Effect of environmental temperature on nitrogen balance in rabbits

Abstract

Two nitrogen balance tests have been carried out with eight adult male rabbits with the object of observing the possible influence of temperature on the retention of this element. The experiments werc carried out in an ecological chamber. A standard rabbits diet was used, brought up to a fat level of 6 %.
The results obtained are treated statistically by variance anlysis with the object of determining their degree of significance.
The following conclusions are drawn from our experiments: Retention of nitrogen incrcases significantly in rabbits when the temperature is raised from 18 to 34° C, due to less elimination of this element in uriníƒe. Excretion of nitrogen in faeces increases as a result of raising the temperature, causing less apparent digestibility of the protein in the diet.