Refinements in rabbit husbandry: Second report of the BVAAWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW joint working group on refinement

Morton, David B.; Jennings, Maggy; Batchelor, G. R.; Bell, DJ; Birke, Lynda; Davies, Kerrie A.; Eveleigh, J. R.; Gunn, Debbie; Heath, Miss Sarah; Howard, Beth; Koder, P.; Phillips, Jack; Poole, Toni L.; Sainsbury, A. W.; Sales, Gillian; Smith, D J A; Stauffacher, Markus; Turner, Rodney

doi:10.1258/002367793780745633

Cited by 118 publications

(94 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Meanwhile, ammonia and carbon dioxide emission is the result of rabbit physiological activity, and the higher it is, the higher the parameters are, especially for carbon dioxide. The negative correlation between temperature and grooming can be explained as the stress indicator of worse conditions (Morton et al, 1993). In our study, it is difficult to explain the negative correlation between ammonia and carbon dioxide and grooming.…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 57%

Effect of housing system (wire cage versus group-housing) and in-house air quality parameters on the behaviour of fattening rabbits

Ribikauskas¹,

Ribikauskienė²,

Skurdenienė³

2010

World rabbit sci.

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ABSTRACT:In the same room of an experimental rabbit house 2 housing systems were compared, namely three pens to keep rabbits on bedding and six wire cages for unbedded rabbit keeping. In total, 69 New Zealand White crossbred rabbits 8-12 wk old were used in the study. The rabbits were kept in groups with 0.6 m 2 fl oor area per animal in pens with thinly scattered straw. Wire cages had no bedding and there were 4 rabbits in each cage and 0.4 m 2 fl oor area per rabbit. The study lasted for 8 wk. Rabbit behaviour was observed once 1 wk for 24 h. Behaviour was recorded using a scan sampling every hour. Results were analysed by calculating the percentage frequency of each behaviour. Behaviour analysis according to the keeping method indicated that rabbits kept on bedding spent on average less time resting and grooming (41.53 % and 5.18 % vs. 53.60 % and 8.48 %) and more time eating (29.86 % vs. 18.03 %, respectively) in comparison with those kept in wire cages. There was a statistically signifi cant positive correlation between environmental temperature, illumination, ammonia and carbon dioxide gas concentrations and activity of rabbits.

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Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 57%

Effect of housing system (wire cage versus group-housing) and in-house air quality parameters on the behaviour of fattening rabbits

Ribikauskas¹,

Ribikauskienė²,

Skurdenienė³

2010

World rabbit sci.

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“…However, the natural behavioural repertoire includes activities that are adaptations to adverse conditions, for example, hiding from predators or displaying the alert position (standing on its hindlimbs) considered as indicators for variable or poor welfare (Dawkins, 2008). Under commercial conditions, this position is not possible, as the height of standard cages used in Europe varies between 29 and 40 cm (Trocino and Xiccato, 2006) and, depending on the rabbit's size, a minimum of approximately 75 cm high is required (Morton et al, 1993). In addition, as mentioned by Princz et al (2008a), the relevance of this behaviour in the commercial cage system may be limited due to the lack of predators.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Frequency of certain behaviour while sitting was lower in alternative cages, such as drinking, grooming (P<0.1), interacting with neighbours (only in gestating does) and with kits, indicating that animals might be more restless in conventional than in alternative cages. Frequent changes of behaviour have been described as a sign of increased stress in animals (Lehmann, 1987;Hughes and Duncan, 1988), which may show abnormal behaviour, such as bar-biting, excessive grooming or other stereotypic activities (Morton et al, 1993;Love, 1994). Hansen and Berthelsen (2000) found that females were more restless in conventional cages, showing excessive grooming, bar-gnawing and timidity compared to those housed in alternative cages with a platform.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Traditionally, alertness behaviour such as sitting on hindlimbs has been considered a natural behavioural trait indicative of improved welfare. Following this, Morton et al (1993) advised the use of sufficiently high cages (75 cm) to allow the rabbit to sit upright without its ears touching the top of the cage (lookout position). However, the importance of this behaviour in the current commercial housing system with a lack of predators is questionable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of cage type on the behaviour patterns of rabbit does at different physiological stages

Alfonso-Carrillo

Martín

Blas³

et al. 2014

World Rabbit Sci.

