Mirrors Improve Rabbit Natural Behavior in a Free-Range Breeding System

Mastellone, Vincenzo; Bovera, Fulvia; Musco, Nadia; Panettieri, Valentina; Piccolo, Giovanni; Scandurra, Anna; Meo, C. Di; Attia, Youssef A.; Lombardi, Pietro

doi:10.3390/ani9080533

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The rabbits from F2F group showed higher levels of CPK and LDH and low values of blood glucose than those of the other groups. This is probably due to the higher locomotion activity of these rabbits as described in the first part of this research [38]. In fact, rabbits from F2F groups spent around 37.9 m/d in locomotion activity, while those of the other groups only 25.1 (blind group) or 28.5 (mirrors) ( p < 0.05).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

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

Musco

Lombardi

Addeo

et al. 2019

Animals

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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.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

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

Musco

Lombardi

Addeo

et al. 2019

Animals

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“…However, there is a huge unease that the serious welfare of animals and problems of the disease have already been initiated due to the above-mentioned selection pressure. Increasing selection pressures also hinder animals' freedom ( 30 ).…”

Section: Changes In Political and Social Conditions And Consumer Percmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges to the Poultry Industry: Current Perspectives and Strategic Future After the COVID-19 Outbreak

2020

Self Cite

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Poultry immunity, health, and production are several factors that challenge the future growth of the poultry industry. Consumer confidence, product quality and safety, types of products, and the emergence and re-emergence of diseases will continue to be major challenges to the current situation and the strategic future of the industry. Foodborne and zoonotic diseases are strictly linked with poultry. Eradication, elimination, and/or control of foodborne and zoonotic pathogens present a major challenge to the poultry industry. In addition, the public health hazards from consuming foods with high antibiotic residues will remain a critical issue. The theory of poultry production described in this review will not be limited to considering disease control. Rather, it will also incorporate the interconnection of the animals' health, welfare, and immunity. It is essential to know that chickens are not susceptible to intranasal infection by the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus. Nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic will affect poultry consumption, transport, and the economics of poultry farming. It will also take into consideration economic, ethical, social dimensions, and the sustenance of the accomplishment of high environmental security. Stockholders, veterinarians, farmers, and all the partners of the chain of poultry production need to be more involved in the current situation and the strategic future of the industry to fulfill human demands and ensure sustainable agriculture. Thus, the present review explores these important tasks.

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“…• Mirrors: they are a source of sensory enrichment, which is especially important for rodents and rabbits [32]. According to recent studies [33], mirrors act positively on the behavioural repertoire of the rabbits, as they might reduce the effects of isolation and they compensate the lack of social contact [34], so they become an interesting enrichment device in individual housing systems, although group living rabbits also showed preference for cages half covered with mirrors [35].…”

Section: New Models/trends In Housing Systems For Breeding Does 41 Individual Systems With Improved Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Housing and Rabbit Welfare in Breeding Does

García¹

2021

Lagomorpha Characteristics

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Animal welfare is a rising concern in livestock production and to assess the welfare state of an animal, it is needed to consider health, behaviour and emotions. Housing conditions and management normally impair animal welfare at different levels, so developing housing systems and management practices that imply a high level of animal welfare by preserving productive results is a need. Rabbit cages have to be improved in terms of space, enrichment and materials used to promote better conditions, and several alternatives are under evaluation such as increasing available space, providing animals with elevated platforms and hiding spaces, making available gnawing materials or changing cage materials. Moving from individual to collective housing systems to enhance social interaction is also being tested. Most of these alternatives have provided some steps towards better housing and management conditions for rabbits, while some of them have demonstrated to create more problems and have been abandoned. There is still a long way to go on this research topic.

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Mirrors Improve Rabbit Natural Behavior in a Free-Range Breeding System

Cited by 10 publications

References 26 publications

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

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

Challenges to the Poultry Industry: Current Perspectives and Strategic Future After the COVID-19 Outbreak

Housing and Rabbit Welfare in Breeding Does

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