الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Mortalities are common in young rabbits in the first two months of life. Data on causes and rates of mortality are crucial for determining profitability and net income in commercial rabbit farming. However, studies on causes and rates of mortality on rabbit farms during pre-and postweaning stages are limited. The objective of this study was to know the causes of mortality between young rabbits and the solutions of these problems. Also, The comparison of therapeutic antibiotics and/or probiotics for protective efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus infection and impact on growing rabbits. Firstly, we evaluated the effect of nursing programs (open, semi-closed, and closed) on mortality rates. Pregnant does rear in 15 separate cages with nest boxes till parturition (15 pregnant does were divided into three groups n=5 does). Secondly, we demonstrated the effects of adding probiotics on S. aureus infection. Weaned kits infected with Staphylococcus aureus (18 weaned kits experimentally infected with S. aureus then divided into three groups; n=6). The results show that the peak of mortalities was detected between 1-7 days of age, as a result of the poor nursing and decline of immunity. Maternal causes such as decrease nursing behavior, and stress factors as cold were the most predominant factors of pre-weaning mortalities. On the other hand, the lowest mortality rate occurs in semiclosed nursing programs. Also, the semi-closed nursing program recorded the highest value in body wt. and body weight gain. Furthermore, this study highlights that, although therapeutic antibiotics can treat bacterial infections, probiotics minimize the drastic effect of infection and clinical signs also this translate to a decrease the mortality rates. It is of great importance to draw the attention of the work done in this field to the real size of the problem among the Egyptian farm rabbits and to explain the role played by another etiological agent which is involved in the mortalities of young kits. This will facilitate the veterinarian for tracing and controlling such problems. |