Response of New Zealand white rabbits to thermal stress and its amelioration during winter and summer of North Sinai, Egypt

Sixty growing and 42 doe New Zealand white rabbits were used. During the winter, warming air temperature significantly improved litter size at weaning, pup weaning weight and pup weight gain from blah to weaning. This indicated that the cool winter of North Sinai has negative effects on does. During the hot and humid summer all parameters of economic importance in rabbit production were reduced. Treatment of rabbits with shearing and/or chilled drinking water significantly improved productive and reproductive traits and reduced the effects of heat stress on thyroid, kidney and liver functions and thermoregulation. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.