Mirrors Can Affect Growth Rate, Blood Profile, Carcass and Meat Traits and Caecal Microbial Activity of Rabbits Reared in a “Small Group” Free-Range System

Abstract

Simple SummaryThe rabbit farming sector is going through a difficult period. The reduction in the consumption of rabbit meat and the increased attention paid by consumers to the welfare of farmed animals require the adoption of farming methods that are as “natural” as possible and at the same time may ensure the maintenance of good growth performance. In this sense, free-range breeding on the ground and in colonies allows the rabbits to express more natural behaviour, but it also presents some negative aspects such as decreased growth performance, higher energy expenditure of subjects due to a higher locomotion activity, and the need for a larger rearing space. Mirrors can represent a valid solution by improving the rabbits welfare and at the same time ensuring good growth performance and carcass quality traits.AbstractThe aim of this work was to propose a model of free-range raising for rabbit able to maximize the animal welfare and at the same time the productive performances through the use of mirrors. A total of 81 rabbits were allocated into free-range areas and divided into three groups (nine replicates per group): in the first group (face to face, F2F), the rabbits of each replicate could see each other. In the second group (blind) each replicate was isolated from the others; in the third group (mirrors), the replicates were divided as for the Blind group but two mirrors were placed in a corner of the perimeter. The blind group rabbits showed the lowest final weight (p < 0.05), while rabbits from the mirrors groups showed the best FCR and net dressing out values. The blind group showed the highest production of total short chain fatty acids, acetate (p < 0.05) and propionate (p < 0.01). The F2F rabbits showed higher levels of creatine phosphokinase and lactate dehydrogenase and lower values of blood glucose than those of the other groups, due to the higher locomotion activity. The use of mirrors can improve rabbit’s growth performance and carcass traits by lowering the rabbit’s locomotion activity in comparison to the other tested systems.

Evaluating productive performance, meat quality and oxidation products of Italian White breed rabbits under free-range and cage rearing system

“…Feed to gain ratio differed significantly (P=0.025) according to the rearing system, where caged rabbits resulted in lower ratio. Similar growth performance including feed to gain ratio were also reported in earlier studies with rabbits under different rearing systems [1,10,12,15]; however, the obtained findings were satisfactory and in line with the requested fattening standards of rabbits. For example, Castellini et al [29] showed that conventionally raised A c c e p t e d A r t i c l e broilers to have higher growth rates than those raised in outdoor systems.…”

“…Therefore, the interest in obtaining rabbit meat from less intensive rearing systems has increased in the last decade [13], because of the conventional cage production systems have the potential to influence negatively animal production. Some recently published studies investigated the effects of different rearing systems (as freerange, open-air cages, organic farming) on rabbit meat quality and its shelf life [10,14,15] highlighting that the effect of the rearing system has been frequently summed or confused with other factors, such as the presence of a different stocking density and group size [15].…”

The Influence of Dietary Chicken Egg Lysozyme on the Growth Performance, Blood Health, and Resistance Against Escherichia coli in the Growing Rabbits' Cecum

“…In the current study, dietary LZM exerted a pronounced improvement in the total number of RBC, Hb, and PCV regardless of the LZM dose. This improvement in RBCs count could be due to the general enhancement of the health status and physiological wellbeing of the rabbits fed LZM (38). The increased WBCs and lymphocytes (%) may be attributed to the ability of LZM to cause some degree of improvement in immunity.…”

“…The detection of the hematological and biochemical indices provides essential diagnostic tools about the health conditions of domestic animals fed varied feed additives (8,38). Chicken egg LZM is an interesting antibiotic peptide and growth enhancer with a remarkable bacteriolytic ability that can be used efficiently in rabbit feeding (16,37).…”

Response of Fattening Rabbits with Acorns (Quercus pubescens Willd.) Combined in the Diet: First Acquaintances on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits and Perirenal Fatty Acid Profile

“…Consumption of rabbit meat increased markedly over the last 50 years and this trend appears to be shaping modern farming practices. In particular, feeding practices are oriented to fulfil consumers’ demand of functional and healthy meat, and for ethical and sustainable food production [ 1 ]. Recently, the potential of rabbit meat as a functional food was reviewed [ 2 ] in light of the most up-to-date breeding and feeding strategies.…”