Effect of housing system (wire cage versus group-housing) and in-house air quality parameters on the behaviour of fattening rabbits

Ribikauskas, Vytautas; Ribikauskienė, Daiva; Skurdenienė, Ina

doi:10.4995/wrs.2010.777

Cited by 10 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Sancilio et al (1999) reported inhalable PM concentrations to be in the range between 0.75 to 3.62 mg/m 3 , and from 0.24 to 0.90 mg/m 3 for the respirable fraction. Nevertheless, Ribikauskas et al (2010) reported higher concentrations for inhalable PM for rabbits kept in groups in straw pens than those reported for size-fractioned PM for rabbits kept in cages in our study. Although direct comparison between occupational health size fractions and PM10 and PM2.5 is not straightforward because it depends on sampling instrument cut-off curves and the sampling conventions followed, our results for PM concentrations are found within the lower ranges of the values reported in the literature for occupational health size fractions.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 51%

“…2012, 20: 1 -11 doi:10.4995/wrs.2012.1035© WRSA, UPV, 2003, threatening the environment (plants and organisms), causing vegetation stress and ecosystem alteration (Grantz et al, 2003). Although PM concentrations and emissions have been characterised in poultry and pig production systems (Costa and Guarino, 2009;Lacey et al, 2003), little is known about PM concentration and emissions in and from rabbit houses (Navarotto et al, 1995;Ribikauskas et al, 2010). Although PM concentrations in rabbit farms seem to be low compared to other livestock species (Cambra-López et al, 2008), the emission of PM into the atmosphere could be relevant due to the high ventilation rates observed in those European regions where rabbits are reared (typically Mediterranean countries) (Calvet et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Particulate matter concentrations and emissions in rabbit farms

et al. 2012

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AbstrAct:The extent of the potential health hazards of particulate matter (PM) inside rabbit farms and the magnitude of emission levels to the outside environment are still unknown, as data on PM concentrations and emissions in and from such buildings are scarce. The purpose of this study was to quantify airborne PM10 and PM2.5 (particulate matter which passes through a size-selective inlet with a 50% efficient cut-off at 10 µm aerodynamic diameter or at 2.5 µm aerodynamic diameter, respectively) concentrations and emissions on 2 rabbit farms in Mediterranean conditions and to identify the main factors related with farm activities influencing PM generation. Concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 were determined continuously using a tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) in one farm with fattening rabbits and one reproductive doe farm in autumn. At the same time as PM sampling, the time and type of human farm activity being performed was recorded. Additionally, temperature, relative humidity and ventilation rate were recorded continuously. Emissions were calculated using a mass balance on each farm. Results showed PM concentrations in these rabbit farms were low compared with the average values given for poultry and pig farms. Average PM10 concentrations were 0.08±0.06 (fattening rabbits), and 0.05±0.06 mg/m 3 (reproductive does). Average PM2.5 concentrations were 0.01±0.02 (fattening rabbits), and 0.01±0.04 mg/m 3 (reproductive does). Particulate matter concentrations were significantly influenced by the type of human farm activity conducted in the building rather than by animal activity. The main PM-generating activity in the fattening rabbit farm was sweeping, while the major PM-generating activity in reproductive doe farm was sweeping and burning hair from the cages. Average PM10 emissions were 6.0±6.1 (fattening rabbits), and 14.9±31.5 mg/place d (reproductive does). Average PM2.5 emissions were 0.2±1.3 (fattening rabbits), and 2.8±19.5 mg/place d (reproductive does). Emission results indicate that rabbit farms can be considered relevant point sources of PM emissions, comparable to other livestock species. Our results improve the knowledge on factors affecting concentration and emissions of PM in rabbit farms and can contribute to the design of suitable PM reduction measures to control not only PM inside rabbit houses, but also its emission into the atmosphere.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 51%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Particulate matter concentrations and emissions in rabbit farms

