Environmental enrichment of New Zealand White rabbits living in laboratory cages

Poggiagliolmi, Sabrina; Crowell‐Davis, Sharon L.; Alworth, Leanne C.; Harvey, Stephen B.

doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2010.12.001

Cited by 25 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Indeed, fecal glucocorticoid levels in rabbits declined when they were provided with a wooden structure for resting and gnawing (Buijs et al, 2011). Rabbits provided with objects (toys) spent significantly more time chewing than rabbits without toys (Poggiagliolmi et al, 2011). Huls et al (1991) noted that rabbits would use wooden sticks, wooden rings, and brass wire balls as toys.…”

Section: Housingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biology and Diseases of Rabbits

Nowland

Brammer

García

et al. 2015

Laboratory Animal Medicine

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Section: Housingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biology and Diseases of Rabbits

Nowland

Brammer

García

et al. 2015

Laboratory Animal Medicine

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“…EE primarily helps the animals to exhibit normal behavior patterns throughout the day. But the primary goal of environmental enrichment is to prevent abnormal behaviors of animals (Poggiagliolmia et al, 2011). The purpose of environmental enrichment (EE) is reduce the stress of animals and increase the welfare level of those (Laurence et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of environmental enrichment objects on behaviors ofJapanese quails at different cage stocking densities

Taşkın

Karadavut

2016

IJAR

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The aim of this study is to investigate the behaviors of and monitor the changes on behaviors of Japanese quails reared in different stocking density, through using different objects, (small red balls, bunch of rope, mirrors and beads) providing environmental enrichment (EE) in the cages of quails. Six hundred of 1 day old Japanese quail chicks (mixed sex) were used in this study. Birds were reared in battery cages with four floors, each of which has two separations. The quails were placed in cage dimension in the quantities of 10 quails (lower density: LD) and of 20 quails (higher density: HD) per separation. Our hypothesis was that EE would improve the welfare of quails. The birds were observed in their cages naturally in accordance with one-zero sampling, and home cage avoidance test was performed for these birds. While the applications have significant effect on feeding and relaxation behaviors (P<0.05 levels) in LD environment, the effect of comfort, social and other behaviors was realized at P<0.01 levels in the same environment. However in HD environment, only rest behavior was affected significantly in P<0.05 level, the other properties were affected in P<0.01 levels. The live weights weren't affected from EE (for LD, P=0.134 and for HD P=0.216). It was determined in the result of this study that the objects hung in the quail cages had potential effect to improve the welfare of quails.

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“…Rabbits kept in near-to-nature conditions gnaw branches and roots and gnawing also takes place during eating (Stauffacher, 1992). Besides, they have a basic need for chewing to wear down their open-rooted and continuously growing teeth (Poggiagliolmi et al, 2011). If they don't have the opportunity to chew on appropriate materials, they may chew on any cage component (Stauffacher, 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If they don't have the opportunity to chew on appropriate materials, they may chew on any cage component (Stauffacher, 1992). This can lead to tooth abnormalities or abscesses (Poggiagliolmi et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Different type of enrichment materials have been studied such as different types of wood (Pincz et al, 2007;Pincz et al, 2008a and b;Zucca et al, 2012), hay (Lidfors, 1997;Berthelsen and Hansen, 1999;Maertens and Van Oeckel, 2001), grass cubes (Lidfors, 1997), straw Pol et al, 2006), grass and coarse mix feeds (Leslie et al, 2004), a variety of food items (Brown, 2009), metal can (Brooks et al, 1993;Lopez et al, 2003), bunny stick, bunny block, nylon rod, kong (Harris et al, 2001), parrot toys, copper wire ball (Huls et al, 1991), card board rings and balls, rubber ball (Poggiagliolmi et al, 2011), stainless steel rabbit rattle on spring clips (Johnson et al, 2003) and basal components, wood mash and chicory pulp (Maertens et al, 2013). These studies showed that rabbits prefer food-related items over non-food related items and that enrichment materials increased chewing and reduced stereotypies as well as skin lesions (especially on the ears) (Princz et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cage-enrichment: rabbit does prefer straw or a compressed wooden block

Rommers¹,

Bracke²,

Reuvekamp³

et al. 2014

World Rabbit Sci.

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Abstract:The effect of different food related materials on the behaviour of commercial meat rabbit does was investigated to provide them enrichment. Five different treatments were tested. Control (pens without additional enrichment, C) was compared with pens containing a pinewood stick (Pine), straw in a plastic bin (Straw), a compressed wooden block (Ply) or a combination of straw and a pinewood stick (Straw+Pine). The experiment was conducted on a commercial rabbit farm using 80 cages with multiparous lactating hybrid (Hycole) rabbit does. Behavioural observations were conducted in the first 4 wk of 2 successive lactations of 6 wk each, twice a week from 15:00 to 18:30 h. Once every week the consumption of gnawing materials and soiling of the cages was scored. More does were significantly occupied with Straw and Ply than with Pine (24±20, 11±9 and 4±3% of does, respectively) for a longer duration (4±4, 2±2, 0.1±0.2% of observed time, respectively). In does of Straw+Pine group, the pinewood was barely touched and straw was preferred. It can be concluded that straw (loose material) and wooden block are used by the animals as enrichment material to gnaw or chew on. The materials remain attractive for the 2 lactations which were measured. The pinewood stick as provided in this study was rarely used and it may be questioned whether it is sufficient as enrichment material or if it should be provided in another way than hanging on the roof of the cage. This study provides a first step towards a positive list of enrichment materials that can be used in commercial rabbit farming in The Netherlands.

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Environmental enrichment of New Zealand White rabbits living in laboratory cages

Cited by 25 publications

References 49 publications

Biology and Diseases of Rabbits

Biology and Diseases of Rabbits

The effects of environmental enrichment objects on behaviors ofJapanese quails at different cage stocking densities

Cage-enrichment: rabbit does prefer straw or a compressed wooden block

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