AZ ANYANYULAK TERMELÉSE AZ ELLETŐLÁDÁBAN LEVŐ FÉSZEKANYAGOKTÓL FÜGGŐEN

Effect of different nest materials on reproduction performance of rabbit does The experiment was conducted at the Kaposvár University. Pannon Ka and Pannon White (multiparous) rabbit does (n=200) were randomly divided into four groups according to the nest materials used for bedding the nest tray: hay (n=50), straw (n=50), wood shavings (n=50), wooden thin long fibre material (Lignocel® J.Retttenmaier&Söhne GmbH) (n=50). The experiment started the 27th day of pregnancy. Photos were taken about the nests 4-5 days after parturition which were assessed by experienced evaluators on scales 1-5 of the nest quality. According to the results of evaluations, the quality of the four nest materials was significantly different. The hay nest had the best quality scores which was followed by straw and Lignocel®. The nests made of wood shavings were judged to be the worst quality. The nest material did not influence the litter size, the litter weight and the individual weight at day 21. Significant difference was not found in suckling mortality between 0-21 d. The kit’s mortality was the lowest in nests bedded with wood shavings (12.4%) or straw (12.9%), and the highest in nests bedded with hay (17.2%), the Lignocel® nests showed intermediate mortality (15.1%)

ANYANYULAK ELLETŐLÁDA VÁLASZTÁSA A FÉSZEKANYAGTÓL FÜGGŐEN

ABSTRACT – Choice of rabbit does among nest boxes depending on the nest material The experiment was conducted at the Kaposvár University. The choice of multiparous rabbit does (n=37) among nest boxes bedded with different nesting materials (hay, straw, fine fibre material /Lignocel®/ or wood shavings) was observed. In each wire-net pen (1.0 x 1.83 m) one doe and four nest boxes (0.37 x 0.23 m) with different nest materials were placed three days before the expected parturition, randomly. 48.6% of the does kindled in nest boxes with pure materials (Lignocel: 40.5%, straw: 5.4%, hay: 2.7%); and 51.3% of the does mixed the nest materials: does carried Lignocel (21.6%) or Lignocel and hay (5.4%) into nest box bedded with straw; Lignocel (8.1%) into nest box bedded with wood shavings; hay and straw (5.4%) into nest box bedded with Lignocel. It can be concluded that rabbit does prefered kindling into nest box bedded with Lignocel, and most of them refused the nest box with wood shavings

Csoportosan tartott anyanyulak viselkedése és helyválasztása négy egybenyitott ketrecben

The aim of the experiment was to test the group housing system, examination of location aggressive and sexual behaviour of rabbit does in four interconnected cages. The experiment was conducted at Kaposvár University with non-pregnant Pannon White rabbit does (n=16). The temperature was 15-18 ºC, and 16-hour daily lighting was applied in the room. The rabbit does consumed commercial pellet ad libitum and water was available from drinkers. A 1.00 x 1.75 m open top pen was divided into four individual cages (0.5 x 0.875 m), and four does were placed in it. At the beginning of the experiment the does were placed in the closed cages, individually, to get used to their own cages. Three days later the doors among the cages were opened to allow the does move freely, and the experiment lasted for 14 days. 24-h video recordings were made on days 1, 3, 7 and 14 after opening the doors. Number of rabbits was counted in the cages at every 15 min. The behavioural patterns (fighting, chasing and mating attempts) were observed continuously. The injuries were registered on days 8 and 14. Except on day 1 (46.6%), the majority of rabbit does stayed separately on days 3, 7 and 13 (54.5%, 62.8% and 61.2%). In most cases (53-68%) two does were in one of the cages, and the others were individually, the second most frequent (12-32%) location was when all does were individually. Except for day 7 more rabbit does located in their own cages than the expected probability on all days. Frequency of all examined behavioural patterns was highest after hours opening the doors. The number or fighting, chasing and mating attempts were highest on day 1 (23, 128 and 178, respectively) and these figures were 1, 26 and 34 on day 13. Higher frequencies of injured rabbits (25%) were observed on day 8 than on day 14 (6%). Housing the rabbit does in group in interconnected cages is not recommended

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

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 = 96; stocking density: 15 rabbits/m2) or in enriched pens with large groups (65 rabbits/pen, P; n = 130; stocking density: 15 rabbits/m2) 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

A fészekanyag hatása a fészek minőségére, valamint a szaporasági és nevelési tulajdonságokra különböző fajtájú anyanyulak esetén

the objective was to examine the effect of four different nest materials on nest quality and production performance of rabbit does. Pannon Ka and Pannon White rabbit does (n=200) were randomly divided into four groups, according to the nest materials used for bedding in the nest tray: meadow hay (n=50), wheat straw (n=50), wood shavings (n=50), wooden thin long fibre material (Lignocel®, n=50). the experiment started on the 27th day of pregnancy. Photos were taken of the nests 4-5 days after parturition, and they were evaluated by experienced experts on scales of 1-5, depending on the nest quality (where 1 the worst and 5 the best). the quality of nests made of different materials was significantly different (p<0.001): the hay nest received the best quality scores (4.11), which was followed by straw (3.76), Lignocel® (3.56) and wood shavings (3.13). the nest material did not influence litter size, litter- and the individual weight at day 21, and suckling mortality between 0-21 d. However the reproduction performances of the two breeds were different (p<0.05). it was concluded that the rabbit does built the best nest quality by hay and the worst by wood shavings; the type of the nest material did not influence the productive performance of does; the commonly used wood shavings could be good in the practice

