Meat production.

McNitt, J. I.; Lukefahr, S. D.; Cheeke, P. R.; Patton, N. M.

doi:10.1079/9781780640129.0274

Cited by 1 publication

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“…In intensive production systems rabbits are conventionally kept in wire-mesh cages without bedding, equipped only with a feeder and nipple drinkers (EFSA-AHAW Panel, 2005;McNitt et al, 2000). Such systems represent a barren, unstructured and stimulus-poor environment where animals are additionally confronted with limited floor area (EFSA-AHAW Panel, 2005;Verga, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

behaviour of individually housed growing rabbits and the influence of gnawing sticks as environmental enrichment on daily rhythm of behavioural patterns duration

JORDAN,

GORJANC,

KERMAUNER

et al. 2011

aas

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The aim of our study was to examine average duration and frequency of behaviour of growing rabbits and possible influence of gnawing sticks as environmental enrichment on their daily rhythm of behavioural patterns duration. For this purpose 16 males of Slovenian sire line SIKA for meat production were recorded 24 hours per day, between 45 and 48, 58 and 61, 72 and 75, and 86 and 89 days age of rabbits. Animals were housed individually in wire-mesh cages equipped with a feeder and a nipple drinker. Half of the cages were enriched with wooden sticks of Norway spruce (Picea abies). Animals had free access to the feed and water; the daily duration of lighting was 12 hours. Rabbits spent a major proportion of time resting (59.03%). They were lying most of the time in abdominal (38.84%) and abdominal – lateral position (18.05%). The most common active behavioural patterns were body care (sum of grooming and scratching; 20.16%), feeding (10.25%) and sniffing (4.60%). Rabbits changed their behaviour on average 53.55-times, from three to 197-times per hour. The difference in daily rhythm of individual behavioural pattern duration between rabbits in enriched and control cages was mostly expressed around the time lights were turned on or off.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%