Open AccessJournal Article
The effect of pen size and an enrichment structure (elevated platform) on the performances and the behaviour of fattening rabbits
TLDR
The effects of a (30 cm high) elevated platform as an enrichment structure on the behaviour and performance of fattening rabbits kept in groups were investigated; in a large pen, an elevated platform can be utilised as an exercise structure while in a small pen it was used more as simply extra space to occupy.Abstract:
The effects of a (30 cm high) elevated platform as an enrichment structure on the behaviour and performance of fattening rabbits kept in groups were investigated. Three housing systems for fattening rabbits were compared using a stocking density of 15 rabbits m -2 . The rabbits were housed either in large pens (3.67 m 2 plus a platform of 0.39 m 2 ; with 60 rabbits per pen) or in small pens (0.503 m 2 plus a platform of 0.159 m 2 ; with 10 rabbits per pen), or in conventional standard cages (0.39 m 2 , with 6 rabbits and without any enrichment) from 31 to 72 days of age. The conventional cages without a platform were used as a control and reference model. Rabbits housed in each small pen or in each cage belonged to the same litter, and the 60 rabbits sharing the same large pen were from six or seven litters. At the end of fattening, rabbits reached the weight of 2,508 g in cages, 2,397 g in small pens, and 2,340 g in large pens; the only significant difference was daily weight gain which was better in cages than in both pens. There was no difference in growth parameters between the two types of pens. The mortality rate was less than 1% for all treatments. No sanitation problems or severe lesions were seen with rabbits even those reared in large pens and large groups. Neither housing systems, nor elevated platform affected activities such as dietary intake or resting. The use of the platform appears to depend upon the amount of space available; in a large pen, an elevated platform can be utilised as an exercise structure while in a small pen it was used more as simply extra space to occupy.read more
Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
Societal concern related to stocking density, pen size and group size in farm animal production
TL;DR: In this paper, a quantitative analysis of cross-sectional surveys conducted among citizens of Flanders during 2000-2002 and during 2006 (n = 459) showed that the survey participants perceived stocking densities and pen sizes as very essential for attaining an acceptable level of farm animal welfare.
Journal ArticleDOI
Influence of cage or pen housing on carcass traits and meat quality of rabbit.
TL;DR: It was shown that large pen housing altered carcass traits independently and increased meat redness and fracture resistance of tibia and femur, which is a measure of intrinsic stiffness, was highest in caged rabbits.
Journal ArticleDOI
Behaviour and use of space in fattening rabbits as influenced by cage size and enrichment
TL;DR: Providing fattening rabbits housed in groups of eight with more space had a limited effect on their behavioural time budget, although rabbits did seem to prefer more space during grooming, and provision of a wooden structure improved welfare.
Journal ArticleDOI
Housing of growing rabbits in individual, bicellular and collective cages: fear level and behavioural patterns
TL;DR: The rabbits in individual cages exhibited the highest fear level and incomplete behavioural patterns; the rabbits housed in collective cages showed the lowest fear levels and had the possibility of expressing a wider range of behaviour; and the rabbits in bicellular cages exhibited an inconsistent pattern of fear in the tonic immobility and open-field tests.
Journal ArticleDOI
Skeletal muscle adaptations and biomechanical properties of tendons in response to jump exercise in rabbits.
TL;DR: This experiment demonstrates that rabbit muscles turn to a more oxidative metabolic pattern in response to jump exercise, and the quality of attachment of cooked meat to bone is also improved in active rabbits.