Evaluation of Two Different Flooring Designs for Rabbit Housing in Accordance with German Welfare Regulations: Soiling and Mortality

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate a new housing system for fattening rabbits with two different flooring designs (F1 and F2) in accordance with new legal requirements in Germany (11 mm slats and 11 mm gaps, elevated platform with 15% perforation), in comparison with an established system with wire mesh flooring (C). While F1 flooring was made of punched slatted plastic panels, F2 consisted of fixed single rods with a rounded surface. In six batches with F1 and C housing, and subsequently three batches with F2 housing, soiling of rabbits’ hind feet, pens, and cages as well as mortality rates were recorded. While pens and rabbits in F2 conditions were assessed as being cleaner than F1, neither reached the cleanliness of C rabbits and cages. Mortality was highest in F1 housing (18.1%) and comparable between F2 (10.3%) and C housing (11.7%). The present investigations showed different results in terms of soiling and mortality for different implementations of the German regulations. Nevertheless, both floors in accordance with these requirements revealed hygienic disadvantages compared to the established cages. Further research is necessary in order to keep rabbits under good hygienic conditions and in compliance with legal requirements.

Health, performance and soiling of breeding does and their kits kept in two different housing systems on a German rabbit farm

“…The less perforated flooring and the platform with a degree of perforation of only 15% in NC housing led to an increased soiling of the housing environment, which was reflected in the soiling of the rabbits' hind feet (Leinberger et al, 2019;Rauterberg et al, 2019a). In the present study, soiling of all rabbit does' hind feet was similar at the start of the housing period, which was expected, as all does came from cage systems with wire mesh flooring.…”

“…Furthermore, an elevated platform is required, which can pose a possible risk of soiling overall (Alfonso-Carrillo et al, 2014;Saxmose Nielsen et al, 2020). Elevated platforms according to the German regulations are additionally required to have a maximum degree of perforation of 15% for both rabbit does and fattening rabbits, and this requirement in particular is already known to affect the soiling of rabbits negatively (Leinberger et al, 2019;Rauterberg et al, 2019a).…”

“…This was equipped with a plastic floor with the same slat and gap widths, but with slats providing a rounded surface. In addition, it was fitted with a modified elevated platform with a degree of perforation of 15% (Rauterberg et al, 2019a). Different implementations of the legal requirements should be analysed in future studies also for rabbit does and their kits.…”

“…Nevertheless, alternative floor types such as slatted plastic floorings are also known to entail some hygienic disadvantages when causing a high soiling, depending on their degree and shape of perforation. In severe cases, this may also lead to negative effects on animal health (Masthoff and Hoy, 2019;Rauterberg et al, 2019a;Tillmann et al, 2019;Saxmose Nielsen et al, 2020). An increased risk of soiling should be taken even more into consideration for rabbit does, as their larger droppings can easily block the gaps in perforated floorings if the slat distance is too small (Schlender-Böbbis, 1999).…”