Housing of rabbits - results of an European research network

The main welfare indicators to assess rabbit housing are mortality (unavoidable low), morbidity (unavoidable low), physiological parameters in the species-specific standard, species-specific behaviour and performance on a high level. Group housing of does with kits is possible if an individual electronic nest box recognition system is used. At the moment, the disadvantages (especially the labour-intensity, the production costs, difficulties of health control and implementation of new does into the group) do not allow the use of group housing on farm-level. The single housing of does with kits remains the main housing system also in the near future which can be characterized by detailed measures and parameters. Growing rabbits are mainly kept in groups up to approximately 20 animals/m(2) (up to 46 kg/m(2)) with a tendency towards pen housing with different kinds of enrichment (e.g. wood sticks as gnawing material)

Effect of hair shearing on live performance and carcass traits of growing rabbits under hot ambient temperature

The aim of the study was to examine the effect of hair shearing in growing rabbits reared at high ambient temperature. The live performance and carcass traits of growing rabbits reared at 20°C (not sheared, C, n=50) or at 28°C (not sheared, H, n=50, or sheared at 5, 7 and 9 wk, HS, n=50) were compared. The ambient temperature and relative humidity were 20.5±1.1°C and 54±11% in the 20°C room and 28.8±0.2°C and 35±8% in 28°C room, respectively. Feed intake of H and HS groups decreased by 29.0 and 20.4%, respectively, compared to C rabbits (P<0.001). The same data for weight gain were 24.6 and 16.9% (P<0.001), and for body weight at 12 wk were 16.8 and 11.5% (P<0.001). At the same time, the feed conversion ratio improved (C: 3.53, HS: 3.34, H: 3.31; P<0.001). Nevertheless, the mortality rate of rabbits was not affected by the studied treatment and was overall low (0-4%). No differences were observed in dressing out percentages either (ratio of chilled carcass (CC) to the slaughter weight: 61.6-61.9%). The ratio of liver to CC differed among the experimental groups, with the highest value recorded in C group and the lowest in H group; HS rabbits showed intermediate results (C: 4.86%, HS: 4.27%, H: 3.91%; P<0.001). Lower ratios of fat deposits to reference carcass were also observed in rabbits kept at high ambient temperature (perirenal fat: C: 2.59%, HS: 1.82%, H: 1.60%; P<0.001; scapular fat: C: 0.89%, HS: 0.66%, H: 0.51%; P<0.001). It can be concluded that the negative effect of higher ambient temperature (28 vs. 20°C) on production in growing rabbits can be reduced significantly by hair shearing

MANAGEMENT OF REPRODUCTION ON SMALL, MEDIUM AND LARGE RABBIT FARMS: A REVIEW.

ABSTRACT: One of the main goals of small, medium and large farms is to improve the reproductive performance of rabbit does. Stocks of lower productivity can be improved by crossing with intensive breeds. A better nutritional status of both foetuses and suckling kits has a positive effect on their later productivity. Overfeeding young females before first mating can lead to conditions of fattiness. Using restricted feeding or higher fibre content in the feed and changing it for a higher level ad libitum feeding about one week prior to first mating leads to longer lifespan and higher productive level. Intensive reproductive rhythm creates a negative energy balance in does : they are unable to consume enough feed (energy) for the nutritional requirements of foetus and lactation, and therefore lose most of their fat reserves. Furthermore, primiparous does also expend energy because they are still growing. Under intensive conditions, the 42-d reproductive rhythm (re-mating 11 days after parturition) is recommended. Under extensive conditions, the 18 or 25-d mating interval with 35 to 42-d weaning could be suitable. On small farms, natural mating is favoured; on large farms AI is commonly employed. The main advantage of AI is the all-in, all-out system. Hormonal (PMSG) treatment is used with AI to increase receptivity on d 11. Frequent and high level PMSG use can lead to higher anti-PMSG antibody rates. Lower level (max. 20 IU) and less frequent PMSG injection or non-hormonal alternative methods (short dam-litter separation, changing nursing method or lighting programs) are recommended for this reason. (Key Words: Rabbit Does, Reproductive Rhythm, Energy Balance, Hormonal Treatment, Biostimulation, Farm Size

Effect of feeding (only pellet or pellet plus hay) on productive and carcass traits of growing rabbits

The aim of the experiment was to examine the effect of feeding on productive performance and carcass traits, to get information about the difference between growing rabbits fed by only pellet and pellet plus hay. Pannon Ka does were inseminated with semen of Pannon Large and Hungarian Giant bucks. The crossbred rabbits (n=336) were weaned at 5 weeks of age. Half of them were housed in cages, the other half in pens (Cage: 3 rabbits/cage, Pen: 14 rabbits/pen, the stocking density was the same: 16 rabbits/m2 in each group). Two subgroups were formed based on the feeding method. Data (between 5 and 12 wk) were evaluated by multi-factor analysis of variance, but only the effect of feeding was calculated. The differences in body weight between Pellet and P+hay rabbits were significant from 9 weeks of age, in favour of Pellet group. It increased from 68 g at 9 weeks to 76 g at 12 weeks. The differences in weight gain and feed intake were significant between 5-12 weeks (11 and 1.3 g/day, respectively), in favour of Pellet rabbits. However, there were no significant differences in feed conversion ratio and mortality. The dressing out percentage was 0.4-0.7 % higher in Pellet group than in P+Hay rabbits. The ratio of hind part to reference carcass was higher in P+Hay group, and that of perirenal and scapular fat were higher in Pellet group. Feeding method did not influence the ratio of fore and mid parts to reference carcass. However, ratio of ear lesions was affected by feeding method (8.3 and 20.6 %; P=0.003, in pellet and P+hay, respectively). It can be concluded that feeding growing rabbits with pellet plus hay resulted significantly, but slightly lower body weight and longer fattening period to reach the same weight. On the other hand, animals fed by pellet plus hay realized less ear lesions

