Alternative Pen Housing System for Fattening Rabbits : Effects of Group Density and Litter

Lambertini, L.; VlGNOLA, G; Zaghini, Giuliano

doi:10.4995/wrs.2001.457

Cited by 35 publications

(63 citation statements)

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“…Higher live weight was detected in caged rabbits (2416 g) than in rabbits on litter (2202 g). Likewise, Lambertini et al (2001), Dal Bosco et al (2002), andMetzger et al (2003) observed similar results of slaughter weight between intensive and alternative housing system. According to Princz et al (2008), the lower weight of pen housed rabbits could be attributed to the higher locomotory activity, but in the present study, the housing area was the same in both systems.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 66%

“…Rabbits from cage system had significantly higher (P ≤ 0.001) pH value (6.55) than rabbits from litter (6.39) and this is consistent with Lazzaroni et al (2009a) :1 n-7, C18:1, C20:1 n-9, C22:1 n-9 PUFA: C18:2 n-6, C 18:3 n-6, C18:3 n-3, C20:2 n-6, C20:3 n-6, C20:4 n-6, C20:3 n-3, C20:5 n-3, C22:2 n-6, C22:4 n-6, C22:5 n-3, C22:6 n-3 PUFA n-3: C18:3 n-3, C20:3 n-3, C 20:5 n-3, C22:5 n-3, C22:6 n-3 PUFA n-6: C18:2 n-6, C18:3 n-6, C20:2 n-6, C20:3 n-6, C20:4 n-6, C22:2 n-6, C22:4 n-6 a,b P ≤ 0.05 higher pH u in rabbits from cages than from pens. However, our results are in contrast with those of Lambertini et al (2001) and Metzger et al (2003), who did not show differences between rabbits from different housing systems in pH 45 or pH u of longissimus lumborum, respectively. The pH (P ≤ 0.039) was also significantly affected by genotype, with higher values in Hyplus rabbits.…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 57%

“…Because of higher locomotory activity, pen housed rabbits have lower slaughter weight than those housed in cages (Maertens and Van Herck, 2000;Lambertini et al, 2001;Metzger et al, 2003;Combes et al, 2010). Also dressing percentage as one of the most important characteristics is significantly higher in caged rabbits (Dal Bosco et al, 2002;Metzger et al, 2003;Lazzaroni et al, 2009a;Combes et al, 2010).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of housing system and genotype on rabbit meat quality

Chodová¹,

Tůmová²,

Martinec³

et al. 2014

CZECH J ANIM SCI

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ABSTRACT:The effect of the housing system on the carcass characteristics, physical parameters of meat quality, fatty acid composition, and muscle fibre characteristics was studied in some Czech breeds. Ninety-six rabbits from seven different breeds of Czech genetic resources (Moravian Blue, Czech White, Czech Solver, Czech Spotted, Moravian White of Brown Eye, Czech Gold, and Czech Black Guard Hair) and one rabbit commercial hybrid (Hyplus), kept in two housing systems: intensive system (wire-net cages) or alternative (straw-bedded pen), were slaughtered at the age of 91 days. Alternatively housed rabbits had lower weight at slaughter, lower weight of loin, of hind legs meat, and of renal fat than rabbits from cages. The interactions between housing system and genotype were reflected significantly in pH value, and lightness and yellowness of biceps femoris. The highest (P ≤ 0.047) pH was observed in Hyplus (6.68) from cages, while the lowest value was noted in Moravian White of Brown Eye (6.26). The significantly (P ≤ 0.010) lightest meat was detected in Czech Solver (60.93) and the darkest in Czech Gold (47.81). Alternatively reared rabbits showed significantly (P ≤ 0.001) lower monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (26.63%) and higher (P ≤ 0.001) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (36.73%) contents than rabbits from cages (36.94% MUFA and 26.23% PUFA). The alternatively housed group had also higher n-3 and n-6 PUFA contents and higher PUFA : SFA ratio than the intensively housed one. Significant interactions (P ≤ 0.001) were observed in cross sectional area (CSA), diameter, and perimeter of muscle fibres of type I. The largest (P ≤ 0.001) CSA of type I muscle fibre had Czech Black Guard Hair from cages (2573.1 μm 2 ), while in pens this breed exhibited the smallest CSA (1219.6 μm 2 ), diameter (38.68 μm), and perimeter (130.2 μm). Fibre type distribution was not affected by any of the monitored parameters. The effect of interactions of the housing system and genotype was manifested mainly in physical and muscle fibre characteristics.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 66%

