Environmental heat stress in rabbits: implications and ameliorations

• Published in: International journal of biometeorology Vol. 66; no. 1; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Authors: Oladimeji, Abioja Monsuru, Johnson, Temitope Gloria, Metwally, Khaled, Farghly, Mohamed, Mahrose, Khalid Mohamed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Ambient temperature; Animal Physiology; Animals; Biological and Medical Physics; Biophysics; Body temperature; Body Temperature Regulation; Climate change; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Health; Exocrine glands; Global warming; Heat; Heat loss; Heat stress; Heat Stress Disorders - veterinary; Heat tolerance; Heat-Shock Response; High temperature; Hot Temperature; Meat; Meteorology; Milk production; Plant Physiology; Rabbits; Review Paper; Stress, Physiological; Sweat; Sweat gland; Thermoregulation; Carcass yield; Global warming; Heat stress; Tropics; Adaptation; Meat quality
• DOI: 10.1007/s00484-021-02191-0
• ISSN: 0020-7128

Profitable production of rabbit meat requires comfortable environment for expression of good quality traits embedded in the genetic components of rabbits. One of the major problems facing rabbit production is heat stress, especially in hot regions of the world. This is further aggravated by global warming being experienced as a result of climate change. Rabbits have no or few sweat glands, complicating the problem of heat dissipation, thereby predisposing the animals to heat stress (HS). Heat stress adversely affect welfare and adaptation, feed consumption and utilization, immunity and health status, growth, reproduction, and milk production in rabbits. Rabbits are homoeothermic animals. They should be capable of body temperature regulation within a narrow range. Thermoregulation is extremely poor in rabbits because of lack of sweat glands. Rabbits are highly sensitive to high ambient temperature. The presence of thick insulator fur on the skin further impedes heat loss in rabbits. This review summarizes data available literatures in the last two decades (2000–2020). Short compilation on management techniques adopted in rearing rabbits under hot conditions is included.