In Saudi Arabia a total of 60 male Californian rabbits, 6 weeks of age, were used to investigate the effects of ambient temperatures of 20 (Control), 26 (Moderate) and >32°C (High) on growth performance, feed intake, feed conversion, digestibility and nitrogen-balance. Coefficients of digestion, feeding value, nitrogen retention and biological value were evaluated. A slaughter test was also performed at 12 and 16 weeks of age to investigate the effects of such temperatures on carcass traits, carcass composition and chemical composition of the rabbit lean meat. Rabbits raised under high temperature (>32°C) up to 12 weeks of age lost 8.5% of their body weights and feed intake was reduced by 30%. At 16 weeks of age, rabbits in all treated groups showed similar live weight. Exposure to >32°C insignificantly affected feed conversion of all ages studied. The digestibility trial showed that the high temperature was associated with a 43% reduction in intake of all nutrients, while nutrient outputs were halved for rabbits raised at >32°C compared with those raised at 20°C. Coefficients of digestion for DM, CP, CF and NFE increased as the ambient temperature increased, while digestibility of EE was not affected by heat treatments. Most of the carcass traits at the two ages studied were insignificantly affected by high temperature (>32°C). Rates of change in carcass traits attained in rabbits exposed to high temperature compared to rabbits of the control group were low or moderate and ranged between -14.9 and 8.8% at 12 weeks of age, and between -18.2 and 7.7% when rabbits were slaughtered at 12 and 16 weeks of age, respectively, i.e. rate of change at 12 weeks of age was higher than at 16 weeks of age. More lean with less fat content (P<0.05) was attained in carcasses of rabbits exposed to the high temperature when compared to carcasses of controls (20°C), while bone contents of the carcass were similar in all groups. Dry matter and ash in the lean composition of carcass were similar in all groups, while insignificant more CP and less EE were recorded for the lean of the high temperature group. Under high temperature, it is preferable to slaughter rabbits at 12 weeks of age.