Behavioural and physiological responses of rabbits

P.F.P. Ferraz¹*, G.A.S. Ferraz¹, M. Barbari², M.A.J.G. Silva¹, F.A. Damasceno¹, D. Cecchin³ and J.O. Castro¹

¹Federal University of Lavras, Agricultural Engineering Departament, Campus Universitário, PO Box 3037, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
²University of Firenze, Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, Via San Bonaventura, 13, IT50145 Firenze, Italy
³Federal University Fluminense, Department of Agricultural Engineering and Environment, Campus Praia Vermelha, São Domingos, BR24.210-240 Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
*Correspondence: patricia.ponciano@deg.ufla.br

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.

Key words:

animal welfare, dendrogram, grouping of data, thermal environment

Determining of genetic diversity and genetic relationships among Lithuanian selections of Actinidia kolomikta

L. Česonienė and R. Daubaras

Kaunas Botanical Garden of Vytautas Magnus University,Ž.E. Žilibero 6, Kaunas LT–46324, Lithuania; e–mail: l.cesoniene@bs.vdu.lt

Abstract:

The assessing of Lithuanian cultivars and clones of Actinidia kolomikta DNA by RAPD method corroborated the significant genetic diversity and defined the level of their relationship. Genomic DNA was isolated from fresh leaves following CTAB method. Six decamer oligonucleotide primers Akt–1, Akt–2, Akt–3, 2B, OPA–02 and OPC–02 were used for PCR and a total of 42 scorable fragments yielded. The genetic distances fall into interval 0.059–0.914. The lowest genetic distances were calculated for the clones F2 and F4, as well for the clones F2M2 and F3M3: 0.059 and 0.097, respectively. Clones specific markers for the cultivar ‘Laiba’ and clone F4M4 were identified with the primers OPC–02 and 2B. The dendrogram grouped the selections by UPGMA method and revealed two main clusters at the level of 0.500 genetic distance. The cultivar ‘Laiba’ could be characterized as the most genetically separate accession in the Actinidia kolomikta germplasm collection of the Kaunas Botanical Garden of Vytautas Magnus University.

Key words: