The objective of this experiment was to study the effects of population density on the productive performance of growing rabbits. One hundred and eight New Zealand White rabbits of both sexes, weaned at the 28 days of age and housed at the 35 days of age for an experimental period of 6 weeks, in galvanized wire cages with the dimensions of .6 x .6 x .375 m, equipped with automatic feeder and drinking nipple installed in partially shut housing. The animals were ad libitum fed with a commercial granulated diet with 16% crude protein (CP), 11.84% acid detergent fiber (ADF), 17.49% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 1.20% calcium (Ca), .60% phosphorus (P) and 2500 kcal of digestible energy (DE)/kg, during the experimental period and supplemented from the 56 days of age, with Pangola hay (Digitaria decumbens, STENT) containing 4.04% CP, 37.31% ADF, 52.04% NDF, .61% Ca, .10% P and 1180 kcal DE/kg, offered in the amount of 50 grams by rabbit/day. The population densities tested were of 1200, 900, 720 and 600 cm²/rabbit, equivalent to capacities of 3, 4, 5 and 6 rabbits per cage, respectively. The increase of the population density significantly decreases the weight daily gain and the daily intake of commercial diet per housed animal, without affecting the feed:gain ratio and carcass yield. There was no sex effect in the studied variables. The mortality during the experimental period did not present association with the population density.
density; rabbit; production; perfomance