Husbandry factors and health conditions influencing the productivity of French rabbit farms

[EN] In 2009 productivity data from 95 kindling to finishing rabbit farms in France were analysed to identify rearing factors and health conditions that influenced their productivity. Farm productivity, expressed on a yearly basis, was described with 4 productivity indices: doe fertility and prolificacy, viability of young rabbits in the nest and mortality during the fattening period. The productivity data were obtained with the technical support of the farm and expressed in a standardised way. The average numerical productivity observed in the sample of farms was 50.9 rabbits produced per doe and per year (CI95% [49.6-52.2]). The husbandry management and health conditions were described based on a questionnaire filled out during an interview with the farmer and a farm visit. Explanatory data were organised into meaningful blocks relative to biosecurity measures, del using a Partiamaternity management, the sanitary context and the farm structure. The relationship between the 4 thematic blocks and the productivity indices was studied in a single mol Least Squares (PLS) regression model. Fertility (81.0%, CI95% [80.0-82.0]) and viability of young at nest (85.1%, CI95% [85.0-85.3] and mortality rate during fattening: 7.2%, CI95% [6.4-7.9]) were significantly associated with common factors relative to maternity management and the health context whereas prolificacy (9.7 live kits per parturition, CI95% [9.5-9.9]) was mostly influenced by a specific set of variables pertaining to those 2 blocks. Farm structure and biosecurity measures had a limited impact on fertility and on kit viability before weaning. The health conditions of the doe herd and the fattening rabbits were found to be significantly associated with several productivity indexes, but their impacts on productivity were as high as the impact of the other blocks. Genetic strain of the females, doe replacement strategy and nursing and weaning practices appeared to significantly influence reproductive performance, viability of kits before weaning and mortality rate during the fattening period. Maternity management therefore seemed to be the key point in rabbit unit management that governed the numerical productivity of the farm.The authors wish to acknowledge the CLIPP-Lapin de France, the SNGTV (French Veterinary Society - rabbit branch) and the FFC (French Federation of Cuniculture) for their collaboration. We also wish to thank the farmers and the rabbit production organisations who participated in the study. The authors are grateful to Ms. Anaïs Croisier for her participation as an investigator and to Mr. Guillaume Coutelet from the French Institute for Avian Production for his technical expertise. Funding was provided by the French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products (ANSES-ANMV)Huneau-Salaün, A.; Bougeard, S.; Balaine, L.; Eono, F.; Le Bouquin, S.; Chauvin, C. (2015). Husbandry factors and health conditions influencing the productivity of French rabbit farms. World Rabbit Science. 23(1):27-37. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2015.3076SWORD2737231Castellini, C., Dal Bosco, A., Arias-Álvarez, M., Lorenzo, P. L., Cardinali, R., & Rebollar, P. G. (2010). The main factors affecting the reproductive performance of rabbit does: A review. Animal Reproduction Science, 122(3-4), 174-182. doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.10.003Coutelet G. 2011. Performances moyennes des élevages cunicoles en France pour l'année 2010. Cuniculture Magazine, 38: 24-27.EFSA. 2005. Scientific Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Animal Health and Welfare on the impact of the current housing and husbandry systems on the health and welfare of farmed domestic rabbits. EFSA J., 2005: 1-31.Lebas F. 2010. Situation cunicole en France en 2009: performances moyennes des élevages selon les résultats du RENACEB pour l'année 2009, situation du marché cunicole français et premières évaluations pour l'année 2010. Cuniculture Magazine, 37: 74-82.Licois D., Coudert P., Marlier D. 2006. Epizootic rabbit enteropathy. In: L. Maertens, P. Coudert (ed). Recent advances in rabbit sciences. Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Melle, Belgium, 163-170.Marongiu M.L., Dimauro C., Floris B. 2007. A six-year investigation on reproductive performance of hybrid rabbits. 1. Pregnancy rate and numerical productivity at weaning as affected by season. Ital. J. Anim. Sci., 6: 770-772.Rommers J., Maertens L., Kemp B. 2006. New perspectives in rearing systems for rabbit does. In: L. Maertens, P. Coudert (ed). Recent advances in rabbit sciences. Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Melle, Belgium, 39-51.Serrano P., Pascual M., Gómez E.A. 2012. Analysis of management techniques on productivity indicators using the bdcuni Spanish database. In Proc.: 10th World Rabbit Congress, 3-6 September, 2012. Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. 1: 803-807

