Wooden sticks as environmental enrichment: effect on fattening and carcass traits of individually housed growing rabbits

Abstract

AbstrAct:The aim of our study was to examine the influence of wooden sticks for gnawing as environmental enrichment on fattening, carcass and meat quality traits of growing rabbits. Forty-eight rabbits of SIKA sire line (Slovenian line for meat production) of both sexes were housed individually in wire-mesh cages equipped only with a feeder and a nipple drinker. Half of the cages were enriched with wooden sticks of Norway spruce (Picea abies). That was the experimental group whereas the other half was the control group. Animals had free access to feed and water, daily duration of lighting was 12 h. The experiment lasted from 44 th to 103 rd d of age. The consumption of wood was less than 0.5 % of the total feed intake. Results indicate that fattening and carcass traits, as well as meat quality were not influenced by environmental enrichment, although in the experimental group a smaller large intestine percentage (−0.21±0.13 %; [Pr(|difference|>0)=0.94]) was observed. Additionally rabbits in experimental group had redder meat values [Pr(|difference|>0)=0.92]. However, given that wooden sticks had no negative impact on rabbits' performance, sticks made of Norway spruce can still be treated as appropriate environmental enrichment for growing rabbits.

Evaluating Intermittent Flashed Light as Economical Light Source for Raising New Zealand White Rabbits

“…McKee et al, (2009) found that light had no affect on carcass defects. Jordan et al, (2008) reported that the percentages of carcass, liver of the rabbits kept under constant 12L: 12D were 54.37 and 3.04%, respectively. The increase of marbling fat content could improve the eating quality of rabbit meat, which is low in fat and generally considered to be insufficiently tasty and juicy.…”

Health and welfare of rabbits farmed in different production systems

“…In laboratory rabbits, hay was more effective in reducing abnormal behaviour than grass cubes, wooden sticks, or a hiding box (Lidfors, ). However, wooden sticks were still effective enough to cause a significant reduction in abnormal behaviour in individually housed (Hesham and Nasr, ) and group housed growing rabbits (Luzi et al., ; Verga et al., ), although not in all studies (Jordan et al., ). Individual housing was also mentioned as a hazard for stereotypic behaviour in lactating and non‐lactating lactating does (EFSA, ).…”

Technical note: Assessment of the better location of gnawing sticks in growing rabbit cages

“…Rabbits also have a biological need for gnawing, which in a semi-natural environment they satisfy through gnawing on roots or branches (Stauffacher, 1992). Sticks of soft wood could be the best method of environmental enrichment for rabbits (Baumans, 2005), and no negative impact on rabbits' performance has been described (Jordan et al, 2008). Although wooden sticks are very interesting environmental enrichment elements and useful to increase animal welfare, they must be tested, as they might become a contaminated and a source of infectious diseases due to hygiene problems, especially in cages that house more than one animal (Mirabito et al, 2000;Dal Bosco et al, 2002;Mirabito, 2003).…”