THERMOREGULATORY INDICES OF ADULT RABBIT BUCKS FED DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH BREWERS’ DRIED GRAIN (BDG) RAISED UNDER TROPICAL CONDITIONS

Abstract

A study was conducted using twenty (20) growing rabbit bucks to evaluate the effect of feeding brewers dried grain (BDG) on thermoregulatory parameters. The rabbits were randomly allotted into the experimental treatments of four treatment groups with five (5) rabbits per treatment in a completely randomized design (CRD). In the first study, treatments were diets with 0, 20, 30 and 40% level of inclusion of brewers dried grain (BDG), respectively. Feed and water were served ad libitum. Thermoregulatory parameters such as respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), rectal temperature (RT), ear temperature (ET) and scrotal temperature were measured weekly. Data generated were subjected to analysis of variance of SAS. There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in pulse rate, respiratory rates, rectal rates and skin temperature across the treatments. On the other hand, ear temperature was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in rabbit bucks fed 20, 30 and 40% BDG diets. Rabbits fed 20 and 40% BDG diets had significantly (P < 0.05) higher skin temperature. It was concluded that supplementing BDG in the diets of growing rabbit bucks had effect only on ear and skin temperatures by ameliorating heat stress