Rabbit production under polluted environmental conditions: 1. effect of ammonia pollution on rabbit performance and its alleviation using vitamin c, during growing period [electronic resource].

Includes references.

This study was designed to evaluate growing Californian (Cal) rabbit performance as affected by ammonia pollution and vitamin C; Animals were divided into three comparable groups (60 growing rabbits in each). The first group was kept untreated (Control group), while the 2nd and 3rd groups (treated groups) were exposed to high levels of ammonia ( ranged from 50 to 220 μg/ m3) during the experimental periods only, or exposed to the same levels of ammonia and drank water supplemented with vitamin C, respectively. The results revealed that, daily body weight gain, feed efficiency and feed conversion values of growing Cal rabbits exposed to high levels of ammonia decreased significantly. Exposing Cal growing rabbits to high levels of ammonia decreased significantly pre-slaughter live body weight, dressing %, carcass weight, blood picture and some blood constitute and increased significantly mortality rate, internal organs weights, some enzymes indicated liver activity and lipid in blood serum and in brain. While some physiological aspects indicated ability of body-thermoregulation were significantly higher due to high levels of ammonia. The results revealed that, Cal rabbits exposed to high levels of ammonia and drank water supplemented with vitamin C induced a significant improvement in all parameters studied, but the improvements were also significantly lower than those of control group.

Summary in Arabic.

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