El-Tarabany Mahmoud S, Ahmed-Farid Omar A, El-Tarabany Akram A
Department of Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Sharkia, Egypt.
Physiology Department, National Organization for Drug Control and Research (NODCAR), Egypt.
Prev Vet Med. 2019 Feb 1;163:44-50. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.12.011. Epub 2018 Dec 21.
The objective of this trial was to investigate the effect of space allowance on performance, welfare-related parameters and the levels of brain neurotransmitters in growing male rabbits. In a cage housing system, a total of 96 weaned rabbits were accommodated on three space allowance conditions (S = 1425 cm/rabbit; S = 850 cm/rabbit; S = 625 cm/rabbit), with 8 replicate cages per each group. Rabbits in the S and S groups showed better daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio compared with the high stocking density group (p = 0.004 and 0.018, respectively). Compared to the highest stocking density group (S), rabbits in the S and S groups showed significantly lower serum cortisol, MDA and GSSH level (p = 0.026, 0.018 and 0.009, respectively). The concentration of dopamine in brain tissues was significantly decreased in the S group compared with other experimental groups (P = 0.001). However, there was no significant effect of space allowance on the brain AChE level (P = 0.277). Brain serotonin and GABA levels showed a significant decrease in rabbits reared with a limited space allowance (S) compared with S and S groups (P = 0.001 and 0.038, respectively). The level of brain MDA was significantly increased in the S group compared with the S group (P = 0.006). However, there were no detectable differences in the brain ATP level in rabbits reared with different space allowance (P = 0.693). In conclusion, the current study indicates that the 850 cm/rabbit stocking density has resulted in a better feed intake, and welfare-related conditions compared with the 625 cm/rabbit. Furthermore, the limited space allowance may impair the most important brain neurotransmitters in male rabbits.
本试验的目的是研究空间余量对生长中的雄性家兔生产性能、福利相关参数及脑神经递质水平的影响。在笼养系统中，将96只断奶家兔安置在三种空间余量条件下（S = 1425平方厘米/只；S = 850平方厘米/只；S = 625平方厘米/只），每组8个重复笼。与高饲养密度组相比，S组和S组家兔的日采食量和饲料转化率更高（分别为p = 0.004和0.018）。与最高饲养密度组（S）相比，S组和S组家兔的血清皮质醇、丙二醛和谷胱甘肽水平显著降低（分别为p = 0.026、0.018和0.009）。与其他实验组相比，S组脑组织中多巴胺浓度显著降低（P = 0.001）。然而，空间余量对脑乙酰胆碱酯酶水平无显著影响（P = 0.277）。与S组和S组相比，空间余量有限（S）饲养的家兔脑血清素和GABA水平显著降低（分别为P = 0.001和0.038）。与S组相比，S组脑丙二醛水平显著升高（P = 0.006）。然而，不同空间余量饲养的家兔脑ATP水平无显著差异（P = 0.693）。总之，本研究表明，与625平方厘米/只相比，850平方厘米/只的饲养密度使家兔采食量更佳，福利相关条件更好。此外，有限的空间余量可能会损害雄性家兔最重要的脑神经递质。
