Vol. 14, No. 10 
Page 4 
* 
6. Rabbit Management G. B. Rose 
Food consumption (MWRL 13(2):4-5) was measured for cottontail 
rabbits in cages and in pens for weekly periods from June 1970 through 
July 1971- 
The relationship, for the rabbits in the cages, among the variables 
of mean ambient temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (X ( ), body weight in 
ounces (X~), and food consumption in grams per day (Y), is expressed 
by the equation Y = 26.2-.473Xj+1.57X 2 , which means that the food 
consumption per day decreased an average of 0.473 gram for every 
increase of 1 F in temperature and increased an average of 1.57 grams 
for every increase of 1 ounce in body weight. The multiple correlation 
coefficient for the three variables, R = 0-763> was significant. The 
partial correlation coefficient, ambient temperature and food consump¬ 
tion only, R = 0.613, was significant; and the partial correlation 
coefficient of food consumption with body weight only, R = 0.437> was 
significant. The predictability of food consumption was 58 percent 
if both body weight and temperature were known, 20 percent if body 
weight only was known, and 38 percent if temperature only was known. 
The relationship, for the penned rabbits, among the same variables, is 
expressed by the equation Y = 85- 2-. 477X 1 -+-. 929 X„^ which means that the 
food consumption per day decreased an average of 0.477 gram for every 
increase of 1 F in temperature and increased an average of 0.929 gram 
for every increase of 1 ounce in body weight. The multiple correlation 
coefficient, R 4= 0.531, was significant. The partial correlation 
coefficient, ambient temperature and food consumption only, R = 0.476, 
was significant; and the partial correlation coefficient of food 
consumption with body weight only, R = 0.241, was significant. The 
predictability of, food consumption was 28 percent if both body weight 
and temperature were known, 6 percent if body weight only was known, 
and 23 percent if temperature only was known. 
The greater correlation coefficients, and hence greater predicta¬ 
bilities, for the caged than for the penned rabbits, show that less 
of the variability was explainable for the penned than for the caged 
rabbits. Confinement in cages may restrict the opportunity for 
seasonal or individual differences in activity and may thus result in 
a more direct relationship between ambient temperature and energy 
consumption than occurs with animals in pens. The greater variability 
in food consumption by the rabbits in the pens may also have resulted 
from their ability to move about and seek a preferred microclimate 
within the pens, or even from the possible greater effect that 
changes in precipitation may have on the activity of rabbits in the 
open pens, as opposed to rabbits in the covered cages. 
V 
