Design and evaluation of a rabbitry structure at different environments and feeding requirements

Abstract

This study, focused on a designed cage structure, had a main objective on evaluating the growth performance of caged rabbits at three (3) stocking/spacing reared at three (3) growing conditions. Thirty-six (36) samples of 35-days old Californian White x Local (CWxL) rabbits were reared under three (3) blockings (air-conditioned room, open rabbitry housing and under the trees’ shade). Moreover, spacing (A treatment) and feed plan (B treatment) was organized in a 3 x 4 Factorial RCBD. A 2nd factor (feed plan) was used in order to determine the interaction effect of spacing on the rabbits fed with varying levels of nutrition. Results indicated that the treatments and blockings (growing conditions) had significant effects on the Body Weight Gains (BWGs) of rabbits. Similarly, the BWGs were significantly affected by the feed plan but was not affected by spacing and the interaction of these two (2) factors. While no significant effects on BWGs were found out on rabbits placed in small (ai), medium (a2) and large (a3) cages, as highest BWGs were seen in the rabbits in medium cages, this cage structure (381 mm x 508 mm x 406 mm per rabbit) seemed enough to properly house the rabbits.