Rabbit preference for cages and pens with or without mirrors

Zotte, Antonella Dalle; Princz, Z.; Matics, Zsolt; Gerencsér, Zsolt; Metzger, S.; Szendrő, Zsolt

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2008.08.011

Cited by 25 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Our results are in agreement with those of Lidfors [24], supporting the hypothesis that environmental enriching of cages or pens can reduce the frequency of gnawing and increase the grooming behavior. In addition, the time spent on the mirrors was higher during the dark period (time slot 3), in agreement with Dalle Zotte et al [7] who found a significant ( p < 0.001) preference of the rabbits bred in pens for mirrors during the active (dark) period.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Several differences were seen concerning rabbit behavior, comparing the three breeding systems. As reported by many authors, mirrors are able to mimic the presence of another rabbit and to reduce the stress in rabbits kept in captivity [7,10,11]. The most interesting change in terms of behavioral repertoire observed with the addition of the mirrors in the pens was the increase of allo-grooming.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

“…Wild rabbits spend most of their resting time in groups and in close contact, demonstrating a complex social activity that cannot be duplicated under some commercial rearing conditions, thus affecting the expression of different behaviors and the quality of social interactions [5]. Numerous studies have been conducted on the effects of housing system and environmental enrichments (e.g., plastic platform, hiding box, gnawing stick, mirrors) to alleviate this problem, especially with regard to productive performance and the welfare of growing rabbits [6,7,8,9]. In particular, some authors compared whether the presence of mirrors in cages or pens influenced rabbit behavior [7,10,11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Numerous studies have been conducted on the effects of housing system and environmental enrichments (e.g., plastic platform, hiding box, gnawing stick, mirrors) to alleviate this problem, especially with regard to productive performance and the welfare of growing rabbits [6,7,8,9]. In particular, some authors compared whether the presence of mirrors in cages or pens influenced rabbit behavior [7,10,11]. The limitations of the above-mentioned researches were that none of them directly measured stress, fear or anxiety in rabbits; they were only focused on the eventual preference for mirrors by observing rabbit behavior in different rearing systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Mastellone

Bovera

Musco

et al. 2019

Animals

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The aim of this research was to evaluate the possible usefulness of mirrors in improving rabbit behavior in a free-range breeding system. Three groups (each consisting of nine replicates of three animals) were compared: isolated, isolated with mirrors and separated by a wire mesh (possible visual and olfactory contacts). Rabbits allowed to have a visual and olfactory contact showed a significantly higher expression of important natural behaviors (olfactory investigation, gnawing, alertness, stretching, locomotion) compared to the isolated rabbits (with or without mirrors); while rabbits in the mirror group showed higher allo-grooming activity than those isolated and no different locomotion activity than those separated by wire mesh. Thus, mirrors seemed to be able to modify the behavioral repertoire of isolated rabbits by acting on social perception in rabbits reared in small groups in a free-range system. Nevertheless, despite it being advisable to use a combination of different indicators in order to assess the stress level of an animal, the accuracy of serum cortisol, as well as of some secondary stress markers assay, appeared to be limited in this type of breeding.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Mastellone

Bovera

Musco

et al. 2019

Animals

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“…Individually caged rabbits showed a preference for cages enriched with mirrors (Dalle . Mirrors were able to mimic the presence of another rabbit and to improve the welfare of rabbits (Jones and Phillips, 2005;Dalle Zotte et al, 2009;Edgar and Seaman, 2010). Negretti et al (2004Negretti et al ( , 2008 observed that rabbits looked towards the neighbouring rabbits more frequently than toward empty cages.…”

Section: Cage Wallsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alternative and enriched housing systems for breeding does: a review

et al. 2016

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Abstract:The main results and observations on group and individually housed rabbit does were reviewed by Szendrő and McNitt in 2012, but in recent years several new papers in this field have been published. This provides a new opportunity to summarise the current knowledge on alternative housing systems for breeding does. In Switzerland, rabbit does are generally housed in group systems. The recently legislated Belgian and Dutch housing systems will be converted step by step into group housing systems. Recent research demonstrated that with semi-group housing systems much better performance levels are possible than with the Swiss group housing system. However, solutions to eliminate aggression, stress and injuries which are common among rabbit does in group housing systems have yet to be found. Some authors are of the opinion that individual cages are too small and allow limited possibilities for movement and social contact. Positive results were seen when platforms were inserted into the cages and the possibility for movement increased. The does and their kits could jump up and down using the platforms. Using footrests, the incidence of sore hocks declined. Several environmental enrichments which increase the well-being of rabbit does can also be used. These enriched cages (equipped with platforms, footrests, gnawing sticks, etc.) are fully in line with animal welfare requirements. Increasing the size of cages and enriching them increases the production cost and the meat will be more expensive.

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The laboratory rabbit

Lidfors,

Edström

2024

The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory and Other Research Animals

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Rabbit preference for cages and pens with or without mirrors

Cited by 25 publications

References 26 publications

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

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

Alternative and enriched housing systems for breeding does: a review

The laboratory rabbit

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