In the sweltering summer heat, when temperatures exceed 30°C, rabbits are highly susceptible to a range of adverse physiological and psychological effects, which can even result in death in severe cases. To minimize losses, it's essential to implement effective cooling and management strategies.
First, effective cooling measures are crucial. Farmers should adopt comprehensive methods based on their specific conditions. One approach is manual spraying of cold water to lower ambient temperature. After noon, high-pressure misters can be used to spray well water, repeating every 2–4 hours depending on indoor temperatures. This can reduce room temperature by 4–7°C. Additionally, sprinkling water on the floor helps increase evaporation and heat dissipation. However, it’s important to open windows and doors to ensure proper ventilation, as poor airflow can worsen the heat impact. Increasing fan power and switching from horizontal to longitudinal ventilation can also enhance air movement, helping to remove heat more efficiently. Combining this with watering systems yields better results.
Second, improving feeding and management practices can strengthen rabbit health and improve their ability to regulate body temperature. Adjusting feed quantity and quality is key. High temperatures often reduce appetite, so increasing nutrient density while reducing overall volume ensures rabbits still receive necessary vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Feeding during cooler morning and evening hours improves intake. Adding more green feed and avoiding moldy or damp feed is also important. Including supplements like vitamin C, E, K, B2, biotin, bacitracin, and others in feed, along with baking soda or buffer solutions in drinking water, can help mitigate heat stress. Feeding watermelon rind (about 50g per day, three times) can also aid in cooling.
Third, breeding should be carefully managed during summer. High temperatures can lead to reduced feed intake, physical decline, and reproductive issues—such as poor semen quality in males and miscarriages in females. Pups born under these conditions may be weak, and nursing does may have less milk. If possible, breeding should be avoided during hot months. However, if the environment can maintain temperatures below 28°C, breeding may still be feasible.
Fourth, disease prevention is vital. Common summer diseases include enteritis, salmonellosis, clostridiosis, coccidiosis, rickets, and heatstroke. Vaccinations against mucous enteritis and salmonella should be administered before summer. Medications such as garlic, oxytetracycline, and chlorophthalein tablets can also be used. If a rabbit shows signs of heatstroke, move it to a cool, ventilated area immediately. Apply a cold, wet towel to its head and stimulate the tail tip. Administering 4–5 tablets of Dan (a traditional remedy) can help speed recovery. Most affected rabbits typically recover quickly with prompt action.
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