Dust exposure and health of workers in duck hatcheries

Objectives The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to investigate dust exposure and respiratory health of workers in duck hatcheries in western France. Material and Methods Ninety volunteer workers, who work in sorting rooms and/or incubation rooms, participated in exposure assessments and medical examinations. Medical examinations were performed by occupational health practitioners.They filled-in a questionnaire with the workers, followed by a lung function test on each worker. General characteristics and prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms were described in each type of working rooms. Associations between symptoms and exposure (working room or dust level) were studied in GEE multivariate models. Results Overall prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms (cough, phlegm) and chronic bronchitis were similar or lower than in the reference population. However, prevalence of these symptoms was higher for those working in sorting rooms, that were associated with an increased risk of respiratory symptoms and decreased lung function. Respirable dust was also significantly associated with an increased risk of respiratory symptoms. The prevalence of asthma and rhinitis were well above those in the reference population, but did not vary among working rooms. Descriptive data suggested an occupational origin for some cases. Conclusions Hatchery workers were at increased risk of compromised respiratory health due to dust exposure, particularly those who work in sorting rooms. Asthma and rhinitis were in excess in this population of workers. Thorough clinical examination of these workers should be performed and all exposures assessed

Retrospective studies on rabbit haemorrhagic disease outbreaks caused by RHDV GI.2 virus on farms in France from 2013 to 2018

