The effect of direct solar radiation during pregnancy on the postnatal growth of rabbits.
36 doses of the Balady breed- in three groups-were exposed to solar radiation for different periods of time during 10 successive days, beginning with the 5th day of pregnancy. Six hours of exposure to direct solar radiation led to a mortality rate of 37.5%. With increasing exposure to heat, the average number of litters and the average litter wight decreased. The results can contribute towards explaining the low reproductive efficiency of livestock exposed to a high degree of direct solar radiation.
D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D008098:Litter Size / Q000528:radiation effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011817:Rabbits / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D012007:Rectum; D012098:Reproduction / Q000528:radiation effects; D012119:Respiration / Q000528:radiation effects; D013472:Sunlight