Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://repositorio.ufla.br/jspui/handle/1/40138
Title: Behavioural and physiological responses of rabbits
Keywords: Thermal environment
Dendrogram
Grouping of data
Animal welfare
Rabbits - Creation
Ambiente térmico
Dendrograma
Agrupamento de dados
Bem estar animal
Cunicultura
Cuniculture
Issue Date: 2019
Publisher: Estonian University of Life Sciences
Citation: FERRAZ, P. F. P. et al. Behavioural and physiological responses of rabbits. Agronomy Research, Tartu, v. 17, n. 3, p. 704-710, 2019.
Abstract: The profitability of a rabbit farming system must consider the thermal environment that the animal will be exposed during the productive period. The goal of this study was to evaluate the physiological responses and behaviours of 26 New Zealand rabbits during seven days of their lives at three times a day. The experiment was carried out in rabbit house in the Federal University of Lavras at Lavras, Brazil. To characterize the thermal environment sensors were used to measure the dry bulb temperature and relative humidity at 48 points inside the rabbit house, at 6:00 a.m., 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. In addition, the temperature and humidity index (THI) was calculated. The respiratory rate and the superficial temperature of the rabbits' ears were measured. Behaviour evaluations were monitored in punctual record, with duration of two min/cage. Later an ethogram was made with the main behaviours identified. Similar data of behaviour and data of physiological responses were identified by using Ward’s method of cluster analysis. It was observed the period of 6 a.m. showed more comfortable conditions of THI values than the others analysed. Besides, physiological responses presented better values at 6:00 a.m. in comparison to 12:00 and 6:00 p.m. Furthermore, in general, a similar behaviour was observed in the rabbits at 12:00 and 6:00 p.m., while at 6:00 a.m. was different. But rabbits demonstrated to be more comfortable at 6 a.m. maybe because at this time environment conditions were better than the rest of the day. Besides, it can be observed that rabbits were more active in sunrise and sunset than in the rest of the day.
URI: http://repositorio.ufla.br/jspui/handle/1/40138
Appears in Collections:DEA - Artigos publicados em periódicos
DEG - Artigos publicados em periódicos

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