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Descripción
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| Forty six cross-breed New Zealand, California, Butterfly, Dutch and Satin rabbit does with an average weight of 3.67±0.37 kg (standard deviation) were divided randomly in two groups. The first one was shaved two days before the beginning of the trial and the second one remained unshaved. During 24 consecutive hours, rectal temperature (23 rabbit does/treatment), feed and water intake (10 rabbit does/treatment) were recorded every 4 hours. In the same period the farm temperature and the relative humidity were recorded. The farm was an open-air building in which temperature-humidity index (THI) was higher than 28.9 (severe heat stress) from 10:00 to 18:00 h, which fit very close with the sun light period. In this period rabbit does rectal temperature evolved in parallel to farm temperature/THI, and almost no eating or drinking activity was detected. The maximum farm temperature (or THI value) was reached around 14:00 h, that is the same time in which rabbits showed their highest rectal temperature (increased from 39.1 to 39.6ºC; P<0.001). From 18:00 h onwards farm temperature/THI and rectal temperature decreased and rabbit does begun their feed and water intake period. The lowest farm temperature/THI and rectal temperature were observed during night that is the natural period for rabbit eating. Shaved rabbit does showed a lower rectal temperature than no shaved animals (39.3 vs. 39.4ºC; P=0.045) and a higher feed intake (10.0 vs. 7.87 g/kg0.75/4 h; P=0.019), especially at the beginning of the eating period (P=0.043). Water intake varied in parallel to feed intake and was not influenced by shaving (21.6 ml/kg0.75/4h, on average). In conclusion, rabbit heat stress hours fit with the highest rectal temperature and the lowest feed and water intake. Further and more practical strategies must be investigated to decrease heat stress in our environmental conditions. | |
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Internacional
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Si |
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Nombre congreso
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9th World Rabbit Congress |
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Tipo de participación
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960 |
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Lugar del congreso
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Verona (Italia) |
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Revisores
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Si |
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ISBN o ISSN
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978-88-902814-6-4 |
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DOI
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Fecha inicio congreso
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10/06/2008 |
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Fecha fin congreso
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13/06/2008 |
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Desde la página
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1625 |
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Hasta la página
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1629 |
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Título de las actas
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Proceedings of the 9th World Rabbit Congress |