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Interest in commercially farmed rabbit welfare has increased in recent years. As a result, new alternative housing systems have been developed, although they require evaluation in order to demonstrate their potential for improving welfare. The aim of this trial was to study the behavioural traits of rabbit does housed in 2 different types of cage (TC): conventional vs. alternative with an elevated platform, at different physiological stages (PS); lactation and gestation. Behavioural observations were carried out on 12 rabbit commercial does using continuous 24 h video recording. Independently of PS and TC, rabbit does spent most of their time on foot mats (on av. 57.7%). However, due to the use of platforms (on av. 23.0% of time), lactating does spent 36.6% less time on foot mats (P<0.001) and gestating does spent 27.0% less time on wire mesh (P<0.001) in alternative cages than in conventional cages. Alternative cages allowed for standing posture, but this behaviour was only observed in gestating does (on av. 4.6 times a day). Frequency of drinking was higher in conventional than in alternative cages (24.6 vs. 19.1 times a day; P<0.05). Gestating does housed in conventional cages reached the highest duration and frequency of interacting with neighbours (276 s/d and 4.6 times/d; P<0.05). The frequency of interacting with kits was lower in alternative than in conventional cages (2.4 vs. 8.6 times a day; P<0.01). Doe behaviour was influenced by the time of day, with less activity during the midday hours. During dark hours, rabbit does more frequently performed restless behaviour such as hyperactivity or nursing, matching the time at which rabbit does spent more time on the platform. The platform was frequently used by rabbit does, regardless of their physiological stage, and during late lactation phase, when mothers were not receptive to nursing, does housed in alternative cages used the platform as a mean to flee from kits trying to suckle. Use of the platform might lead to hygienic problems due to retained faeces on the platform and faeces and urine falling onto animals located in the lower part of the cage. The absence of stereotypies in rabbit does of this trial, suggested that animal welfare was not compromised by the type of housing (conventional or alternative cages).

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“…Some authors (e.g. Morton et al, 1993) have recommended the use of deep-litter, which is considered important for animal behaviour, as an environmental enrichment. However, approximately 40 to 50 years ago, -E-mail: Szendro.Zsolt@ke.hu rabbit cages with wire-net floors were developed to reduce the problems associated with coccidia infection.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of different areas of pen by growing rabbits depending on the elevated platforms’ floor-type

Szendrő

Matics

Odermatt³

et al. 2012

Animal

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The addition of platforms to rabbit cages increases their accessible area and provides rabbits greater freedom and mobility. Different types of platforms enable rabbits to situate themselves where they are most comfortable. The objective of this experiment was to analyse preference of growing rabbits between different areas of the pen depending on the elevated platforms' floor-type. Pens with a basic area of 0.84 m 2 were equipped with platforms of 0.42 m 2 . Three types of flooring of the elevated platforms were used as treatments: deep-litter floor and an open wire-net floor (Experiment 1), and a deep-litter floor and a wire-net floor with a manure tray beneath it (Experiment 2). Growing rabbits (n 5 168; 42 per treatment) between the ages of 5 and 11 weeks were studied, based on 24 h video recordings from infra-red cameras (one recording per week) applying scan sampling method with a frequency of 30 min. When the platform was deep-litter, significantly (P , 0.001) more rabbits used the area under the platform (53.7% and 54.3% in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively) than stayed on the platform (16.7% and 7.6%). In treatments of wire-net platform with and without tray beneath the platform also significantly (P , 0.001) more rabbits stayed under the platform (43.7% and 34.7%, respectively) than on the platform (19.5% and 29.9%, respectively). The differences from the expected 33.3% staying on the platform or under the platform were significant at least at the level of P , 0.05. The results show that the wire-net platform with the manure tray provides the optimal environment as it leads to the rabbits spreading themselves more evenly in the pen (i.e. the platform expands available floor area) without the risk of soiling from above, and without adverse effects on heat dissipation, and with the possibility of seeking cover when desired.

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Refinements in rabbit husbandry: Second report of the BVAAWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW joint working group on refinement

Cited by 118 publications

References 9 publications

Effect of housing system (wire cage versus group-housing) and in-house air quality parameters on the behaviour of fattening rabbits

Effect of housing system (wire cage versus group-housing) and in-house air quality parameters on the behaviour of fattening rabbits

Effect of cage type on the behaviour patterns of rabbit does at different physiological stages

Use of different areas of pen by growing rabbits depending on the elevated platforms’ floor-type

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