Rabbits productive, reproductive and physiological traits as affected by drinking saline water [electronic resource]: a review.

Includes references.

Drinking water containing low levels of salts (particularly <3000 ppm NaCl) may increase daily feed intake of rabbits as a result to the appetizing effect of the low levels of salinity consumed. Similarly, the progeny traits may also be improved as a consequent to drinking their pregnant dams well (underground) high saline water or agriculture drainage water due to that the saline levels seemed to meet their dams high requirements of minerals. Drinking water containing high levels of salts (particularly ≥3000 ppm NaCl) depressed (P<0.01 or 0.05) growth performance traits, carcass weight, blood thyroid hormones, total lipids, albumin, globulin and glucose, in rabbits. At the same time, water intake, water/feed ratio, body water retention, respiration rate, body temperature (in rectum, skin and ear) and blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, transaminase enzymes and some electrolytes (Na, K, Ca and P) increased (P<0.01 or 0.05) with drinking the same high salt levels. Such changes were more apparent under hot summer conditions.

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