Periparto de coelhas Nova Zelândia Branca em condições tropicais

Abstract

Behavior analysis is a psychological approach science, whose the study object is individual himself. This type of analysis aims to establish a relationship between behavior with environment interactions, which may include physical, chemical and social variables. Rabbits are considered extremely sensitive to environmental conditions, mainly related to temperature, humidity, ventilation and available space, influencing welfare and consequently health, reproduction and production of these animals. This study objective was to evaluate twelve New Zealand rabbits behavior during peripartum, and verify the maternal behavior frequency observed throughout the day to develop efficient management strategies. The experimental design used was the entirely randomized (ERD), in split-split-plot subdivisions scheme 2 x 3 x 4. The plots are composed by the animals in two levels: primiparous and multiparous; the sub-plots, which correspond to peripartum period, being the days referring to prepartum, labor and postpartum; and the sub-sub-plots, formed by shifts arranged in: morning (6h to 12h), afternoon (12h to 18h), night (18h to 24h) and dawn (0h to 6h), totaling three repetitions per treatment, and 144 observations for each variable studied that reflect maternal behavior: feeding time (in minutes); feeding frequency; forage and concentrated diet ingestion frequency; water ingestion (in minutes); water ingestion frequency; idleness (in minutes); permanence inside and outside the nest (in minutes); permanence of the animal sitting and lying on the nest (in minutes); excavation frequency; straw and hair retention frequency; gnawing in the nest (in minutes) and gnawing frequency. The data were analyzed in free software R, 3.6.1 version, and Mann-Whitney, Friedman and Bonferroni tests were applied for multiple comparisons, with a 5% probability significance level. Results indicate that dynamics present in the nest had intensity during the afternoon and night. The animal permanence lying in the nest, outside of the nest and inside the nest was greater in the afternoon, night and dawn, respectively; and they match with the fact that most females gave birth during nocturnal period, when temperatures are usually milder. Excavation frequency was higher during afternoon period, which may be related to nest construction and/or environmental stress. In addition, food intake duration was longer in afternoon period, however, animals moved more often to feeder during night period. Concentrate ingestion occurred more often in afternoon, while forage was higher at night (most frequent cecotrophagy moment). Furthermore, animals had a higher forage diet intake compared to concentrate diet, since the latter has higher energy density and consequently produces higher endogenous heat during digestion process. Regarding water intake, it occurred mostly during afternoon, time with higher temperatures throughout the day. Cage dynamics may influence the individual's welfare, therefore cages too small or overcrowded (in this case with suckling rabbits presence, after parturition) modulate movements, limiting animals in their natural manifestations, causing changes in behavioral, hygienic and productive. Therefore, it is essential that production installations units have environmental conditions close to thermoneutral zone, promoting thermal comfort, animal welfare, preventing or alleviating stress situations that cause damages in rabbit production chain.