Mousa-Balabel T M
Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafr El-Sheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33511, Egypt.
Open Vet J. 2011;1(1):1-6. Epub 2011 Jan 21.
Lighting system is a stimulant for reproduction in some species (Horses) and an inhibitor for others (Sheep). This study started on September 1(st) and planned to study the effects of different lighting regimes and melatonin treatment on the receptivity and performance of 78 (60-does and 18-bucks) New Zealand White rabbits, which were reared in a private Rabbitary in Menuofia Governorate, Egypt. These rabbits were randomly assigned to six treatment groups of 10 does and three bucks for each (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 hours light (HL) and melatonin- treated). Ejaculate traits, sexual activity of bucks, sexual receptivity and reproductive performance of does were recorded. Results revealed that exposure of rabbits to long photoperiods (14 and 16HL) or treatment with melatonin improved the quantity and quality of ejaculate traits and buck sexual activity. Moreover, does sexual receptivity, feed intake, litter size and weight at birth and weaning were increased by long photoperiods (14 and 16HL) or treatment with melatonin. On the other hand, gestation period and pre-weaning mortality rate were decreased. It can be concluded that application of long photoperiods is beneficial to rabbit producers and 14HL:10 hours dark is optimal for satisfying the biological requirements of the rabbits. Finally, the light schedules can be used for biostimulation instead of melatonin.
光照系统对某些物种（马）的繁殖是一种刺激因素，而对另一些物种（绵羊）则是一种抑制因素。本研究于9月1日开始，计划研究不同光照制度和褪黑素处理对78只（60只母兔和18只公兔）新西兰白兔的接受能力和性能的影响，这些兔子饲养在埃及梅努菲亚省的一个私人兔场。这些兔子被随机分为六个处理组，每组10只母兔和3只公兔（8、10、12、14和16小时光照（HL）以及褪黑素处理组）。记录了公兔的射精性状、性活动、母兔的性接受能力和繁殖性能。结果表明，将兔子暴露于长光照周期（14和16HL）或用褪黑素处理可改善射精性状的数量和质量以及公兔的性活动。此外，长光照周期（14和16HL）或用褪黑素处理可提高母兔的性接受能力、采食量、窝产仔数以及出生和断奶时的体重。另一方面，妊娠期和断奶前死亡率降低。可以得出结论，应用长光照周期对养兔生产者有益，14HL:10小时黑暗最适合满足兔子的生物学需求。最后，光照时间表可用于生物刺激而非褪黑素。
