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

Abstract

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.

The Use of Environmental Enrichments Affects Performance and Behavior of Growing Rabbits Housed in Collective Pens

“…The platform design can also affect rabbit preference and use of the different pen areas. Growing rabbits kept in groups (14 animals/pen) preferred to stay under the platforms when these had a solid floor or deep-litter floor, rather than a wire-net floor [27]. Nevertheless, in the case of pens with the wire-net platforms, more rabbits stayed under platforms equipped with a fixed manure tray compared to those without.…”

Comparison of pens without and with multilevel platforms for growing rabbits

“…In contrast, in the present experiment the rabbits less frequently stayed under the platforms than in front of the platform, because the rabbits on the platforms may urinate on the pen-mates underneath them. This statement was proven, when rabbits were observed in pens with wire-mesh platforms, more rabbits stayed under it when a manure tray was inserted under the platform than in pens without manure tray (Szendr} o et al 2012). Growing rabbits most often stayed under the platform during the resting period (11:00-17:00) when fewer rabbits were on the platforms so there was less chance of being urinated upon.…”

“…At the same time, rabbits stayed more frequently on the plastic-mesh platforms than on the wire-mesh ones any time of the day, which was in accordance with Mik o et al (2014), who found that rabbit does and their kits spent more time on plastic-mesh platforms then on wire-mesh ones. The plastic-mesh floor was more comfortable for the growing rabbits than the wire-mesh one (Princz et al 2009;Szendr} o et al 2012;Gerencs er et al 2014);…”

“…Nevertheless, the concept of the elevated platform is still under investigation and more information should be determined about the ideal technical characteristics (size, height from the floor, number of levels, material, etc.). Only a few papers have been published comparing different platform materials on productive performance and behaviour of growing rabbits (Lang and Hoy 2011;Szendr} o et al 2012;. The preference of rabbit does and their kits between wire-mesh and plasticmesh platforms were investigated by Mik o et al (2014).…”

Planimetric measurement of floor space covered by fattening rabbits and breeding does in different body positions and weight classes

“…A recumbent doe (4.5 kg) covered 58.3% of the minimum area, and therefore can easily rest outstretched on the platform. An elevated platform is also recommended for fattening rabbits by the German Animal Welfare Regulations in Farm Animals (2014), even though it is a matter of controversy whether it is beneficial for them (Postollec et al, 2008;Szendrő et al, 2011). This raised area must have a minimum size of 1500 cm 2 , providing each rabbit with at least 300 cm 2 additional space.…”