INFLUENCE OF THE SEASON OF THE YEAR ON THE REPRODUCTIVE ABILITY OF FEMALE RABBITS

Abstract

Studies of the reproductive qualities of female rabbits depending on the time
(season) of the year (taking into account microclimate factors) under the condition
of cage keeping in a closed room and feeding with complete ration granulated
compound feed are given. An electronic microclimate analyzer "EAM-5" was used
to measure microclimate indicators, developed by employees of the Cherkasy
Experimental Station of Bioresources (utility model patent No. 99874). The
following were measured monthly: temperature, humidity and atmospheric air
pressure, as well as illumination and its gas composition (carbon dioxide
concentration).
It was established that the air temperature in the room for keeping rabbits
without heating in winter was 4.8°С above zero (outside - +2.3°С), which is
significantly below the permissible norm. With the arrival of spring, the
temperature rose accordingly and was within 12.9°C in the rabbit hutch and
10.4°C outside. In the summer, this indoor temperature averaged 22.4°C and
23.0°C, respectively.
Research of the air in the rabbit hutch also showed an excess of permissible
norms and relative humidity both in winter (86.9%) and in spring (78.0%), which
indicates a violation of the ventilation system. However, with warming, there was a
tendency to decrease this indicator in the summer - 60.2%.
An analysis of the level of carbon dioxide in the room proved that it was
within the permissible limits - 970 ppm in winter, 982 ppm in spring and 1210 ppm
in summer. When analyzing the atmospheric pressure, it was found that it was
actually at the level of 751-754 mm Hg outside in all seasons of the year. Art.
The analysis of indoor illumination during the daylight period showed that
the average daily indicator was equal to 47.5 lux in winter, 81.5 lux in spring and
87.8 lux in summer, i.e. in most cases it met the permissible parameters except for
winter.
The analysis of fertility showed that this indicator was probably the highest
(p<0.001) in spring and summer (respectively 7.1-7.0), and the lowest in winter
(5.9); the biggest difference was 20.34% (100% is the winter period). According to
a similar comparison, the indicator of high fertility was probably the highest
(p<0.05) in spring (61.8 g), lower in summer (61.2 g), and the lowest in winter
(59.9 g); the largest difference was 3.17%. As for the weight of the nest, it was the
lowest in winter (350.4 g), the highest in spring (434.6 g), and in summer - 425.6
g; the largest probable difference is 24.03% (p<0.001).