الفهرس 
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Abstract
The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of some management and behavioural factors on performance of rabbit does. Experimental study was done to investigate effects of different lighting systems (12L:6D), (8L:4D) and (16L:8D) and environmental enrichment (gnawing stick) on performance and maternal behaviour of rabbit does. The results revealed that different lighting systems had significant effect on productive and reproductive performance of rabbit does. Nest building and nest lining as well as nest quality improved under intermittent system (8L:4D). Lighting systems (12L:6D) had significant effect on nursing behaviour duration and most nursing events occurred during the dark period. But in the (8L:4D) group nursing events occurred during the light period and showed higher nursing frequency than two groups at both periods light and dark. Lighting system (12L:6D) had a significant effect on blood melatonin level. Application of gnawing stick as environmental enrichment had no significant effect on does body weight, litter weight, litter size and reproductive performance of does. The environmental enrichment had significant effect on maternal behaviour of rabbit does as improve scores of nest lining, fur placement and nest quality, although decrease nursing behaviour duration. Does of enriched group show less feeding and grooming duration and frequency but resting duration and sniffing frequency increased under effect of environmental enrichment. Most rabbit behaviours occurred at Am period than Pm one as grooming and sniffing behaviour. It is concluded that intermittent lighting system (8L:4D) is considered the best system through improving the nest building and nest lining that lead to high nest quality. Consequently, pre-parturient maternal behaviour was important for survival and growth of kits. Different three lighting systems had a positive effect on duration and frequency of nursing behaviour in rabbit does. 12L:6D lighting system enhanced nursing duration, however, 8L:4D lighting system improved nursing frequency. Rabbit does enter the nest box either in the dark or light depending on lighting system. However, each rabbit in each group had the exact time for entering the nest box for nursing their kits. Application of gnawing stick as environmental enrichment had no effect on doe body weight, litter weight, litter size and reproductive index of does. However, enrichment had a great effect on doe’s behavioural activities and improved nest quality through increased nest lining and fur placement scores.