INFLUENCE OF PEN HOUSING WITH LITTER ON SANITARY STATUS, PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS TRAITS OF GROWING RABBITS

Autores

  • L. C. MACHADO Universidade Brasil
  • A. M. SANTOS Instituto Federal de Minas Gerais (IFMG)
  • C. P. ZEFERINO Universidade Brasil
  • M. T. BITTENCOURT Instituto Federal de Minas Gerais (IFMG)
  • A. GERALDO Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de Minas Gerais
  • R. S. CAMARGOS Instituto Federal de Minas Gerais (IFMG)
  • C. G. FARIA Instituto Federal de Minas Gerais (IFMG)
  • V. C. GARCIA Universidade Brasil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15361/2175-0106.2019v35n1p33-37

Resumo

The objective of this study was to evaluate the health status, productive performance and carcass traits of growing rabbits housed in pen with litter and conventional cage. At 35 d, 54 crossbred rabbits (New Zealand White vs. Botucatu) were randomly housed in pen with litter (6 pens, 6 rabbits/pen, 2.3 rabbits/m²) or cage (6 cages, 3 rabbits/cage, 8.3 rabbits/m²) and kept until the age of slaughter at 77 d. To simulate farm conditions, the rabbits that were housed in pen have not been previously adapted to this system. There was greater intensity of dirt and mucus occurrence in the rabbits housed in pens in first period, but the mucus occurrence practically disappeared in the later period. For performance, the rabbits housed in cages had a higher live weight at 56 d (1714 vs. 1506 g; P<0.001), as well as BWG (46.4 vs. 36.7 g/d, P<0.001) and better FC (2.75 vs. 3.33; P<0.05) from 35 to 56 d. However, these animals did not show the best performance (P>0.05) in the posterior period (56 to 77 d). There was no effect (P>0.05) of housing system for carcass yield, dissectible fat and hind leg yield. It may be suggested that rabbits adapt to the floor over time. Therefore, it is indicated the adoption of this system for growing rabbits.

Biografia do Autor

L. C. MACHADO, Universidade Brasil

Departamento de Produção Animal- Programa Stricto sensu de Mestrado Profissional em Produção Animal - Área: Produção de animais monogástricos (Cunicultura)

A. M. SANTOS, Instituto Federal de Minas Gerais (IFMG)

Campus Bambuí- MG

C. P. ZEFERINO, Universidade Brasil

Departamento de Produção Animal- Programa Stricto sensu de Mestrado Profissional em Produção Animal- Campus Descalvado- SP

M. T. BITTENCOURT, Instituto Federal de Minas Gerais (IFMG)

Campus Bambuí- MG

A. GERALDO, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de Minas Gerais

Campus Bambuí- MG

R. S. CAMARGOS, Instituto Federal de Minas Gerais (IFMG)

Campus Bambuí- MG

C. G. FARIA, Instituto Federal de Minas Gerais (IFMG)

Campus Bambuí- MG

V. C. GARCIA, Universidade Brasil

Campus Descalvado - SP

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Publicado

12/04/2019

Edição

Seção

Animal Production (Monogastrics)/Produção Animal (Monogástricos)