Hostname: page-component-7f64f4797f-9h5t2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-11-03T20:28:24.462Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of housing system on the behaviour and growth parameters of fattening rabbits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

G Postollec ,
E Boilletot ,
R Maurice  and
V Michel
G Postollec*
Affiliation:
Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments (AFSSA), BP 53, 22440 Ploufragan, France
E Boilletot
Affiliation:
Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments (AFSSA), BP 53, 22440 Ploufragan, France
R Maurice
Affiliation:
Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments (AFSSA), BP 53, 22440 Ploufragan, France
V Michel
Affiliation:
Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments (AFSSA), BP 53, 22440 Ploufragan, France
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: g.postollec@ploufragan.afssa.fr
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Three housing systems for fattening rabbits were compared using a stocking density of 15 rabbits m–2. The rabbits were housed in large pens (3.67 m2, 50 rabbits), small pens (0.66 m2, 10 rabbits) or in conventional standard cages (0.39 m2, 6 rabbits) from 31 to 72 days of age. Rabbits housed in each small pen or in each cage belonged to the same litter, and the 50 rabbits housed in each large pen were from six or seven litters. At the end of fattening, when rabbits were 72 days old, there was no significant difference in the weight of rabbits from the three different housing systems, even though the rabbits from small pens were slightly heavier in weight compared with rabbits from large pens. The best feed conversion ratio was found in rabbits from cages, but was only significantly different from rabbits housed in small pens. No significant differences were found in the main activities: nutrition, social behaviour, resting, and standing; however, the frequency of runs, hops and consecutive hops was significantly higher in rabbits from large pens compared with rabbits from the two other housing systems. These results confirm that the total surface area available for animals is the most important factor for such locomotory activities. This study did not reveal any significant difference in aggressive behaviours between rabbits from different litters housed in large pens and between rabbits from the same litter housed in small pens or cages.

Keywords

animal behaviouranimal welfarefattening rabbitsgroup sizehousing systempen housing

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 15 , Issue 2 , May 2006 , pp. 105 - 111
Copyright
© 2006 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Altman, J 1974 Observational study of behaviour: sampling methods. Behaviour 49: 227–267CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Council of Europe Standing Committee of the European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes (T–AP [98]) 18th revision. Draft recommendation concerning domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)Google Scholar
Dal Bosco, A, Castellini, C and Bernardini, M 2000 Productive performance and carcass and meat characteristics of cage- or pen-raised rabbits. World Rabbit Science 8, Suppl 1: 579–583Google Scholar
Dal Bosco, A, Castellini, C and Mugnai, C 2002 Rearing rabbits on a wire net floor or straw litter: behaviour, growth and meat qualitative traits. Livestock Production Science 75: 149–156Google Scholar
Drescher, B 1992 Housing of rabbits with respect to animal welfare. Journal of Applied Rabbit Research 15: 678–683Google Scholar
Drescher, B and Schlender-Bobbis, L 1996 Etude pathologique de la pododermatite chez les lapins reproducteurs de souche lourde sur grillage. World Rabbit Science 4: 143–148 [Title translation: Pathologic study of pododermatitis among heavy breeding rabbits on wire floors.]Google Scholar
Lambertini, L, Vignola, G and Zaghini, G 2001 Alternative pen housing system for fattening rabbits: effect of group density and litter. World Rabbit Science 9: 141–147Google Scholar
Lehmann, M 1987 Interference of a restricted environment — as found in battery cages with normal behaviour in young fattening rabbits. In: Auxilia T (ed) Rabbit Production System Including Welfare: A Seminar in the Community Programme for the Coordination of Agricultural Research pp 257–268. CEC Publications: LuxembourgGoogle Scholar
Maertens, L and van Herck, A 2000 Performance of weaned rabbits raised in pens or in classical cages: first results. World Rabbit Science 8, Suppl 1: 435–440Google Scholar
Maertens, L and van Oeckel, MJ 2001 Effet du logement en cage ou en parc et de son enrichissement sur les performances et la couleur de la viande des lapins. 9ème Journées de la Recherche Cunicole pp 31–34. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) Institut Technique de l'Aviculture: Paris, France [Title translation: Effect of housing (cage or commercial pens) and enrichment on performances and meat colour of fattening rabbits.]: Effect of housing (cage or commercial pens) and enrichment on performances and meat colour of fattening rabbits.]Google Scholar
Marcato, PS and Rosmini, R 1986 Ulcerative pododermatitis. In: Pathology of the Rabbit and Hare. A Colour Atlas and Compendium pp 11-12. Societa Editrice Esculapio: Bologna, ItalyGoogle Scholar
Martranchar, A, Boilletot, E, Cotte, JP and Morisse, JP 2000 Wire floor pens as an alternative to metallic cages in fattening rabbits: influence on some welfare traits. Animal Welfare 10: 153–161CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Metzger, Sz, Kustos, K, Szendro, Zs, Szabo, A, Eiben, Cs and Nagy, I 2003 The effect of housing system on carcass traits and meat quality of rabbit. World Rabbit Science 11(1): 1–11Google Scholar
Milisits, G, Romvari, R, Szendro, Zs, Masoero, G and Bergoglio, G 2000 The effect of age and weight on slaughter traits and meat composition of Pannon White growing rabbits. World Rabbit Science 8, Suppl 1: 629–636Google Scholar
Mirabito, L 1998 Bien-être du lapin: les orientations. Cuniculture 25: 73–78 [Title translation: Welfare of rabbits: new orientations.]Google Scholar
Morisse, JP and Maurice, R 1997 Influence of stocking density or group size on behaviour of fattening rabbits kept under intensive conditions. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 54: 351–357CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morisse, JP, Boilletot, E and Martranchar, A 1999 Grillage ou litière: choix par le lapin et incidence sur le bien-être. 8èmes Journées de la Recherche Cunicole pp 63–66. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) Institut Technique de l'Aviculture: Paris, France [Title translation: Wired netting floor or straw-litter: preference and incidence on welfare in rabbits.]: preference and incidence on welfare in rabbits.]Google Scholar
Mykytowyc, R and Dudzinski, ML 1972 Aggressive and protective behaviour of adult rabbits towards juveniles. Behaviour 43: 97–120CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roiron, A, Ouhayoum, J and Demas, D 1992 Effets du poids et de l'age d'abattage sur les carcasses et la viande de lapin. Cuniculture 19(3): 143–150 [Title translation: Effects of weight and slaughter age on chilled carcass and meat of rabbit.]Google Scholar
Rommers, J and Meijerhof, R 1998 Effect of group size on performance, bone strength and skin lesions of meat rabbits housed under commercial conditions. World Rabbit Science 6: 299–302Google Scholar
van der Horst, F, Jehl, N and Koehl, PF 1999 Influence du mode d'élevage (cage ou parc) sur les performances de croissance et les qualités bouchères des lapins de race Normande. 8èmes Journées de la Recherche Cunicol pp 71–74. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) Institut Technique de l'Aviculture: Paris, France [Title translation: Growth and slaughter performance of ‘Normand’ rabbits raised in wire mesh cages or in pens.]: Growth and slaughter performance of ‘Normand’ rabbits raised in wire mesh cages or in pens.]Google Scholar