.
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content type line 23
ISSN:1049-5398
1532-2378
DOI:10.1080/10495398.2022.2150200