Comparison of pens without and with multilevel platforms for growing rabbits

This experiment compared the productive performance and location of growing rabbits in pens without and with two-level platforms (wire-mesh or plastic-mesh). A total of 174 rabbits of both sexes weaned at 5 weeks of age were randomly divided into three groups (n = 58 rabbits/group, 2 pens/treatment, 29 rabbits/pen). The floor area of pens was 1.0 × 1.83 m, and the floor was made of wire-mesh. Two pens were equipped with wire-mesh (WP) and two pens with plastic-mesh elevated platforms (PP) on two levels, and two pens were without platforms (NoP). Treatment had no effect on the productive performance of growing rabbits. Based on video recordings, animal density (rabbits/m2 in each location) was higher (p < .001) on the floor than on the platforms (in WP: 12.0 vs. 5.2, in PP: 10.2 vs. 7.4 rabbits/m2, respectively). Animal density on the floor was higher (p < .001) in front of the platforms than under the platforms (in WP 15.7 vs. 9.8 rabbits/m2 and in PP 13.3 vs. 8.3 rabbits/m2, respectively). The animal density on platforms was 1.4 times higher in group of PP than in WP (p < .001). The animal density was 1.6 and 2.9 times higher on the second floor than on the first one (p < .001), in group of PP and WP, respectively. The concentration of cortisol metabolites in faeces and the ratio of injured rabbits were similar in the three groups. The rabbits showed higher preference staying on the floor compared to the platform. Pens with platforms were not influencing productive performance. Keywords: Growing rabbit, pen, platform, production, welfar

Egyedi elhelyezéssel kombinált csoportos tartás hatása az anyanyulak termelésére, helyválasztására és viselkedésére = Location preference, behaviour and performance of rabbit does in a pen system of combination of group and individual housing

The aim of the experiment was to test a special pen system of combination of group and individual housing, examination of production and preference of rabbit does. The experiment was conducted at Kaposvár University with pregnant and lactating Pannon White rabbit does (n=48). The 1.83 x 2.00 m open top pen consisted of four individual cages (0.5 x 0.91 m) which were connected to the 1.83 x 1.00 m common area throughout a 0.25 m long and 0.20 m wide lockable corridor. The rabbit does were randomly divided into three groups. The groups differed only in that the material of walls of the individual cages. Pen with solid wall cages (Solid, n=16); pen with wire-mesh wall cages (Wire, n=16) and pen with partly solid and partly wire-mesh wall cages (Mix, MP, n=16). Four rabbit does were placed to the closed individual cages 3 days before the expected parturition for 21 days. 18 days after kindling the entrances of the individual cages were opened, and the 21-day group-housing started. All 4 does and their kits could use all individual cages and the common area freely. The kits were weaned at 35 days of age. The injuries on ears, and body were checked on days 2, 4, 8, 14 and 22 after grouping the does. 24-h video recordings were made on days 1, 2, 3, 7 and 13 after opening the doors, and location of rabbits was registered at every 15 min. On day 1 rabbit does preferred to stay alone than together (Solid: 62.3%; Wire: 64.3%; Mix: 82.8%). Later on, less rabbit does located alone (on day 13: Solid: 30.8%; Wire: 51.0%; Mix: 39.2%). On day 1 in all pens the majority of the does located in the individual cages (Solid: 77.3%; Wire: 76.8%; Mix: 83.9%), however later the percentage of does in the individual cages decreased until day 13. At almost every day less rabbit does preferred the individual cages in the Solid than in Wire or Mix group. Rabbit does preferred their own cages, more rabbit does stayed in the own cages than the expected probability (25%) on all days (day 1: Solid: 64.6%; Wire: 68.4%; Mix: 74.6%; day 13: Solid: 28.0%; Wire: 38.0%; Mix: 34.5%). In Mix group rabbit does which were housed in solid wall cages before grouping preferred to stay in the solid wall cages in all days (day 13: 59.1%) and that of housed in wire-mesh cages before grouping preferred to stay in wire- mesh cages (day 13: 65.6%). No significant differences were found between the different types of pens in almost the all production traits. The productive performance fits to the results of Pannon Breeding Program. On the other hand in Wire and Mix groups the does mortality were 6.3% and 12.5% and the kindling rates were 62.5 and 68.8%. The ratio of injured rabbits was higher than 50% in each system. Based on the results it can be concluded that the main problems of group housing of does (aggressiveness, injuries) have not been solved with this system. Keywords: rabbit does, group housing, preference, aggressive behaviour, productive performanc