Influence of Stress Assessed through Infrared Thermography and Environmental Parameters on the Performance of Fattening Rabbits
Rabbits often experience stress when they perceive certain stimuli, such as handling. The physiological response of animals to stress and temperament is associated with feeding efficiency, with those with the least capacity to react to stress showing the highest performance. The aim of this study wa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/6/1747 |
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| author | Juan Antonio Jaén-Téllez María José Sánchez-Guerrero Mercedes Valera Pedro González-Redondo |
| author_facet | Juan Antonio Jaén-Téllez María José Sánchez-Guerrero Mercedes Valera Pedro González-Redondo |
| author_sort | Juan Antonio Jaén-Téllez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rabbits often experience stress when they perceive certain stimuli, such as handling. The physiological response of animals to stress and temperament is associated with feeding efficiency, with those with the least capacity to react to stress showing the highest performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of stress due to heat (temperature-humidity index; THI) or handling, assessed using infrared thermography, on the performance parameters of rabbits of a Spanish Common breed. Thirty-nine rabbits were analyzed during a 38-d fattening period at two times of the year: a cold period and a warm period. The rabbits’ stress due to handling was assessed by the temperature difference taken in the inner ear, before and after being handled. The animals were more productive in the cold season. Temperature-humidity index significantly influenced average daily gain (ADG) and daily feed intake (DFI). Rabbits with higher levels of stress showed higher ADG, DFI and feed conversion ratio (FCR) values. The greater the stress due to handling, the less efficient the animals were. FCR increased with higher THI. It was concluded that changes in animal welfare caused by the rabbits’ reactivity to both climatic and individual factors affect animal productivity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:29:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0c00ffb6122942949a14251847be0869 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:29:54Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-0c00ffb6122942949a14251847be08692023-11-21T23:43:29ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-06-01116174710.3390/ani11061747Influence of Stress Assessed through Infrared Thermography and Environmental Parameters on the Performance of Fattening RabbitsJuan Antonio Jaén-Téllez0María José Sánchez-Guerrero1Mercedes Valera2Pedro González-Redondo3Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad de Sevilla, Ctra. Utrera km 1, 41013 Seville, SpainDepartamento de Agronomía, Universidad de Sevilla, Ctra. Utrera km 1, 41013 Seville, SpainDepartamento de Agronomía, Universidad de Sevilla, Ctra. Utrera km 1, 41013 Seville, SpainDepartamento de Agronomía, Universidad de Sevilla, Ctra. Utrera km 1, 41013 Seville, SpainRabbits often experience stress when they perceive certain stimuli, such as handling. The physiological response of animals to stress and temperament is associated with feeding efficiency, with those with the least capacity to react to stress showing the highest performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of stress due to heat (temperature-humidity index; THI) or handling, assessed using infrared thermography, on the performance parameters of rabbits of a Spanish Common breed. Thirty-nine rabbits were analyzed during a 38-d fattening period at two times of the year: a cold period and a warm period. The rabbits’ stress due to handling was assessed by the temperature difference taken in the inner ear, before and after being handled. The animals were more productive in the cold season. Temperature-humidity index significantly influenced average daily gain (ADG) and daily feed intake (DFI). Rabbits with higher levels of stress showed higher ADG, DFI and feed conversion ratio (FCR) values. The greater the stress due to handling, the less efficient the animals were. FCR increased with higher THI. It was concluded that changes in animal welfare caused by the rabbits’ reactivity to both climatic and individual factors affect animal productivity.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/6/1747animal welfarefattening performanceinfrared thermographyrabbitstresstemperature discipline |
| spellingShingle | Juan Antonio Jaén-Téllez María José Sánchez-Guerrero Mercedes Valera Pedro González-Redondo Influence of Stress Assessed through Infrared Thermography and Environmental Parameters on the Performance of Fattening Rabbits Animals animal welfare fattening performance infrared thermography rabbit stress temperature discipline |
| title | Influence of Stress Assessed through Infrared Thermography and Environmental Parameters on the Performance of Fattening Rabbits |
| title_full | Influence of Stress Assessed through Infrared Thermography and Environmental Parameters on the Performance of Fattening Rabbits |
| title_fullStr | Influence of Stress Assessed through Infrared Thermography and Environmental Parameters on the Performance of Fattening Rabbits |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of Stress Assessed through Infrared Thermography and Environmental Parameters on the Performance of Fattening Rabbits |
| title_short | Influence of Stress Assessed through Infrared Thermography and Environmental Parameters on the Performance of Fattening Rabbits |
| title_sort | influence of stress assessed through infrared thermography and environmental parameters on the performance of fattening rabbits |
| topic | animal welfare fattening performance infrared thermography rabbit stress temperature discipline |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/6/1747 |
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