Behaviour and welfare of growing rabbits housed in cages and pens

Trocino, A.; Filiou, Eirini; Tazzoli, Marco; Bertotto, Daniela; Negrato, Elena; Xiccato, Gerolamo

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2014.05.035

Cited by 24 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…The corticosterone level was 8.8%, 9.0%, and 13.4% higher in the pens compared to that in the cages at 6, 9, and 11 week, respectively (p < .1 in case of 6 and 11 weeks, p < .5 in case of 9 weeks). In contrast with our results Buijs et al (2011) and Trocino et al (2014) could not show elevation in the corticosterone concentration of hard faeces when the rabbits were kept in pens. When the corticosterone concentration was measured in the hair of rabbits Trocino et al (2014) found significantly higher values in penned rabbits than in caged ones.…”

Section: Productive Performancecontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast with our results Buijs et al (2011) and Trocino et al (2014) could not show elevation in the corticosterone concentration of hard faeces when the rabbits were kept in pens. When the corticosterone concentration was measured in the hair of rabbits Trocino et al (2014) found significantly higher values in penned rabbits than in caged ones. Similarly to our results Trocino et al (2014) find that the corticosterone concentration measured in hair of rabbits increased with the age, but only in case of collective pens.…”

Section: Productive Performancecontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…When the corticosterone concentration was measured in the hair of rabbits Trocino et al (2014) found significantly higher values in penned rabbits than in caged ones. Similarly to our results Trocino et al (2014) find that the corticosterone concentration measured in hair of rabbits increased with the age, but only in case of collective pens. The best feed conversion ratio was mainly obtained with caged-rabbits (Rommers and Meijerhof 1998;Postollec et al 2001;Princz et al 2009), even though some authors did not observe significant differences between cage and penhoused rabbits (Maertens and Van Herck 2000;Matics et al 2014).…”

Section: Productive Performancementioning

confidence: 92%

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Effect of cage and pen housing on the live performance, carcase, and meat quality traits of growing rabbits

Matics

Cullere

Zotte

et al. 2018

Italian Journal of Animal Science

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The aim of the experiment was to study the effect of housing growing rabbits in enriched cages with small groups (eight rabbits/cage, C; n ¼ 96; stocking density: 15 rabbits/m 2) or in enriched pens with large groups (65 rabbits/pen, P; n ¼ 130; stocking density: 15 rabbits/m 2) on their growth performance and on slaughter and meat quality traits. The C rabbits showed higher final body weight (2540 vs. 2443 g, p < .01), better feed conversion ratio (5-11 weeks: 3.39 vs. 3.61, p < .05), lower mortality rate (5.2 vs. 31.5%, p < .001), and lower fecal corticosterone level (26.3 vs. 29.4 nmol/g, p < .05) compared to P rabbits. The increased possibility of physical activity of P compared to C rabbits resulted in more developed hind part of the reference carcase, thicker hind leg bones (34.8 vs. 33.4 g, p < .05), lower perirenal fat (15.1 vs. 20.8 g, p < .001) and hind leg meat lipid content (2.00 vs. 2.42%, p < .05), as well as higher haem iron content of the hind leg meat (5.29 vs. 4.22 mg/kg, p < .01). However, pen housing was detrimental for the dressing out percentage and for the hind leg meat to bones ratio. Physical meat quality traits were not affected by the housing system. HIGHLIGHTS Housing of growing rabbits in large cages and large pens was compared. Caged rabbits had better productive performance, lower mortality and stress. Penned rabbits resulted in lower dressing out percentage, carcase adiposity and meat lipids content. Most of the meat quality traits were independent of the housing system.

