Different regrouping schedules in semi group-housed rabbit does: Effects on agonistic behaviour, stress and lesions

Braconnier, Michèle; Gómez, Yamenah; Gebhardt-Henrich, Sabine G.

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105024

Cited by 12 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Progesterone concentrations higher than 2 mg/mL were proven to negatively affect the kindling rate in these does. However, no stress response in rabbit does during regrouping, as estimated by body temperature measurements, was detected during this study (Braconnier et al, 2020). Others reported similar results in the past (Andrist et al, 2012;Buijs and Maertens, 2015).…”

Section: Doessupporting

confidence: 72%

“…Furthermore, it has been hypothesised that kits in TG12 may face higher mortality, as their mothers are in a possibly stressful situation during regrouping, while the kits are still depending on their care. However, no stress response was detected (Braconnier et al, 2020), maternal failure (causing starvation of kits) did not occur and kit survival was not influenced by the time point of grouping. Kits in TG12 may not have been physically able to leave their cage at regrouping (12 dpp), and therefore could not have become malnourished and/or hypothermic.…”

Section: Kitsmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Grouping of breeding rabbit does at different time points: effects on fertility, mortality and weight

et al. 2020

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Semi-group housing in breeding does has been shown to reduce production and breeding success in comparison to single-housed animals. One reason for this reduction could be stress and aggression when grouping does only 2 d after artificial insemination. The aim of this study was to test different time points of grouping on fertility of does, body weight of both kits and does, and mortality rates. Hence, does were separated and housed individually one day before giving birth to their kits. The does were then artificially inseminated on day 10 postpartum (dpp) and regrouped according to the treatment (time point) on 12 (TG12), 18 (TG18), or 22 (TG22) dpp, respectively. In total, five trials with three groups pertaining to the three treatments (eight does per treatment group) were conducted. Non-pregnant does were replaced with pregnant does before each new trial (57 different does needed). Data were analysed with (generalised) linear mixed effect models and survival analysis. There were no significant differences in fertility, body weight or mortality of does among the treatments. The average fertility rate (number of kindling events/number of artificial inseminations×100) was low (40.92%) and seasonal effects may have partially masked treatment effects, as most trials took place during winter. Likewise, the survival rate of kits was not influenced by the treatment (survival test: χ2=2.3, df = 2, P = 0.3). Body weight of the kits was also not affected by the time point of grouping (average weight: 447.70±46.42 g (TG12), 452.20±55.30 g (TG18) and 460.06±89.23 g (TG22); P = 0.33). In conclusion, grouping does at a later time point in the reproductive cycle did not show any significant improvement in the breeding or productive success in a Swiss semi-group housing system. An elongated separation from conspecifics did not enhance the welfare of semi-group housed rabbits.

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Section: Doessupporting

confidence: 72%

Section: Kitsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Grouping of breeding rabbit does at different time points: effects on fertility, mortality and weight

et al. 2020

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“…Little is known about how steroid hormones could influence agonistic behaviour in female does: two studies found an increased aggressive response in ovariectomised, oestradiol-treated does given P4 peripherally (Hoffman et al, 2009) or into the hypothalamus (Palka and Sawyer, 1966). Therefore, the main aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of testosterone, progesterone and oestradiol during the pregnant-lactating phase of does and analyse their relation with the agonistic behaviour shown at grouping which was reported previously (Braconnier et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…A better understanding of the temporal variation in hormonal secretion during lactation and simultaneous gestation might help us determine an optimal time point for grouping. In addition, we correlated the anogenital distance (AGD) measured at AI (Braconnier et al, 2020) with the hormonal values during pregnancy/lactation because: a) earlier studies suggested that AGD at birth could be useful in selecting less aggressive does for communal breeding (Buijs et al, 2016); b) there is a correlation between the AGD measured at birth and that observed in adult does (Bánszegi et al, 2009). If a correlation was found, AGD could serve as a prediction of the aggressive potential of individual does.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Levels of testosterone, progesterone and oestradiol in pregnant-lactating does in relation to aggression during group housing

et al. 2021

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The neuroendocrine regulation of rabbit maternal behaviour has been explored in detail. However, little is yet known about the hormonal regulation of aggression in concurrently pregnant-lactating does, a reproductive condition that prevails during group housing of rabbits on farms. Therefore, in this study we determined the relation between a) the levels of progesterone, testosterone, and oestradiol during lactation; b) the anogenital distance at artificial insemination; and c) the timing of grouping with the intensity of agonistic behaviour, published previously. We performed four consecutive trials, where three groups of eight does each were artificially inseminated on day 10 postpartum (pp) and grouped on either day 12, 18 or 22 pp. Using Dipetalogaster maxima, a reduviid blood-sucking bug, we collected blood samples during the pregnant-lactating phase (days 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 pp) on one or two randomly chosen does per treatment group. Testosterone levels varied little across the pregnant-lactating phase, agreeing with results from pregnant-only rabbits, while progesterone levels increased from day 3 (=13 dpp) to day 7 (=17 dpp) and remained unchanged until day 13 (=23 dpp) of pregnancy. All oestradiol concentrations fell below the limit of detection. Overall, all concentrations were slightly lower in comparison to rabbit studies with pregnantonly does. The agonistic behaviour was not related to the respective hormonal concentrations at grouping. In conclusion, the time point of grouping does after artificial insemination (AI) in the semi-group housing system only had a weak influence on aggression and the hormonal profile did not indicate an optimum time for grouping.

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“…Moreover, space restrictions led to increased fighting, most likely due to special stress. Sufficient space to escape and adequate enrichment items to hide in or behind might therefore improve animals’ well-being and prevent injuries and intense fights, even after re-grouping [ 19 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of a Configurable, Mobile and Modular Floor-Pen System for Group-Housing of Laboratory Rabbits

Matzek

Baldauf

Schieweck

et al. 2021

Animals

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The major responsibility of researchers and laboratory animal facilities is to ensure animal well-being during the time of acclimatization, experiments, and recovery. In this context, animal housing conditions are of utmost importance. Here, we implemented a mobile and modular floor-pen housing system for laboratory rabbits that combines rabbits’ natural behavioral requirements and the high hygiene standards needed in biomedical science. Twelve female New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits were single- or group-housed for 12 months in mobile and modular floor-pens. Their general health status was evaluated at the end of the experimental setup. Further, we performed behavioral analysis of six additional NZW females group-housed for eight weeks in pens of two different sizes. We show that our improved housing concept supported species-specific behavioral patterns. Taken together, our housing system provides an optimal setup for rabbits in animal facilities that combines strict requirements for animal experiments with animal welfare.

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Different regrouping schedules in semi group-housed rabbit does: Effects on agonistic behaviour, stress and lesions

Cited by 12 publications

References 37 publications

Grouping of breeding rabbit does at different time points: effects on fertility, mortality and weight

Grouping of breeding rabbit does at different time points: effects on fertility, mortality and weight

Levels of testosterone, progesterone and oestradiol in pregnant-lactating does in relation to aggression during group housing

Evaluation of a Configurable, Mobile and Modular Floor-Pen System for Group-Housing of Laboratory Rabbits

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