[Activity requirement for young domestic rabbits: raw fiber consumptionand animal welfare]

Swiss Animal Protection Regulations summon that the food provided shall be such as to permit the animals to satisfy their need for occupation combined with feeding. In intensive cage-keeping of fattening rabbits there is often no hay or straw fed in addition to the pellets, despite ethological evidence, that this does not fit their need for occupation. In a large semi-natural enclosure (600 m2) with grass and shrubs as well as feeding huts with pellets young rabbits at the age of 30-120 days are observed seven times from 6.00-21.00 h (N = 78 observations on 13 individuals). During this time they spend 81 +/- 37 minutes feeding on pellets and 92 +/- 47 minutes grazing, mainly early in the morning or late in the evening. In a group housing system for fattening rabbits (base 150 x 150 cm, two floors) the behaviour of 24 young rabbits from six different groups is surveyed in the region of the hay rack with a video camera. Two recordings during 24 hours in each group at the age of about 60 days (N = 48) show that in addition to feeding on pellets the animals engage with hay and straw for 111 +/- 45 minutes a day. The daily distribution shows maxima at dawn and dusk. The feeding patterns correspond to those observed in the semi-natural enclosure. Based on the ethological evidence and the Animal Protection Ordinance rabbits are to get additional straw or hay.