A total of 60 male Californian rabbits of 6 weeks of age in Saudi Arabia were used to investigate the effects of three ambient temperatures of C (Control), 26 0 C (Moderate) and >32 C (High) on growth performance, feed intake, feed conversion, digestibility and nitrogen-balance. Coefficients of digestion, feeding value, nitrogen retention and biological value were evaluated. Slaughter test was also performed at 12 and 16 weeks of age to investigate the effects of such temperatures on carcass traits, carcass composition and chemical composition of the rabbit lean meat. C,Zifornian rabbits raised wider high temperature (>32° C) up to 12 weeks of age lost 8.5% of their body weights and feed intake was reduced by 30%. At 16 weeks of age, rabbits in all treated groups showed similar live weight. Exposure to >320C insignificantly affected feed conversion of all ages studied. The digestibility trial showed that the high temperature was associated with 43% reduction in all nutrients taken, while nutrient outputs were halved for rabbits raised at >320C compared to those raised at 20 C. Coefficients of digestion for DM, CP, CF and NFE increased as the ambient temperature increased, while digestibility of EE was not affected by heat treatments. Most of the carcass traits at the two ages studied were insignificantly affected by high temperature (>320C). Rates of change in carcass traits attained in rabbits exposed to high temperature compared to rabbits of the control group were low or moderate and ranged between -14.9 and 8.8% for carcass of 12 weeks of age, and between -18.2 and 7.7% when rabbits were slaughtered at 12 and 16 weeks of age, respectively, i.e. rate of change at 12 weeks of age was higher than at 16 weeks of age. More lean with less fat content (P |
