MOTOR-ACTIVITY OF RABBITS OF VARIOUS GENETIC GROUPS IN THE OPEN-FIELD

Motor activity of wild and domesticated New Zealand White rabbits as well as their reciprocal hybrids was investigated in an open field. The reaction of wild rabbits was the lowest and characterized a high initial activity in the first minute of the five minute period of observation. In the subsequent 4 minutess the frequency of grid crossing evidently diminished. New Zealand White rabbits particularly the females, reacted in a different manner. They played an increasing tendency in motor activity, with the higher values in the last fifth minute. The mobility reaction of hybrids was the highest. The highest activity within all the time intervals of the five minute period was shown by hybrid females female NZ x male W. The mean values of habituation coefficient differed between genetic groups and mean value of logarithmic transformation of function passing from square to square differed between the sex. In the light of the obtained data a suggestion can be put forward the motor activity of rabbits in the open field is determined by genes.