Aceitabilidade da bagana de carnaúba como substrato alternativo de nidificação para coelhas Nova Zelândia Branco

Abstract

Providing nests with adequate substrates is crucial for productive success in rabbit farming. Wood shavings are one of the most used, however due to competition with other crops it can become expensive and scarce, making it possible to use alternative substrates. Therefore, the present work aimed to evaluate the use of bagana de carnaúba as an alternative nesting substrate material in comparison with wood shavings, evaluating the nest building behavior of rabbits and the thermal comfort parameters of the rabbits. Thirteen New Zealand White rabbits were used, separated into two treatments of maravalha (control) and bagana de carnaúba, with 7 and 6 replications, respectively. Reproductive management was done through natural breeding and 3 days before the scheduled birth date, a wooden nest was placed with a 5 cm high layer of substrate, according to each treatment. The nest building behavioral parameters evaluated were nest preparation (PN), substrate mixing (MS), substrate preservation (PS) and nest coverage (CL) and the temperature variables inside the nest measured were internal nest temperature (TIN), nest surface temperature (TSN) and kits body surface temperature (TSL). There was a significant difference for PS and CL, where bagana de carnaúba presented higher mean scores. However, there was no significant difference in PN and DM between treatments. For the temperature variables inside the nest, there was a significant difference for TIN, in which wood shavings reached the highest TIN, but both treatments were not satisfactory. There was no significant difference (P<0.05) in TSN and TSL between treatments. Therefore, bagana de carnaúba can be used as an alternative to wood shavings as nesting material, however an artificial source of heat may be needed to ensure the comfort of the kits.