[EN] Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a critical health threat to the rabbit industry in Europe. In 2018, the French rabbit industry adopted a voluntary control plan against this disease. In this context, two epidemiological studies were conducted on RHD outbreaks that occurred between 2013 and 2018 in France. The objectives were to describe the spread of RHD due to the new genotype RHDV GI.2 (rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus GI.2) and to identify rearing factors influencing the occurrence of the disease in order to guide the prevention measures recommended in the control plan. An analysis of cases on 295 farms between 2013 and 2017 showed that 32% of farms were affected at least once; the incidence of the disease increased in 2016-2017 compared to 2013-2015. Farms already affected in 2013-2015 had a higher risk of being infected in 2016-2017 than those that remained unaffected until 2015 (Relative Risk and 95% Confident Interval 1.7 [1.1-2.7]). A case-control study carried out between 2016 and 2018 on 37 outbreaks and 32 control farms revealed variability in biosecurity and decontamination practices between farms. The risk of being infected tends to be linked to these practices, but certain structural factors (e.g. the manure disposal system, transfer of rabbits at weaning) could also influence the risk of virus introduction into farms. In the context of a limited vaccination coverage of the farms (only females are vaccinated), these hypotheses will be studied further, using information from the RHD outbreak monitoring system implemented at the same time as the control plan in 2018.This study was founded by the French Ministry of Agriculture (2017-430 / 170274).Huneau-Salaün, A.; Boucher, S.; Fontaine, J.; Le Normand, B.; Lopez, S.; Maurice, T.; Nouvel, L.... (2021). Retrospective studies on rabbit haemorrhagic disease outbreaks caused by RHDV GI.2 virus on farms in France from 2013 to 2018. World Rabbit Science. 29(2):87-98. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2021.12800OJS8798292Abrantes J., Van der Loo W., Le Pendu J., Esteves P.J. 2012. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) and rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV): a review. Vet. Res., 43: 12.https://doi.org/10.1186/1297-9716-43-12Capucci L., Cavadini P., Schiavitto M., Lombardi G., Lavazza A. 2017. Increased pathogenicity in rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus type 2 (RHDV2). Vet. Record., 180: 426. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.104132Carvalho C.L., Leclerc Duarte E., Monteiro J.M., Afonso C., Pacheco J., Carvalho P., Mendonça P., Botelho A., Albuquerque T., Themudo P., Fevereiro M., Henriques A.M., Santos Barros S., Dias Duarte M. 2017. Progression of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 upon vaccination in anindustrial rabbitry: a laboratorial approach. World Rabbit Sci., 25: 73-85. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2017.5708Cooke B.D., Fenner F. 2002. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease and the biological control of wild rabbits, Oryctolagus Cuniculus, in Australia and New Zealand. Wildlife Res., 29: 689-706. https://doi.org/10.1071/WR02010Dalton K.P., Balseiro A., Juste R.A., Podadera A., Nicieza I., del Llano D., González R., Martin Alonso J.M., Prieto J.M., Parra F., Casais R. 2018. Clinical course and pathogenicity of variant rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus in experimentally infected adult and kit rabbits: Significance towards control and spread. Vet. Microbiol., 220: 24-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2018.04.033Dohoo I., Martin W., Stryhn H. 2003. Measures of disease frequency. In: Veterinary Epidemiologic Research, First Edition, AVC Inc., Charlottetown, Canada, 65-84.Hall R.N., Huang N., Roberts J., Strive T. 2019. Carrion flies as sentinels for monitoring lagovirus activity in Australia. Transboundary Emerg. Dis., 66: 2025-2032. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.13250Henning J., Meers J., Davies R., Morris R.S. 2005. Survival of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) in the environment. Epidemiol. Infect., 133: 719-730. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268805003766Hurand J. 2016. L'élevage de lapins de chair en France, résultats technico-économiques 2015. Tema, 40.ITAVI. 2019. Situation de la filière cunicole. Novembre 2019. 6 p. Available athttps://www.itavi.asso.fr/content/note-deconjoncture-lapins-7Accessed December 2019.Le Gall-Reculé G., Zwingelstein F., Boucher S., Le Normand B., Plassiart G., Portejoie Y., Decors A., Bertagnoli S., Guérin J.L., Marchandeau S. 2011. Detection of a new variant of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus in France. Vet. Rec., 168: 137- 138. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.d697Le Gall-Reculé G., Lavazza A., Marchandeau S., Bertagnoli S., Zwingelstein F., Cavadini P., Martinelli N., Lombardi G., Guérin J.L., Lemaitre E., Decors A., Boucher S., Le Normand B., Capucci L. 2013. Emergence of a new lagovirus related to Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus. Vet. Res., 44:81. https://doi.org/10.1186/1297-9716-44-81Le Gall-Reculé G., Boucher S. 2017. Connaissances et actualités sur la maladie hémorragique du lapin. In Proc.: 17èmes Journées de la Recherche Cunicole, 21-22 November, 2017. Le Mans, France. 97-109.Le Minor O., Joudou L., Le Moullec T., Beilvert F. 2017. Innocuité et efficacité de la vaccination à 2 et 3 semaines d'âge contre le virus RHDV2 de la maladie hémorragique virale du lapin (VHD). In Proc.:17èmes Journées de la Recherche Cunicole, 21-22 November, 2017. Le Mans, France. 127-130.Le Minor O., Boucher S., Joudou L., Mellet R., Sourice M., Le Moullec T., Nicoler A., Beilvert F., Sigognault-Flochlay A. 2019. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease: experimental study of a recent highly pathogenic GI.2/RJDV2/b strain and evaluation of vaccine efficacy. World Rabbit Sci., 27: 143-156.https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2019.11082Le Pendu J., Abrantes J., Bertagnoli S., Guitton J.S., Le Gall-Reculé G., Lopes A.M., Marchandeau S., Alda F., Almeida T., Célio A. C., Barcena J., Burmakina G., Blanco E., Calvete C., Cavadini P., Cooke B., Dalton K., Mateos M.D., Deptula W., Eden J.S., Wang F., Ferreira C.C., Ferreira P., Foronda P., Gonçalves D., Gavier-Widén D., Hall R., Hukowska-Szematowicz B., Kerr P., Kovaliski J., Lavazza A., Mahar J., Malogolovkin A., Marques R.M., Marques S., Martin-Alonso A., Monterroso P., MorenoS., Mutze G., Naimanis A., Niedzwiedzka-Rystwej P., Peacock D., Parra F., Rocchi M., Rouco C., Ruvoën-Clouet N., Silva E., Silvério D., Strive T., Thompson G., Tokarz-Deptula B., Esteves P. 2017. Proposal for a unified classification system and nomenclature of lagoviruses. J. Gen. Virol., 98: 1658-1666. https://doi.org/10.1099/jgv.0.000840Matthaei M., Kerr P.J., Read A.J., Hick P., Haboury S., Wright J.D., Strive T. 2014. Comparative quantitative monitoring of rabbit haemorrhagic disease viruses in rabbit kittens. Virol. J., 11: 109. https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-422X-11-109Mc Coll K.A., Merchant J.C., Hardy J., Cooke B.D., Robinson A., Westbury H.A. 2002. Evidence for insect transmission of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus. Epidemiol. Infect., 129: 655-663. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268802007756Neimanis A.S., Larsson Pettersson U., Huang N., Gavier-Widen D., Strive T. 2018. Elucidation of the pathology and tissue distribution of Lagovirus europaeus GI.2/RHDV2 (rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2) in young and adult rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Vet. Res., 49:46. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-018-0540-zRosell J.M., de la Fuente L.F., Parra F., Dalton K.P., Badiola Sáiz J.I., Pérez de Rozas A., Badiola Díez J.J., Fernández de Luco D., Casal J., Majó N., Casas J., Garriga R., Fernández Magariños X.M. 2019. Myxomatosis and Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease: A 30-Year Study of the Occurrence on Commercial Farms in Spain. Animals, 9: 780. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9100780Rouco C., Aguayo-Adán J.A., Santoro S., Abrantes J., Delibes-Mateos M. 2019. Worldwide rapid spread of the novel rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (GI.2/RHDV2/b). Transboundary Emerg. Dis., 66: 1762-1764.https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.1318

