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Objective Better feed efficiency can be achieved by selecting rabbit genotypes with lower residual feed intake (RFI) under high ambient temperatures. Methods Two genotypes of rabbits (Jabali, Saudi local breed and imported, Spanish V-line) were used to derive RFI and to investigate the relationship between RFI and productive traits. In total, 250 animals (125 each) were housed in individual wire mesh cages in a semi-closed rabbitry. Growth performance, feed criteria, carcass evaluation, biochemical blood analysis, and immune responses were determined. Results Superiority in growth performance, feed efficiency, carcass characteristics, and cellular immunity was recorded in the Jabali breed compared to the V-line genotype. According to regression analysis, a significant effect of daily body weight gain was found, upon computing the expected feed intake in both genotypes. Moreover, mid-body weight0.75 had a significant effect only in the Jabali breed. Positive correlation coefficients between RFI and dry matter feed intake or feed conversion ratio were found. The same trend in this relationship between RFI and productive traits was observed in some cases for both genotypes. An opposite trend in correlations was observed in the studied genotypes for some traits. Conclusion The results suggest that the relationship between RFI and productive traits must be taken into consideration in rabbit breeding programs under the prevailing environment. However, further studies are required to investigate the effect of rabbit genotype and environmental factors on computing RFI.

Objective: Better feed efficiency can be achieved by selecting rabbit genotypes with lower residual feed intake (RFI) under high ambient temperatures. Methods: Two genotypes of rabbits (Jabali, Saudi local breed and imported, Spanish V-line) were used to derive RFI and to investigate the relationship between RFI and productive traits. In total, 250 animals (125 each) were housed in individual wire mesh cages in a semi-closed rabbitry. Growth performance, feed criteria, carcass evaluation, biochemical blood analysis, and immune responses were determined. Results: Superiority in growth performance, feed efficiency, carcass characteristics, and cellular immunity was recorded in the Jabali breed compared to the V-line genotype. According to regression analysis, a significant effect of daily body weight gain was found, upon computing the expected feed intake in both genotypes. Moreover, mid-body weight0.75 had a significant effect only in the Jabali breed. Positive correlation coefficients between RFI and dry matter feed intake or feed conversion ratio were found. The same trend in this relationship between RFI and productive traits was observed in some cases for both genotypes. An opposite trend in correlations was observed in the studied genotypes for some traits. Conclusion: The results suggest that the relationship between RFI and productive traits must be taken into consideration in rabbit breeding programs under the prevailing environment. However, further studies are required to investigate the effect of rabbit genotype and environmental factors on computing RF [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The present study was conducted to investigate the potential effects of dietary supplemented propolis in two growing rabbit breeds on growth performance, immune response, blood parameters, carcass characteristics, and cecal microflora composition. Methods A total of 90 growing rabbits aged 6 weeks from two breeds (V-line and Jabali) were randomly allocated to 3 dietary propolis experimental treatments. The experimental treatments consisted of a 2×3 factorial arrangement with two rabbit breeds and three levels of dietary propolis supplementation (0, 250 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg). Each sub-treatment has 15 rabbits. The experimental period lasted six weeks. Results There were no significant differences in growth performance and carcass characteristics due to propolis administration. Propolis supplementation at a high level significantly increased (linear; p

Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate the potential effects of dietary supplemented propolis in two growing rabbit breeds on growth performance, immune response, blood parameters, carcass characteristics, and cecal microflora composition. Methods: A total of 90 growing rabbits aged 6 weeks from two breeds (V-line and Jabali) were randomly allocated to 3 dietary propolis experimental treatments. The experimental treatments consisted of a 2×3 factorial arrangement with two rabbit breeds and three levels of dietary propolis supplementation (0, 250 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg). Each sub-treatment has 15 rabbits. The experimental period lasted six weeks. Results: There were no significant differences in growth performance and carcass characteristics due to propolis administration. Propolis supplementation at a high level significantly increased (linear; p<0.05) cellular-mediated immunity compared with the unsupplemented group. Furthermore, the rabbits receiving propolis exhibited a significant increase (linear and quadratic; p<0.03) in IgM immunoglobulins compared to the control. The current study provides further evidence that the dietary inclusion of propolis can significantly reduce pathogenic bacterial colonization in growing rabbits. The total count of microflora, E. coli, and Salmonella spp. was significantly lower (linear; p<0.01) in supplemented rabbit groups compared to the control group according to the microbiological analysis of cecal digesta. Based on breed effect, the results indicated that Jabali rabbits (local) performed better than V-line rabbits (foreign) in the majority of the studied traits. Conclusion: Dietary propolis is promising for further investigation into improving intestinal health and enhancing immunity in growing rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Within the rabbit population in Southwest of Nigeria, four breeds of rabbits consisting of Fauve de Bourgogne, Chinchilla, British Spot, and New Zealand White were evaluated for their oxidative status, as indices of physiological adaptation for optimal productivity. This investigation was carried out within July and August when least temperature-humidity index (THI) is observed in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria. Thirty bucks per breed were housed individually and randomly allotted to experimental units. Blood samples were collected from all bucks and serum obtained using standard procedures. Serum oxidative stress indicators assay include total antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activity was determined using standard procedures. Results Results revealed that serum lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant activity, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected by the breeds of rabbit. Fauve de Bourgogne, Chinchilla, and New Zealand White had statistically similar serum SOD activity and were significantly (p

The objectives of this study were to assess morphometric characteristics, breeds relationship andvariables that distinguished among breeds of rabbits raised in West Java. This research used 419 rabbitsconsisted of Angora (AG), Dutch (DT), Flemish Giant (FG), Lop (LP), Netherland Dwarf (ND), Composite(PX), Rex (RX), Satin (ST), Reza (XA) and New Zealand White (ZW). Head length (PK), head width (LK), earlength (PTL), ear width (LTL), chest width (LD), chest depth (DD), chest circumference (LKD), body length(PB ), hips width (LP), length of the scapula bone (PS), humerus length (PH), radius-ulna length (PRU),femur length (PF) and tibia length (PT) were observed. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance,discriminant and canonical analysis using SAS program ver. 9.1.3 and MEGA5 program to get theconstruction of phenogram tree. FG and ST rabbits were generally larger in size and shape than the otherrabbits breeds, while ND rabbit had the smallest morphological size than other rabbits breeds, except forLK, LD and DD. Results of discriminant analysis showed that LP, RX, ND and XA had a high similarityvalue, otherwise DT, FG, ST, PX, AG and ZW had no the value. The closest genetic distance matrix valueindicated by PX-ZW breeds (1,53) and the farthest genetic distance indicated by FG-ND breeds (6,62).Phenogram tree construction showed that the breeds rabbits divided into five clusters, namely cluster ND,DT; ST clusters; FG cluster; cluster LP, PX, ZW and cluster AG, XA, RX. Phenotypic size that had stronginfluence on the differentiation of rabbit breeds were PTL, LTL, PRU, PH and PF on the canonical 1 alsoPT and PS on canonical 2.

Background: Within the rabbit population in Southwest of Nigeria, four breeds of rabbits consisting of Fauve de Bourgogne, Chinchilla, British Spot, and New Zealand White were evaluated for their oxidative status, as indices of physiological adaptation for optimal productivity. This investigation was carried out within July and August when least temperature-humidity index (THI) is observed in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria. Thirty bucks per breed were housed individually and randomly allotted to experimental units. Blood samples were collected from all bucks and serum obtained using standard procedures. Serum oxidative stress indicators assay include total antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activity was determined using standard procedures. Results: Results revealed that serum lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant activity, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected by the breeds of rabbit. Fauve de Bourgogne, Chinchilla, and New Zealand White had statistically similar serum SOD activity and were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than serum SOD activity of British Spot rabbits. This shows that British Spot has the least superoxide anion scavenging ability across the breeds. Conclusion: The breeds of rabbit assessed have similar oxidant generation capacity and antioxidant production, except British Spot that has the least superoxide scavenging which could increase oxidant accumulation within this breed of rabbit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]