STUDY ON FEEDING AND BREEDING BEHAVIOUR OF DOMESTICATED RABBITS (Oryctolagus cuniculus) IN ASPECT OF BANGLADESH.

STUDY ON

FEEDING AND BREEDING BEHAVIOUR OF DOMESTICATED RABBITS (Oryctolagus cuniculus) IN ASPECT OF BANGLADESH.

A Report Submitted by:

InternID: D19 Roll No. : 03/21

Reg. No. : 117 Session: 2002-2003

Report submitted in partial fulfillment for the Degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,

Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chittagong, 4202.

April, 2009.

STUDY ON

FEEDING AND BREEDING BEHAVIOUR OF DOMESTICATED RABBITS (Oryctolagus cuniculus) IN ASPECT OF BANGLADESH.

A Production report submitted as per approved style and contents.

………. ………

Signature of author Signature of Supervisor

Md. Abdul Momin Shahnaz Sultana Roll No: 2003/21 Assistant Professor

Reg. No: 117 Department of Basic & Social Science Intern ID: D19

Session: 2002-2003

Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Khulshi, Chittagong - 4202.

Date of Submission: 22.04.09

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

All praises worth be to “All mighty Allah” who enabled the author to complete this study successfully.

The author expresses his deepest sense of gratitude and profound regard to Prof. Dr. N. C. Debnath, VC, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University.

The author avails himself of the opportunity of expressing his sense of appreciation and sincere gratitude to Prof. Dr. M .A. Matin Pradhan, Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

The author would like to thank his reverend and beloved teacher and supervisor Shahnaz Sultana, Assistant Professor, Department of Basic Science & Sociology, for her suggestions, guidance,

encouragement, and cordial support throughout the period of study .

The author desires to express his profound appreciation, gratefulness and heartfelt thanks to Ashraf Ali Biswash, Director of External Affairs, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University.

The author expresses his boundless gratitude and deepest appreciation to his parents for their encouragement and well wishes through out the academic life.

The author also expresses his gratefulness to all of his friends for their kind co-operation and encouragement to complete the study.

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The

Author

Contents

Subject Page no.

Acknowledgement i

Abstract ii

Introduction 01

Aims and Objectives 02

Description of study area 03-04

Review of literature 05-06

Method and Materials 07-17

Results & Discussion 18-22

Conclusion 23

Limitations 24

Reference 25

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE PAGE

2.1 MAJOR PLANT OF THE STUDY AREA...04

3.1 STUDIED RABBITS...08

4.1 FOOD ITEMS SUPPLIED TO THE RABBITS (O. cuniculus)...12

4.2 AMOUNT OF FOOD SUPPLIED TOADULT & JUVENILE OF 2 DAYS (DECEMBER’08 TO JANUARY’09)...12

4.3 2 DAYS FOOD CONSUMED BY RABBITS ( O. cuniculus ) (DECEMBER’08 TO JANUARY’09)...13

4.4 FEEDING BOUT OF DOE FOR 2 DAYS (DECEMBER’08 )...13

4.5 FEEDING BOUT OF DUCKS FOR 2 DAYS (DECEMBER’08 )...14

4.6 FIRST WEEK SUCKLING OF INFANT (3 GENERATIONS)...14

5.1 LITTER WEIGHT OF 3 GENERATIONS (DECEMBER’08 TO JANUARY’09)...21

5.2 BODY WEUGHT OF JUVENILE OF 3 GENERATION (DECEMBER’08 TO JANUARY’09) ... 21

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURES PAGE

1.1 WORLD WIDE DISTRIBUTION OF ORICTOLAGUS CUNICULUS...02

4.1 FEEDING BOUT OF DOE AND BUCK (29.12.08)...15

4.2 FEEDING BOUT OF DOE AND BUCK (30.12.08)...16

4.3 DIAGRAM OF 1ST WEEK SUCKLING OF 3 GENERATION...16

5.1 DIAGRAMETIC WEIGHT OF JUVENILE (3 GENERATION, DECEMBER’08 TO JANUARY’09)...22

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted on the feeding and breeding behavior of domesticated New Zealand white rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus 1758) during December’08 to February’09 in a residential house at Kosba thana under B.Baria district. The studied group had two individuals initially, the parents and their 3 generations of offspring. New birth and death of these offspring slightly changed their age-classes composition. During breeding time, the parents were observed mate 7 to 8 times in a day during the study period. The litter size was 7 to 8 and the total numbers of offspring found 19 in 3 generations. Food consumption of adult male, adult female and juvenile were assessed, and suckling time was recorded.

Time spent in feeding by adult was also recorded.