Effects of Natural Building Ventilation Openings on Rabbit Does in Humid South West Nigeria

The research investigated the effects of building ventilation resulting from different combinations of building orientation and opening on some reproductive parameters. The study was 2 x 4 factorial design and carried out at rabbitry section of the Teaching and Research Farm, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria between September 2009 and April 2011. Four identical adjoining buildings, each with eight pens with three factors: building orientations, BO (45º, 90º); ventilation openings, VO (20, 40, 60, 80%); seasons (dry, rainy) at 4 replicates each (n = 32 pens) were used. There was a control experiment with n = 4 does, each in a pen. Measured were the weights of the doe before conception, weights during gestation period and weights of does just before weaning. Temperature-humidity indices-THI, of the pens were also calculated. Weight gain by litters was significantly affected (P = .05) by BO. VO had significant effect (P = .05) on litters’ percent mortality. At weaning, 80% VO had the highest litters’ cumulative weight, 26% (194.375 g), while cumulative weight, 21% (166.5 g) for 60% VO at 45º orientation. Regression analysis showed stronger association between different combinations of various building orientations and openings and the weight gains by the litters during lactation. Temperature and humidity values in rabbits’ housing when controlled to the prevailing wet season values between 24ºC-27ºC and at 80% VO in windward direction in the tropics could allow rabbit does to have increased weights.