et al. 2012

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“…These findings are in agreement with other authors World Rabbit sci. 21: 107-110 working with conventional cages and similar conditions such as Princz et al (2008a) and Ribikauskas et al (2010), who found a similar time budget (between 66.9 and 66.2% respectively).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…It must be considered that this category includes self-body care and exploratory behaviours. Self-body care is known to be a time-consuming behaviour (8.48% of time according to Ribikauskas et al, 2010), contributing to increase the frequency of "others". In addition, exploratory behaviours in the present study can be expected to be higher than previously reported values (e.g.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short communication: Assessment of activity patterns of growing rabbits in a flux-controlled chamber

Olivas¹,

Rodriguez-Latorre

Estellés

et al. 2013

World Rabbit Sci.

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Flux-controlled and metabolic chambers are often used for nutritional and environmental studies. However, the potential alterations of animal behaviour and welfare are so far not fully understood. In consequence, this study had 2 main objectives: to assess potential alterations of animal activity pattern and time budget inside a flux chamber, and to assess the importance of the "rearing up" behaviour. To this end, 10 growing rabbits of different ages (from 1 to 5 wk of the growing period) were housed inside a flux chamber. Their activity was continuously recorded and assessed, determining the frequency and duration of 8 different behaviours: lying, sleeping, sitting, eating, drinking, walking, rearing up and others. Nocturnal rabbit behaviour and time budget were not altered inside the chamber if compared to previously described rabbit activity under conventional cages. In addition, rabbits in this experiment presented a tendency to perform "rearing up" when housed inside the flux chamber.

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“…The mean frequency and duration (min.) spent in the following behavioral patterns were scored according to Ribikauskas et al (2010).…”

Section: Behavioural Observations and Productive Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Symbiotic Drenching Mixture on the Ingestive Behavior, Productive Performance, Blood Biochemical Parameters and Carcass Traits of Growing Rabbits

Hassan¹

2018

AJVS

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Key words:Rabbits, symbiotic, ingestive behavior, blood biochemical, growth performance.Stressors that originated from intensive housing of young rabbits during the growing period have bad effects on rabbit performance and health status. A total of forty-five apparently healthy New Zealand White rabbits were used to investigate the effect of drenching of symbiotic mixture on the behavior, productive performance, blood biochemistry and carcass criteria of growing rabbits. They were allocated into two groups} 1st: control (n=21) and 2ed treated) (n=24) and both groups were housed under conventional cage system. The treated group was weekly drenched by 40mg/rabbit/day (200g/1000liter) symbiotic mixture which was dissolved in 5ml distilled water, while the control group received only 5ml distilled water through the drench and all solutions were at room temperature. Video recording of behaviors were done weekly, in addition to determination of rabbit's body weight and feed intake. At the end of the experiment 10 rabbits from each group were slaughtered for blood biochemical analysis and carcass traits evaluation. The obtained results revealed that there was a significant increase in body weight and body weight gain of the drenched group than control one, however, the feed intake, feed conversion ratio and performance index were decreased in the treated rabbits. Drenched rabbits have a significant (P≤0.05) higher total proteins, albumin, and globulin and AL/GL ratio than control groups. The behavior of treated animals showed a significant (P≤0.05) increase in feeding duration (min.) and drinking frequency and duration (min.). This study concluded that drenching of growing rabbits a symbiotic mixture results in improvement of their ingestive behavior, performance and blood biochemical parameters.

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Effect of housing system (wire cage versus group-housing) and in-house air quality parameters on the behaviour of fattening rabbits

Cited by 10 publications

References 5 publications

Particulate matter concentrations and emissions in rabbit farms

Particulate matter concentrations and emissions in rabbit farms

Short communication: Assessment of activity patterns of growing rabbits in a flux-controlled chamber

The Effect of Symbiotic Drenching Mixture on the Ingestive Behavior, Productive Performance, Blood Biochemical Parameters and Carcass Traits of Growing Rabbits

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