Attempts to manipulate urine and faeces excretion patterns in rabbits by water regime

Abstract

The aim of this experiment was to manipulate faeces and urine excretion patterns by water regime for 84 rabbits from 35 to 76 days of age. The rabbits were housed in Californian style cages of 2 rabbits per cage as is. There was a control group and the treatment group that varied only by the time of access to water. Both groups were housed in the same environmental conditions and feed access was 'ad libitum'. In the treatment group, water consumption decreased to 91.4% of the 'ad libitum' level. Feed intake decreased respectively to 90% of the 'ad libitum level'. Faeces excretion also decreased respectively to 89.1 % of the 'ad libitum level'. Thus, a limited access to drinking water allowed to compensatory growth but did not affect the patterns of faeces and urine excretion. From 69 to 76 days of age, the treatment group was given water 'ad libitum'.