Displaying items by tag: Relato de caso

Este estudo teve como objetivo principal avaliar a qualidade da carne de coelhos alimentados com folhas de bananeira desidratada ou in natura. As análises de umidade, proteína bruta, matéria mineral, cálcio, fósforo e extrato etéreo foram realizadas no laboratório das Faculdades Associadas de Uberaba - FAZU. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que não houve diferença (P>0,05) para as variáveis, proteína bruta, umidade, extrato etéreo, matéria mineral e cálcio. Observou-se significância (P<0,05) apenas para o teor de fósforo. Pode-se concluir que a alimentação que os animais receberam dentro do sistema de produção confinado não interferiu diretamente na qualidade da carne, sendo observadas alterações apenas no teor de fósforo da carne.

Rabbits’ skin is often used to produce delicate and thermal insulating fabric. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of sweet potato vines (SPV) on length and quality of rabbits’ fur, which were fed different levels of that ingredient. A total of 25 rabbits, New Zealand, from both sexes, weaned at 35 days old was used, and they were distributed randomly in individual cages, in randomized allocation design with 5 treatments, with 5 replicates each. The animals were fed one of the following diets: 0SPV – Control diet without SPV; 25SPV, 50 SPV, 75SPV, 100SPV – Diets with 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%, respectively, of sweet potato vines in replacement of alfalfa hay.The biological essay was carried out for 49 days. At the end, a portion of fur was removed from the region of the nape and submitted to length analysis. Collected data was tabulated and analyzed through Analysis of Variance (p<0.05), correlation and regression curve. The length of rabbits’ fur was not affected by experimental diets. Correlation test value (ρ) was negative. Therefore, results evidence the possibility of using local and low-cost ingredients, as SPV, to produce fur with the same quality, for fashion and handicraft industries, as in fur produced from conventional ingredients.

Nowadays in Brazil pet rabbit breeding is expanding and dwarf rabbits are becoming common inside homes. The cages available are small, without attraction and can favor the laziness. This case report describes the use of an enriched environment (intelligent cage) for rabbits and verifies the possibility to put a nest under the floor for rabbit does. A Mini Lion Head doe and a Fuzzy Lop male were used for observations. The cages were built with 1.20 x 0.80m (0.96 m2) for does and 0.90 x 0.78 m (0.70 m2) for males. For environmental enrichment, a PVC pipe, a platform, a wood swing, a hanging plate, some dangling chains and a place for treats were added. For the doe, before the parturition date, a nest was adapted underneath the floor. A camera with night vision was used to monitor the animals for 24 periods of 50 minutes each. Observations were made every 30 seconds, as a frame, with a total of 2400 records for each rabbit. In order to build the ethogram, sixteen types of behavior were considered. The permanence in the different zones inside cages was also considered. The rabbit doe performed various types of behaviors and some of them were very important from the welfare point of view such as exploratory and ludic behaviors. This animal visited all zones of the cage, showing higher preference for above the platform. The nest was well prepared and used by the doe for the followings kindlings.A large range of exploratory and ludic behaviors were observed for the male and this animal spent part of time in self-grooming. New studies need to be made with a greater number of animals to confirm the high capacity of intelligent cages to promote safe housing and welfare conditions for the rabbits.