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A note on the critical temperature of sucking rabbits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

E. Sanz
Affiliation:
Departamento de Producción Animal, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, Universidad Politécnica, 28040 Madrid, Spain
V. Ortiz
Affiliation:
Departamento de Producción Animal, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, Universidad Politécnica, 28040 Madrid, Spain
C. de Blas
Affiliation:
Departamento de Producción Animal, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, Universidad Politécnica, 28040 Madrid, Spain
M. J. Fraga
Affiliation:
Departamento de Producción Animal, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, Universidad Politécnica, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Abstract

Five hundred and fifty sucking New Zealand rabbits of three ages (1, 10 and 20 days) were used to measure metabolizable energy intake and heat production at five ambient temperatures varying between 12 and 36°C according to age. Critical temperatures and rate of heat production below them, decreased with age (32, 28 and 24°C; 20·8, 10·8 and 9·2 kJ/kg0·07 per day and °C at 1, 10 and 20 days of age respectively) as a result of the increase in thermal insulation. Energy retention also decreased below critical temperature at a similar rate to the increase of heat production, because rabbits could not increase their milk intake to meet their higher energy requirements.

Type
Notes
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1989

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References

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