Article Sidebar

Submitted
April 4, 2023
Published
November 27, 2023
Download
PDF
Statistic
Read Counter : 205 Download : 126

Main Article Content

Abstract

Rearing rabbits in the tropics has been discovered to be a lucrative alternative to providing white meat to the populace. While red meat is available, evidence reveals that they are more expensive; hence, the need to increase rabbit production especially as they can be conveniently reared at home backyards and as they can easily convert family’s leftover foods into meat. However, rabbits’ comfortability during rearing cannot be compromised, thus the research was borne out to investigate their welfare through their respiratory and pulse rates when reared in different housing designs. Buildings were constructed: width = 1.2 m; length = 4.8 m; height = 1.2 m, all at 0.5 m height from the ground, each with pens in accordance with desired building openings and building orientations, all were for a pen per doe. Factors considered were the season of the year at two levels: dry and rainy seasons; building orientations at three levels: 0o, 45º, and 90º to the prevailing wind’s direction and ventilation side openings: four levels of 50 %, 60 %, 70%, and 80 %, all replicated thrice to be 2 x 3 x 4 x 3 factorial design. Measured were pulse and respiratory rates at 10.00 h and 14.00 h daily. Interactions between different openings, orientations and seasons were significant at p≤0.01 on the pulse rate of does. The range of wind speed was between 3.61 and 5.04 km/h, this falls within the thermo-comfort range for does. There were higher R2 values, which depicted high correlations between the animals’ and the wind directions or wind speeds. The low wind speeds recorded cumulatively resulted in normal pulse rates and respiratory rates in does at all orientations. The effects of all building designs did not change the normalcy in both respiratory and pulse rates in the rabbits’ lives in the reared environment.

Keywords

Pulse Rate Respiratory Rate Openings Orientation Thermo-comfort

Article Details

Author Biography

Abraham Adebayo Adewumi, Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources Management, College of Agriculture, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria

Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management

Senior Lecturer

References

  1. Aakash, (2022). Medical IIT-JEE Foundation BYJU’S. Study materials on wind and atmosphere. Types of wind. Available at: https://byjus.com/physics/atmosphere/ [Accessed 25/8/2022]
  2. Agri4Profits, (2022). Considerations and requirements for rabbit housing. Introduction to rabbit housing. Animal Productions/Husbandry. Available at: https://agric4profits.com/considerations-requirements-for-rabbit-housing/ [Assessed 27/8/2022].
  3. Bang, C., Sabo, J. L. and Faeth, S. H. (2010). Reduced wind speed improves plant growth in a desert city. PLoS ONE.5:11061. https://doi.org/org/10.1371/journal.pone.0011061.
  4. Borso, F. d, Chiumenti, A., Mezzadri, M. and Teri, F. (2016). Noxious gases in rabbit housing systems: effects of cross and longitudinal ventilation. Journal of Agric. Engineering, 47(572), pp. 222-229, https://doi.org/10.4081/jae.2016.572.
  5. Bos, E. H., Hoenders, R. and Jonge, P. D. (2012). Wind direction and mental health: a time-series analysis of weather influences in a patient with anxiety disorder. BMJ Case reports in PMC bcr2012006300. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2012-006300.
  6. Cleugh, H. A., Miller, J. M. and Bõhm, M. (1998). Direct mechanical effects of wind on crops. Agroforestry Systems, 41(1), pp. 85-112. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006067721039.
  7. Lamidi, W. A. and Ola, S. I. (2021). Modelling of the temperature-humidity index (THI) and ventilation patterns in the rabbits’ pens. Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management, 14 (4), pp. 487-499.
  8. Lamidi, W A. and Ola, S I. (2015). Evaluation of the productivity of rabbit does reared under natural environmental buildings in south west Nigeria. Biological and Environmental Sciences Journal for the Tropics, 12(1), pp. 544-553.
  9. Lamidi, W.A., Akinrinade, E.O. and Murtadha, M. A. (2019). Growth and yield of pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis L) as affected by different prevailing wind speeds', heights and directions under different organic media. Uniosun Journal of Agriculture and Renewable Resources, 3, pp. 25-29.
  10. Lamidi, W A. (2011). Effects of building ventilation on the reproductive performance of female rabbits in humid tropics, PhD Thesis. Department of Agricultural Engineering: Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
  11. Lamidi, W A, Ogunjimi, L A O and Ola, S I. (2015). Effects of natural building ventilation openings on rabbit does in humid south west Nigeria. Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology, 8(1), pp. 25-34. https://doi.org/10.9734/BJAST/2015/15479.
  12. Lamidi, W A and Osunade, J A. (2015). Assessment of rabbit does’ growth under different building conditions in humid south west Nigeria. Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology, 7(6), pp. 619-629. https://doi.org/10.9734/BJAST/2015/16047.
  13. Philips, C and Piggins, D (1992). Farm animals and the environment. 1st edition, Wellington 049132111; CAB International. https://doi.org/10.1016/0308-521X(94)90172-C
  14. McNitt, J (2009). Practical rabbit housing, 1st edition, USA, Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Baton Rouge LA 70813 pp 3
  15. Pinheiro, V., Outor-Monteiro, D., Silva, S., Silva, J. and Mourão, J. L. (2011). Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of growing rabbits housed in cages or open-air park. Arch. Animal Breeding, 54 (6), pp. 625–635, https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-54-625-2011.
  16. Sun, O. (2013). How do winds affect animal life? Available at: https://prezi.com/ccrl4gwyf9um/how-do-winds-affect-animal-life/ [Accessed 26/08/2022].