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 57%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of housing system and genotype on rabbit meat quality

Chodová¹,

Tůmová²,

Martinec³

et al. 2014

CZECH J ANIM SCI

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“…However, approximately 40 to 50 years ago, -E-mail: Szendro.Zsolt@ke.hu rabbit cages with wire-net floors were developed to reduce the problems associated with coccidia infection. Experimental results (Dal Bosco et al, 2000 and2002;Lambertini et al, 2001) have shown a higher mortality rate in rabbits housed on deep-litter compared with those housed on wirenet floors. This higher mortality rate is primarily caused by coccidia infection.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This higher mortality rate is primarily caused by coccidia infection. Rabbits consume the litter material (Lambertini et al, 2001;Dal Bosco et al, 2002;Jekkel and Milisits, 2009), which opens the re-infection chain of coccidiosis. Moreover, the litter material contains low levels of nutrients, and the correspondingly reduced pellet intake lowers the performance of the animals for most production and carcass traits (Dal Bosco et al, 2000 and2002;Lambertini et al, 2001;Metzger et al, 2003;Trocino et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of different areas of pen by growing rabbits depending on the elevated platforms’ floor-type

Szendrő

Matics

Odermatt³

et al. 2012

Animal

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The addition of platforms to rabbit cages increases their accessible area and provides rabbits greater freedom and mobility. Different types of platforms enable rabbits to situate themselves where they are most comfortable. The objective of this experiment was to analyse preference of growing rabbits between different areas of the pen depending on the elevated platforms' floor-type. Pens with a basic area of 0.84 m 2 were equipped with platforms of 0.42 m 2 . Three types of flooring of the elevated platforms were used as treatments: deep-litter floor and an open wire-net floor (Experiment 1), and a deep-litter floor and a wire-net floor with a manure tray beneath it (Experiment 2). Growing rabbits (n 5 168; 42 per treatment) between the ages of 5 and 11 weeks were studied, based on 24 h video recordings from infra-red cameras (one recording per week) applying scan sampling method with a frequency of 30 min. When the platform was deep-litter, significantly (P , 0.001) more rabbits used the area under the platform (53.7% and 54.3% in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively) than stayed on the platform (16.7% and 7.6%). In treatments of wire-net platform with and without tray beneath the platform also significantly (P , 0.001) more rabbits stayed under the platform (43.7% and 34.7%, respectively) than on the platform (19.5% and 29.9%, respectively). The differences from the expected 33.3% staying on the platform or under the platform were significant at least at the level of P , 0.05. The results show that the wire-net platform with the manure tray provides the optimal environment as it leads to the rabbits spreading themselves more evenly in the pen (i.e. the platform expands available floor area) without the risk of soiling from above, and without adverse effects on heat dissipation, and with the possibility of seeking cover when desired.

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Effect of genotype, housing system and hay supplementation on performance and ear lesions of growing rabbits

Szendrő

Matics

et al. 2015

Livestock Science

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Alternative Pen Housing System for Fattening Rabbits : Effects of Group Density and Litter

Cited by 35 publications

References 0 publications

Effect of housing system and genotype on rabbit meat quality

Effect of housing system and genotype on rabbit meat quality

Use of different areas of pen by growing rabbits depending on the elevated platforms’ floor-type

Effect of genotype, housing system and hay supplementation on performance and ear lesions of growing rabbits

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