Use of different areas of pen by growing rabbits depending on the elevated platforms\u2019 floor-type

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\u2019 floor-type. Pens with a basic area of 0.84 m2 were equipped with platforms of 0.42 m2. 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 = 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

Housing of rabbits - results of an European research network

The main welfare indicators to assess rabbit housing are mortality (unavoidable low), morbidity (unavoidable low), physiological parameters in the species-specific standard, species-specific behaviour and performance on a high level. Group housing of does with kits is possible if an individual electronic nest box recognition system is used. At the moment, the disadvantages (especially the labour-intensity, the production costs, difficulties of health control and implementation of new does into the group) do not allow the use of group housing on farm-level. The single housing of does with kits remains the main housing system also in the near future which can be characterized by detailed measures and parameters. Growing rabbits are mainly kept in groups up to approximately 20 animals/m(2) (up to 46 kg/m(2)) with a tendency towards pen housing with different kinds of enrichment (e.g. wood sticks as gnawing material)

Examination of growing rabbits housed in cage or in pens without or with platform

replication) was conducted at the Kaposv\ue1r University using Pannon white rabbits (n = 193). The following experimental groups were formed: C = 20 cages (2 rabbits/cage, n = 40); P16 = 3 pens (14 rabbits/pen, 16 rabbits/m2, n = 42); P11 = 3 pens (9 rabbits/pen, 11 rabbits/m2, n = 27); PW = 3 pens with wire net elevated platform (14 rabbits/pen, 11 rabbits/m2, n = 42); PD = 3 pens with elevated platform deep litter on it (14 rabbits/pen, 11 rabbits/m2, n = 42). Rearing the rabbits in group PD decreased feed intake (FI), body weight (BW), weight gain (AWG) and dressing out percentage (DoP). Significant (P<0.05) differences were found between group PD and P16 or P11 in BW (2841 and 2980 or 3012 g, resp.), in BWG (44.4 and 47.7 or 48.4 g/d, resp.), between PD and C or P11 in FI (130 and 146 or 151 g/d, resp.), between PD and C in DoP (60.5 and 62.0%) and between PD and C or P16 in the ratio of hind part (38.8 and 38.1 or 38.1%, resp.). No significant differences were observed for feed conversion ratio, mortality perirenal and scapular fat percent. In group PD 16.7, 53.7 and 29.6% of the rabbits were located on the platform (1/3 basic area), under the platform (1/3 basic area) and at areas near to the feeder or drinker (1/3 basic area). In group PW the location of rabbits were most balanced (on the platform: 30.3%, under the platform: 34.6%, near to feeder or drinker: 35.6%. Combination of wire net and deep litter floor (group PD) hardly influence the production while the higher possibility for locomotory behaviour and staying on deep litter is consider more favourably by the consumer. The rabbits can freely choose their location and replacing of the litter can also be easily performed in case of a removable platform

Examination of growing rabbits housed in pens without or with platform

The objective of this study was to test a new combination of deep litter and wire net floor. The experiment was conducted at the Kaposv\ue1r University using Pannon white rabbits (n = 193). The following experimental groups were formed: C = 20 cages (2 rabbits/cage, n = 40); P16 = 3 pens (14 rabbits/pen, 16 rabbits/m2, n = 42); P11 = 3 pens (9 rabbits/pen, 11 rabbits/m2, n = 27); PW = 3 pens with wire net elevated platform (14 rabbits/pen, 11 rabbits/m2, n = 42); PD = 3 pens with elevated platform deep litter on it (14 rabbits/pen, 11 rabbits/m2, n = 42). Rearing the rabbits in pens (P16, P12, PW, PD) decreased the body weight and weight gain, the ratio of the medium and hind part of the carcass (hind legs) and the fat depots compared to the caged rabbits. For dressing out percentage and for fore part of the carcass the effect of housing was significant only at the level of P<0.1. No significant differences were observed for feed consumption, feed conversion ratio and mortality. 11.1, 58.7 and 30.2% of the rabbits could be located at the platform of deep litter floor (1/3 basic area), at the area under the platform (1/3 basic area) and at areas near to the feeder or drinker (1/3 basic area). Using platforms of wire net floors most of the rabbits (43%) were located on the platforms. 31.5 and 25.5% of the rabbits stayed under the platform and at uncovered areas, respectively. Combination of wire net and deep litter floor hardly influence the production while the higher possibility for locomotory behaviour is favourably treated by the consumer. The rabbits can freely choose their location and replacing of the litter can also be easily performed in case of a removable platform