Effect of colour of light on the reproductive performance of rabbit does.

The effect of light colour on the rabbits’ producti on has not yet been analyzed. According to the literature the rabbits perceive the red light (its wavelength) less compared to other light colours. T he objective of our experiment was to analyze the effe ct of the blue light on the rabbits’ production. Th e experiment was carried out at the University of Kap osvár using Pannon White rabbit does. The does were housed in two identical rooms. The rooms only differed in the applied light colour. In the first room white colour was applied (W group, n=59), in t he second group blue colour was used (B group, n=63). In both rooms a 16L/8D lighting regime was u sed throughout the experiment. Luminous intensity, independently of the light colour, measu red at the middle of the cages ranged between 40-70 lux. The blue light significantly reduced the feed consumption of rabbit does during the third week of pregnancy and through their whole period of first p regnancy, and their body weight measured at parturition and day 23 post partum. Individual and litter weight measured at 23 days of age was significantly higher in the B group (3498 vs. 3611g and 435 vs. 451 g; P<0.05). Number of rabbits born per insemination and litter weight measured at 23 days of age showed a 6.4% and 7.9% difference (W: 7.37, B: 7.84; W: 2.91 kg, B: 3.14 k g) respectively. Results suggest that evaluation of the light colour’s effect on the rabbit production can be perspective.