This study investigates the efficacy of rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) urine as a natural biopesticide and growth stimulant for green cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) to provide a sustainable alternative to synthetic agrochemicals. Seedlings were transplanted at approximately 25 d of age and treatments with varying concentrations of rabbit urine (25, 50 and 75% v/v) were applied weekly starting 15 d after transplanting (DAT). Physicochemical analysis revealed that the urine was alkaline (pH 8.2), with high ammonia content, elevated total dissolved solids (5786.5±85.4 ppm) and high electrical conductivity (10 704.3±120.6 μS/cm), suggesting potent pest-deterrent and nutrient-delivery properties. Results indicated that the 75% concentration significantly reduced pest severity by approximately 75% and suppressed lepidopterous pest populations by up to 83.3% compared to untreated controls. Leaf damage was markedly reduced (1.0±0.1 vs. 4.0±0.2 in controls). Furthermore, the 75% treatment enhanced crop productivity, increasing marketable yield to 97.8% (vs. 75.0% in controls) and improving the harvest index from 0.60 to 0.75. These findings suggest that rabbit urine can be integrated into sustainable pest management strategies, offering a low-cost, eco-friendly solution that could benefit smallholder farmers. Future research should explore the mechanisms behind pest suppression, long-term effects on soil health and optimal application protocols to facilitate wider adoption.
This literature review explores genotype×environment (G×E) interactions in rabbit and pig production. This occurs if the difference between genotypes depends on the environment, leading to re-ranking or scale effect between genotypes. High temperatures and seasonal variations strongly influence reproductive, growth and feed efficiency performance, with moderate genetic correlations between environments. Animal lines show different sensitivities to heat stress, underlining the importance of selecting animals under conditions that reflect their future rearing environment. Rabbit behaviour and performance differ according to the type of housing, such as cages, pens or access to a grazing area. While G×E interactions are limited for growth traits, they are more pronounced for behaviours, particularly in enriched systems. In swine production, organic systems or more restrictive production environments reveal significant G×E interactions for growth and feed efficiency. High-fibre diets or diets including co-products also lead to differences in feed efficiency and body composition, with re-ranking between genotypes. These results show that G×E interactions influence a variety of traits depending on rearing conditions, and require adaptation of selection strategies. Future production systems, subject to increased climatic constraints and more extensive practices, must integrate these interactions. Genetic selection will have to be based on evaluations in representative environments to ensure that the animals are adapted to the challenges of climate change and new societal expectations.
This study evaluated acute colitis induced by indomethacin and Escherichia coli O78 in rabbits and the efficacy of essential oils in treating of diseased rabbits. A total of 90 male rabbits were equally divided into two experiments (45 rabbits per experiment). The first experiment included five groups (G1-G5). G1 (C) group: Animals received 1 mL PBS orally; G2 (indo) group: received of indomethacin (8 mg/kg body weight (BW)) to induce colitis as a single subcutaneous administration; G3 (indo+Dill) group: received indomethacin for 24 h, followed by the administration of dill oil (200 mg/kg BW) via a gastric tube for five consecutive days; G4 (indo+Fennel) group: received indomethacin, followed by the administration of fennel oil (400 mg/kg BW) via a gastric tube for five consecutive days; and G5 (indo+DEX) group: received indomethacin, followed by oral administration of dexamethasone (1 mg/kg) after 24 h, serving as a standard treatment for colitis. The second experiment included five groups (G1-G5). G1 (C) group: received 1 mL PBS orally; G2 (EC) group: infected with E. coli suspension (O78) orally (1.0 mL x 108 CFU) ; G3 (EC+Dill) group: orally infected with E. coli and administration of dill oil (200 mg/kg BW) via a gastric tube for five days; G4 (EC+Fennel) group: orally infected with E. coli and administration of fennel oil (400 mg/kg BW) via a gastric tube for five days; G5 (EC+Florfenicol) group: orally infected with E. coli andadministration of 1 mL of florfenicol (30 mg/kg BW) for five days. All rabbits were weighed at 7, 14 and 21 d in both experiments, and blood samples were collected for haematological, biochemical and immunological analysis. Subsequently, liver and colon tissues were collected for gene expression analysis and histopathological examination. In both experiments, the G2 group exhibited significant differences (P<0.05) compared to the supplemented groups (G3 & G4) in terms of growth performance, clinical signs, bacterial shedding, biochemical, immunological and haematological parameters, cytokines production and histopathological lesion scores. In both experiments, G3 and G4 had the highest (P<0.05) growth performance, phagocytic activity, IgM and IgG, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and antioxidant activity. Additionally, these groups showed the lowest rates of bacterial shedding, hepatic and renal damage, heterophil/lymphocyte ratios and lesion scores compared to the other groups. In conclusion, a five-day supplementation of dill and fennel extracts improves growth performance, immunological status, antioxidant activity and cytokine production in the treatment of rabbits with colitis induced by indomethacin and E. coli O78.
Rabbit skin is a promising source of gelatine due to its high collagen content, faster production and cost-efficiency compared to bovine gelatine, and halal status compared to porcine gelatine. Gelatine’s gel-forming and hydrophilic properties allow uniform dispersion of dyes, making it suitable for edible films and smart packaging applications. This research aimed to develop a pH-responsive smart packaging film based on rabbit skin gelatine containing red beet extract (RBE) and to investigate the influence of RBE concentration on the films’ physical, mechanical and functional properties. Films were prepared with 5–15% RBE, using a completely randomised design with four replicates per treatment. Results showed strong interactions among gelatine, glycerol and RBE, as confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectra. RBE concentration significantly influenced thickness, water vapour transmission rate (WVTR), colour (L*, a*, b*), pH response, tensile strength, elongation and Young’s modulus (P<0.05). Optimal properties were achieved at 5% RBE, producing a film with 0.20 mm thickness, 5.37 g/m²·day WVTR, bright red colour (L* 66.67, a* 24.44, b* 4.82), tensile strength 2.03 MPa, elongation 108% and Young’s modulus 1.88 MPa, meeting Japanese Industrial Standard with clearly visible colour changes at different pH levels. These findings highlight the potential of rabbit skin gelatine–RBE films as biodegradable, functional smart packaging.
Seminal plasma biochemistry is a sensitive indicator of sperm responses to cold stress, yet its temporal and breed-specific dynamics in rabbits remain poorly defined. This study investigated temporal changes in key seminal plasma parameters of extended rabbit semen, including total proteins, albumin, cholesterol, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) during 72 h of storage at 5°C, and their associations with sperm quality traits and oxidative stress biomarkers in New Zealand White (NZW) and Local Algerian Population (LAP) bucks. Eighteen semen pools (nine per breed) were analysed at 0, 4, 24, 48 and 72 h of storage. Distinct breed-specific responses were observed. The LAP bucks showed better resilience, with stable levels of total proteins and albumin, a smaller increase in triglycerides at 48 h (P<0.05) and a delayed significant decline in ASAT activity (48 vs. 4 h in NZW). In NZW, total protein accumulation correlated negatively with sperm quality, albumin and catalase, but positively with superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities (P<0.05). In LAP, ASAT activity correlated positively with sperm quality and albumin (P<0.05). Triglycerides emerged as a robust biomarker, showing consistent negative correlations with sperm quality traits in both breeds and with catalase activity when data from both breeds were pooled (P<0.05). Overall, proteins and ASAT acted as breed-specific indicators, whereas triglycerides represented a breed-independent marker of cold storage damage. These findings offer valuable insights for the development of improved semen diluents and could enhance semen analysis protocols during storage.