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Section: Productive Performancecontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Productive Performancecontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Productive Performancementioning

confidence: 92%

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Effect of cage and pen housing on the live performance, carcase, and meat quality traits of growing rabbits

Matics

Cullere

Zotte

et al. 2018

Italian Journal of Animal Science

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“…The welfare of growing rabbits kept in cages depends on whether housing is individual, in pairs, or in groups, on group size and stocking density, but also on the quality of the environment (Chu et al, 2004;Verga et al, 2007;Trocino et al, 2014). Physiology, health, reproduction, and production may be used to evaluate stress, but the evaluation of the ethogram represents a key welfare indicator in animals kept in intensive conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies have investigated the effects of housing system (Trocino et al, 2014), group size, cage size, and stocking density (Chu et al, 2004;Princz et al, 2008;Buijs et al, 2011) on the behavior of growing rabbits. However, the potential effects of changes to the composition of the social group on social interaction, aggression and injuries have been largely neglected in rabbits, except for one study which showed no effect of social group composition on behavior (Szendrö et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of environmental enrichment and composition of the social group on the behavior, welfare, and relative brain weight of growing rabbits

Bozicovich

Moura

Fernandes

et al. 2016

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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Please cite this article in press as: Bozicovich, T.F.M., et al., Effect of environmental enrichment and composition of the social group on the behavior, welfare, and relative brain weight of growing rabbits. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. (2016), http://dx. a b s t r a c tThe objective of the study was to investigate if environmental enrichment and the composition of the social group would affect the behavior and relative brain weight of growing rabbits. Rabbits (72 males and 72 females) were assigned to cages with or without enrichment and one of three social groups (males, females, or mixed-gender). Two eucalyptus sticks suspended from the cage ceiling were provided in the enriched cages based on the results of a preliminary trial conducted on growing rabbits (n = 48) showing that pieces of wood (Eucalyptus sp, Pinus sp) or bamboo (Dendrocalamus giganteus) were preferred over PVC pipe (P < 0.05). Rabbits were exposed to the experimental conditions between six and 11 weeks of age. Behavioral activities were video recorded for 24 h, at 7, 10 and 11 weeks of age. Growth performance was recorded from 42 to 77 days of age, whereas skin wounds and brain weight were recorded at 77 days. At 70 days of age, rabbits in non-enriched cages showed a higher proportion of self-grooming (P = 0.012) than those in enriched cages. Enrichment decreased the number of social interactions among rabbits (P = 0.012), but increased aggressive behavior (P = 0.007). The number of animals showing skin wounds on day 77 was lower (P = 0.006) in enriched than in non-enriched cages. The incidence of social interactions was higher (P < 0.05) and of stereotypes was lower (P < 0.05) in mixed-gender groups than in same-sex groups. Female groups showed the lowest incidence of aggressive behavior (P < 0.05). The number of individuals with skin injuries was higher in mixed-gender groups (P < 0.05) than in female groups; male groups were intermediate. Growth performance was unaffected by enrichment or by the composition of social group. Males in enriched cages had heavier brains (P < 0.05) than those in nonenriched cages. Although aggressive behaviors were more frequent, the number of skin wounds on day 77 was lower in rabbits from enriched cages, suggesting improved welfare. Based on the increased frequency of social interactions and decreased incidence of stereotyped behavior, mixed-gender groups should be housed in collective cages from weaning up to 11 weeks of age. However, if the incidence of skin wounds is considered, only females can be housed in same-sex groups. For males, individual cages should be preferred. Whether environmental enrichment induces morphologic changes in male rabbits' brains should be further investigated.

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How can housing system affect growth and carcass traits, meat quality and muscle fiber characteristics in biceps femoris and mineral content of tibia and femur bones in growing rabbits?

Krunt¹,

Zita²,

Kraus³

et al. 2021

Livestock Science

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Behaviour and welfare of growing rabbits housed in cages and pens

Cited by 24 publications

References 31 publications

Effect of cage and pen housing on the live performance, carcase, and meat quality traits of growing rabbits

Effect of cage and pen housing on the live performance, carcase, and meat quality traits of growing rabbits

Effect of environmental enrichment and composition of the social group on the behavior, welfare, and relative brain weight of growing rabbits

How can housing system affect growth and carcass traits, meat quality and muscle fiber characteristics in biceps femoris and mineral content of tibia and femur bones in growing rabbits?

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