Caractérisation et impacts de l’empoussièrement sur la santé des travailleurs et des animaux dans les couvoirs de palmipèdes (PALMICOUV)

Les travailleurs dans les bâtiments d’élevage sont exposés à des bioaérosols qui peuvent avoir un impact sur leur santé respiratoire. Dans les couvoirs de palmipèdes, les employés triant et sexant les canetons sont exposés à ces poussières mais leur incidence sur la santé respiratoire est mal connue. Une étude épidémiologique a été réalisée en 2013 dans 14 couvoirs de canards situés dans l’Ouest de la France afin de caractériser l’exposition des travailleurs aux poussières et son éventuel impact sur leur santé. L’exposition de 57 employés travaillant au poste de tri des canetons aux poussières inhalables (diamètre inférieur à 100 µm) et aux poussières alvéolaires (inférieures à 5 µm) a été mesurée avec des capteurs portatifs (CIP 10, ARELCO, France). L’exposition aux poussières de 35 salariés travaillant exclusivement en zone d’incubation, et donc non exposés au duvet, a également été mesurée. L’état sanitaire des canetons était évalué par le biais d’un examen spécifique. L’exposition des personnes en salle de tri était significativement supérieure à celle des travailleurs en zone d’incubation pour les poussières inhalables (14,581±9,958 mg/m3 vs. 0,452 ± 0,984 mg/m3, P<0,001) et alvéolaires (0,469±0,280 mg/m3 vs. 0,117 ± 0,116 mg/m3, P<0,01). Environ deux tiers des salariés travaillant en salle d’éclosion étaient exposés à un taux de poussières inhalables supérieur à la valeur réglementaire maximale, ce qui montre la nécessité de porter un masque respiratoire adapté lors de la manipulation des canetons ainsi que de mettre en œuvre des moyens de protection collectifs dans les couvoirs comme une ventilation appropriée ou des systèmes de récupération de duvet. L’augmentation des concentrations en poussières alvéolaires favorise significativement les risques de souffrir de toux/crachats, de sifflements (uniquement chez les professionnels allergiques) et d’essoufflements. Il apparaît également que les poussières alvéolaires sont liées à l’asthme (risque multiplié par 3) chez les professionnels avec une faible ancienneté. La prévalence importante d’asthme et de rhinite chez les travailleurs suivis, seulement partiellement associée à l’exposition aux poussières, suggère la nécessité d’étudier leur exposition à d’autres polluants potentiels comme les produits de nettoyage et désinfection.Workers in animal buildings are exposed to aerial dusts that impair their respiratory health. In duck hatcheries, persons sorting ducklings are exposed to these aerosols but little is known on the impact of this exposure on their respiratory health. An epidemiological study is presently carried out in 14 French duck hatcheries in order to assess workers’ exposure to dust and its impact on respiratory health. This paper deals with the results on human exposure to dust, since the medical examinations to assess respiratory health of workers will continue until June 2014. The personal exposure to inhalable (diameter < 100 µm) and respiratory (< 5 µm) dusts of 57 workers during sorting of ducklings was measured using personal air samplers (CIP 10, ARELCO, France). For comparison, the exposure of 35 persons working in egg incubation rooms was measured. The sanitary status of ducks was estimated by specific examination. The exposure of workers in the sorting rooms was significantly higher than the one of workers in incubation rooms, for inhalable dust (14.581mg/m3 vs. 0.452 ± 0.984 mg/m3, P<0.001) and for respiratory dust (0.469±0.280 mg/m3 vs. 0.117 ± 0.116 mg/m3, P<0.01). Two-third of the workers sorting ducklings experienced an exposure to inhalable dust higher than the Occupational Exposure Limit (10 mg/m3 over a 8-hour period), demonstrating the need of wearing respiratory mask for the most exposing tasks to dust. The increase of the alveolar dust concentrations increases significantly the risks of cough/spits, of whistlings (only at the allergic professionals) and of breathlessnesses. It also seems that alveolar dusts are bound to the asthma. The study showed worrying data on prevalence of asthma and rhinitis, suggesting that all the exposures should be investigated

