Effect of Breed, Cage Type, and Reproductive Phase on Fecal Corticosterone Levels in Doe Rabbits

Prola, Liviana; Cornale, Paolo; Renna, Manuela; Macchi, Elisabetta; Perona, Giovanni Emilio; Mimosi, Antonio

doi:10.1080/10888705.2013.768903

Cited by 15 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…On the other hand, higher faecal corticosterone levels were measured in reproducing does kept in standard cages compared to those kept in double-size cages (83×38×32 cm vs. 113×46×46 cm), which could be related to differences in the stress level (Prola et al, 2013). However, the results of this study cannot be conclusive regarding the effect of cage size on rabbit stress, as the large cages were also equipped with plastic foot mats, whose presence is known to increase doe health and welfare by decreasing the occurrence of ulcerative sore hocks (Rosell and de la Fuente, 2009b;Buijs et al, 2014).…”

Section: Cage Dimensionsmentioning

confidence: 89%

A review of recent research outcomes on the housing of farmed domestic rabbits: reproducing does

et al. 2019

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<p>The housing of farmed animals is increasingly scrutinised by society and thereby subject to a change towards more animal-friendly systems. For rabbits, also kept as pets, there are no EC regulations regarding their housing under farming conditions. In many countries, studies have been carried out to improve their welfare and health under current and alternative housing systems. This paper reviews and integrates the research efforts made since the EFSA report in 2005 on reproducing rabbit does and provides some conclusions, where possible, with special emphasis on animal welfare according to the principles stated by the Welfare Quality® project, i.e. good housing, good health and appropriate behaviour. The use of an elevated platform provides greater opportunities for does and their kits to move, jumping up and down. Management and housing systems (especially flooring) must guarantee good hygienic conditions (all-in, all-out) and separation of the rabbits from their excreta for proper resting places, hygiene and health. Plastic floors and footrests and environmental enrichments (e.g. gnawing material) are also recommended. Continuous group housing systems for reproducing females have been definitively proven to challenge animal welfare by increased aggression and injuries among does and to kits. Part-time group housing systems have proven to have potential, but cannot yet be recommended in farms until major problems of aggression and injuries among animals are solved.</p>

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Section: Cage Dimensionsmentioning

confidence: 89%

A review of recent research outcomes on the housing of farmed domestic rabbits: reproducing does

et al. 2019

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“…Besides, it has been shown, that salivary cortisol levels are significantly correlated to the serum levels (Beerda et al 1996;Negrão et al 2004;Yates et al 2010), although the stress-induced response is more appreciable in blood (Negrão et al 2004). Corticosteroid can also be determined in faeces, and this procedure could be used for stressed animals because it does not require animal manipulation (Prola et al 2013;Cornale et al 2015). In our study, the salivary cortisol value was higher in cattle housed in tie-stall conditions than in loose housed cattle (Table 2).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of abrupt housing changes on the welfare of Piedmontese cows

Tarantola

Valle

Marco

et al. 2016

Italian Journal of Animal Science

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The Italian Piedmontese cattle breed is traditionally housed in tie-stalls and, to a lesser extent, in loose housing systems with free stalls. The present study has compared the same group of 15 cattle before and after stable renovation (tie-stall vs free-stall housing) funded by Regulation (EU) No. 1305/2013. All the animals remained healthy during the trial, no clinical signs were observed and no mastitis occurred. The tested parameters were: locomotion scoring system, salivary cortisol, blood parameters, serum acute phase protein (albumin, haptoglobin, serum amyloid A and lysozyme). Samples were collected 3 times: before the change (T1), 3 days later (T2), 40 days later (T3). The change in housing determined noteworthy variations in the stress parameters: albumin and total protein displayed the lowest value at T2, while lysozyme displayed the lowest value at T3. Among the App, SAA and Hp were not affected by the sampling time. Salivary cortisol displayed the highest value at T1. This study suggests that tie-stall housing can endanger the welfare of animals, and it is hoped that this farming system will be abandoned in the future. ARTICLE HISTORY

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“…As recommended, to extract steroids from nonliquid matrices (such as dried solids), faeces were subjected to an organic phase extraction using ethanol [ 61 ]. Extraction and determination of FGM were carried out as previously reported by [ 62 ]. Following the protocol, faecal samples were kiln dried at 55°C for 24 hours, thoroughly crushed, and five aliquots of pulverized feces (0.20 g each) were put into extraction tubes, which were then sealed with a Teflon cap (Pechiney Plastic Packaging Inc., Menasha, WI).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Animal-Visitor Interaction Protocol (AVIP) for the assessment of Lemur catta walk-in enclosure in zoos

et al. 2022

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Animal–Visitor Interactions (AVI) are activities offered by zoos and other tourism facilities, in which visitors come into close contact with animals. These activities can promote conservational and educational content, raise conservation mindedness and responsibility for the environment and animal welfare, but if not properly managed can jeopardize visitors’ and animals’ well-being and conservation efforts. The Animal-Visitor Interaction assessment Protocol (AVIP) has been designed to perform an integrated and multidisciplinary assessment of these activities, encompassing the “One Health, One Welfare” approach. AVIP throughout six different steps allows to assess the effects of AVIs both on animals, visitors, and the staff involved. Results can assist zoos to improve management decisions, ensure a transparent evaluation of their activities and promote conservation education goals. Lemurs walk-in enclosures have become increasingly popular among zoos, nevertheless studies focused on their assessment are still scarce. To validate AVIP to this particular AVI, we applied it to assess a walk-in enclosure hosting five Lemur catta in an Italian zoo. Results of behavioural and physiological analyses suggested no changes in animal welfare level and the Animal Welfare Risk Assessment showed low animal welfare risks. Two Visitor Experience Surveys were used to interview 291 visitors, showing that the assessed AVI could help promote the zoo’s conservation objectives and visitor education. Risk Assessment found low and medium risks to the health and safety of visitors. Results were then combined to perform a final ethical assessment. Some potential ethical concerns were detected, but the outcomes indicated that these conflicts were well managed. In the context of recent findings AVIP demonstrated its potential for application also in assessing AVIs involving primates. Our findings confirmed the usefulness of AVIP in assessing and monitoring AVIs, allowing to gain key information in a single process on multiple welfare-related parameters, educational impact, safety of the main stakeholders involved, and ethical concerns.

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Effect of Breed, Cage Type, and Reproductive Phase on Fecal Corticosterone Levels in Doe Rabbits

Cited by 15 publications

References 31 publications

A review of recent research outcomes on the housing of farmed domestic rabbits: reproducing does

A review of recent research outcomes on the housing of farmed domestic rabbits: reproducing does

Effects of abrupt housing changes on the welfare of Piedmontese cows

The Animal-Visitor Interaction Protocol (AVIP) for the assessment of Lemur catta walk-in enclosure in zoos

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