Causes of Rabbit Mortality at Mankon Research Station, Cameroon (1983-1987)

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine the causes of mortality in rabbits raised at the Institute of Zootechnical and Veterinary Research Station (IRZV) Mankon between 1983-1987. Three breeds of rabbits the Californian, the New Zealand White and their crosses with local rabbits were used in the study. Within the period under review, all dead animals were necropsied and faecal and gastro-intestinal tract samples were examined in the laboratory. It was shown that high mortalities in rabbits were due to snuffles, pneumonia, mucoid enteritis, coccidiosis, mange, enterotoxaemia and Tyzzer's disease. 3060 rabbits died of various diseases comprising 1591 (52 %) kittens, 1220 (39.7 %) fryers and 280 (9.2 % adults). Kitten mortality compared to fryer and adult was highest ail through the period of study.

Keywords

• Research
• Rabbit Mortality
• Diseases
• Mankon
• Cameroon