Compressed Brown Algae as a Potential Environmental Enrichment Material in Growing Pigs

In barren housing conditions, enrichment materials are given to pigs to improve their welfare. Here, we assessed the suitability of an algae-based cylinder as an enrichment material on the behavioral, physiological, health and productivity welfare indicators of pigs. Algae was compared with metal chains and wood logs. The study involved 444 pigs from two successive batches on one single farm. During the suckling period, half of the pigs received algae and the control pigs received no material. After weaning and until the end of fattening, algae, wood or chains were equally distributed among the pigs. Consumption of algae cylinders was different between pens and between batches. After weaning and during the fattening period, although the results differed between batches, no significant difference was observed in the object manipulations. Salivary cortisol, used as biomarker to measure the stress levels after pig transfers, were similar between the treatments. Enrichment material made from algae had no negative effect on pig health and no effect on performance and body condition. Regarding their characteristics and according to Commission Recommendation (EU) 2016/336 classification, algae cylinders can be categorized as suboptimal enrichment materials, although the present results suggest that it does not significantly improve pig welfare compared to a metal chain, which is categorized as a material of marginal interest

Dust exposure and health of workers in duck hatcheries

Objectives The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to investigate dust exposure and respiratory health of workers in duck hatcheries in western France. Material and Methods Ninety volunteer workers, who work in sorting rooms and/or incubation rooms, participated in exposure assessments and medical examinations. Medical examinations were performed by occupational health practitioners.They filled-in a questionnaire with the workers, followed by a lung function test on each worker. General characteristics and prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms were described in each type of working rooms. Associations between symptoms and exposure (working room or dust level) were studied in GEE multivariate models. Results Overall prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms (cough, phlegm) and chronic bronchitis were similar or lower than in the reference population. However, prevalence of these symptoms was higher for those working in sorting rooms, that were associated with an increased risk of respiratory symptoms and decreased lung function. Respirable dust was also significantly associated with an increased risk of respiratory symptoms. The prevalence of asthma and rhinitis were well above those in the reference population, but did not vary among working rooms. Descriptive data suggested an occupational origin for some cases. Conclusions Hatchery workers were at increased risk of compromised respiratory health due to dust exposure, particularly those who work in sorting rooms. Asthma and rhinitis were in excess in this population of workers. Thorough clinical examination of these workers should be performed and all exposures assessed