animal behaviour

Summery Improvement of animal health and productivity became a global demand. Rabbit produces the highest-quality lean meat, which provides necessary amino acids. Improvement maternal behaviour and reproductive performance reflects on rabbit production and provide high meat quality Zinc and MOL have ability to improve rabbit performance through their antioxidant activity, nutritive value and hormonal regulation 1. First experiment Twenty four nulliparous V-Line does about 4.6 months of age with average body weight 3.10 ± 0.20 were reared in a commercial rabbit farm Does were housed in galvanized wire cages (55 × 45 × 30 cm), feed and fresh water were available ad-libitum. The does divided into 4 groups (n = 6 does); group 1 Nano-zinc treated dams (NZnD), group 2 Nano-moringa treated dams (NMoD), group 3 Moringa extract treated dams (MoED) and control group or Non treated dams (NTD).the groups were exposed to ZnNPs (10 mg/kg), nano-Moringa (10 mg/kg), Moringa extract (10 ml/kg) and distilled water respectively via oral gavage at a fixed time (8:00 am) for three weeks before breeding, throughout the gestation period and till weaning of neonates at age of one month. Does were mated naturally by healthy bucks. Does were checked for pregnancy by abdominal palpation at 11 to 12 days from services. Nest boxes were put at 26th of gestation. Does behaviour was recorded to evaluate nest score and maternal behaviour. Feed intake and body weight also measured. Blood samples were collected 4 different times at: breeding, mid gestation, parturition and at neonatal weaning time for determination estrogen, progesterone ,prolactin ,serum zinc ,total proteins ,albumin ,globulin ,ALT,AST, creatinine ,cholesterol ,glucose .Also exploratory behaviour and locomotion of weaned rabbit recorded by novel object test and open field test. The results showed that ZnNPs, nano Moringa and Moringa extract improve maternal behaviour including nest quality and nursing behaviour, reproductive performance (increase litter size), hormonal balance and serum zinc level. Treatments not effect on feed intake and body weight. Moreover, total proteins, globulin and creatinine were decrease. ALT increased in prolonged exposure to Moringa extract. Cholesterol decreased in NMoD and MoED while it decreased then increase in NZnD. Glucose only increase at breeding time in all treatments. While weaned rabbits delivered from MoED showed an increase in exploration behaviour and reduction in locomotion. Hence, the present data suggested that ZnNPs, nano moringa and moringa extract improve rabbit maternal behaviour and reproductive performance but not should use for long time. 2- The second Experiment Forty eight male and female growing rabbits (GR) from the first experiment (12 from each group) immediately after weaning with initial average live weight; 0.75-0.78kg.They subdivided into 8 equal groups (each 12 GR/gp divided into 2 sub-groups: n = 6 per each); one sub group fed on a basal diet (BD) and the other fed on a 5% Moringa oleifera-containing ration (MD) for 4 weeks. Behavioural changes, feed intake and body weight were recorded. Blood samples were collected at the end of the experiment to assess oxidative stress (MDA, GSH), growth indicators (T3, T4), and liver and kidney functions. As a result, MD supplementation significantly (P < 0.01) increased FI compared to BD in the GR from control and NZn-treated dams. In addition, MD supplementation resulted in increased feeding and drinking behaviours frequency and duration, while self-grooming was reduced in both NTD and NZn-treated dams in relation to BD supplemented groups. Moreover, MD significantly decreased oxidative stress in GR delivered from NTD. Also, MD induced a significant (P < 0.01) increase in T3 level and enhanced the liver and kidney functions in GR delivered from all treated dams compared to control group. Furthermore, MD supplementation increased the economic efficiency of GR. In conclusion, MD supplementation to GRs or treatment of their dams with the different treatments decreased weaning stress, improved rabbit behaviour, and economic efficiency, but no significant improvement in the GRs' performance was observed. However, treatments of dams and their GR with MD resulted in GR inability to cope with weaning stress and induced renal and hepatic damage. Thus, it is recommended to supplement GR with MD after weaning or prenatal treatment of their dams with herbal extract or nano-herbal particles, but a combination of both treatments is not recommended.