Physical Performance and Thermoregulatory Response of Male Breeder Rabbits Fed Dietary Protein and Selenium Supplementation under Tropical Condition

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary protein and selenium
supplementation of male rabbits on changes in physical performance and
thermoregulatory response under tropical conditions. Fourty eight New Zealand
rabbit bucks of 23 ± 1.4 weeks of age, weighing 2.8 ± 1.131kg, were allotted to six
isocaloric dietary treatments ( n = 8 animals/ treatment) that differed in either
protein (14g/100g, 18g/100g and 22g/100g) or selenium (0.4 and 0.7 mg Se/ kg diet).
Animals were distributed in a 2 x 3 factorial design, and housed individually in
conventional rabbit cages. The temperature humidity index (THI) was determined
on six different periods. Total body weight increases linearly (P < 0.001) with
advancing time. Although values are within normal range, the rectal temperature
and respiratory rates varies significantly (P< 0.001) as the THI changes. Daily feed
intake, total body weight and feed intake scale significantly increases linearly (P<
0.001) as the dietary protein levels increased. There were significant interactive
effects (P < 0.001) of protein and selenium dietary treatments on feed intake, with
higher values on non selenium and higher protein supplemented groups. Most of the
values were within normal range, hence the dietary treatments provided optimum
performance