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Abstract This study was carried out in a private rabbitry in north east of Dakahlia Governorate. The field work started at November 2005 and continued for eight weeks (fattening period). The laboratory work was done in the laboratories of Animal Production Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Dokki, Giza and of Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University. A total of 476- five weeks old, New Zealand White rabbits were used in this study. The average of their initial body weights was 615.62g. Rabbits were randomly divided into four treatments then divided into two sub group (high or low density). The first group (T1) was placed in cage (60×70 cm), 8 rabbits / cage, for high density and 4 rabbits / cage for low density, T2 placed in cage (44×33 cm), 2 rabbits / cage for high density and a rabbit / cage for low density, T3 placed in pen (1×2m) 18 rabbits / m2 for high density and 8 rabbits / m2 for low density and T4 placed in pen (1×2m) 18 rabbits / m2 for high density and 8 rabbits / m2 for low density for 7 weeks then transferred to cage (60× 70 cm ), 8 rabbits / cage, for high density and 4 rabbits / cage for low density. Rabbits were fed a commercial pelleted ration containing 17 % CP and 2530 Kcal DE / Kg of diet. At the end of the experimental period the cell mediated immunity were measured. At 5 and, 9 and 13 weeks of age, blood samples were collected to study the blood parameters. Live body weight of rabbits, feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion and mortality rates were recorded weekly. Slaughter traits and meat were measured at 13 weeks of age. The obtained results can be summarized as follows:- A-productive performance : 1- Average final body weight of New Zealand White rabbits at 13 weeks of age for different treatment groups were 1740.31, 1718.91, 1685.14 and 1686.87 g for T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. |