Raising Rex rabbits to adjust light is the key.

1. Male rabbits need shorter and weaker light.

Male rabbits like short light time, which usually takes 12 to 14 hours a day and lasts for more than 16 hours, which will reduce the weight of testis and the number of sperm, affect the breeding ability and even make male rabbits infertile.

Second, breeding female rabbits need longer and stronger light.

Under the environment of 20 ℃ ~ 24 ℃ and full darkness, although the female rabbit has a certain fecundity, the conception rate is very low, and the conception rate of one mating is only 30%. If the light is increased to 5 watts per square meter and 12 hours, the conception rate of one mating can reach about 50%. After continuous irradiation for 16 hours under the same light intensity, the conception rate of female rabbits can reach 65%-70%, and the survival rate of young rabbits can also be significantly improved. Therefore, increasing light intensity and time can significantly improve the conception rate of female rabbits and the survival rate of young rabbits. The study of the French National Academy of Agricultural Sciences shows that the light in the rabbit house is 14 to 16 hours a day, and the light is not less than 4 watts per square meter, which is beneficial to the normal estrus, pregnancy and delivery of breeding female rabbits.

Commercial rabbits need weak light

Persistent darkness inhibited the development of reproductive system and delayed sexual maturation in young rabbits. This effect works through the pineal gland, and when the retina is stimulated by light, it regulates the activity of the nerves innervating the pineal gland, which releases a transmitter that controls the pineal gland to form 5-hydroxy-indole-o-methyltransferase, which controls the synthesis of melatonin MLT. MLT is mainly synthesized in the dark, it can inhibit pituitary synthesis and release of gonadotropin; prolonged light can reduce the production of MLT, reduce its inhibitory effect on gonadotropin secretion, thus affecting reproductive function. In production, the newborn rabbits born in spring were in the environment of prolonged sunshine time and increased light intensity, and the time of sexual maturity was 1 or 2 weeks earlier than that of the rabbits born after autumn in the environment of short sunshine time and weak light intensity. Because the light contributes to the development of gonads and promotes the sexual maturity of rabbits. Sexual hyperactivity affects feeding and growth, so commercial rabbits need weak light for growth.

In the production practice, it is found that the outdoor caged Rex rabbit has been exposed to strong light for a long time, and its coat has gradually become thick and dull. On the other hand, the Rex rabbit raised indoors has a fine and shiny coat. This shows that strong light irradiation is not conducive to the growth of wool fibers. So commercial rabbits also need weak light in terms of improving fur quality.