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Housing Rabbit Does in a Combi System with Removable Walls: Effect on Behaviour and Reproductive Performance
Alessandro Dal Bosco1, Cecilia Mugnai2, Melania Martino1
1Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science, University of Perugia, Via Borgo 20 Giugno, 74, 06100 Perugia, Italy.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|August 8, 2019
Summary
Conventional individual rabbit cages increase stereotypic behaviors. Group housing (C1) led to aggression, while combi-cages (C2) offered an intermediate welfare and reproductive performance balance.
Area of Science:
- Animal Welfare Science
- Reproductive Biology
- Livestock Management
Background:
- Conventional housing systems for rabbit does may impact animal welfare and productivity.
- Alternative housing strategies are being explored to improve conditions for farmed rabbits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the welfare, reproductive performance, and overall efficiency of New Zealand White rabbit does housed in conventional individual cages (C), continuously grouped colony cages (C1), and combi-cages with removable walls (C2).
Main Methods:
- Forty-eight nulliparous rabbit does were housed in three different systems (C, C1, C2) for approximately one year.
- Reproductive traits (fertility, kindling rate, kit survival) and behavioral observations (aggression, stereotypic behaviors, skin injuries) were recorded.
- Combi-cages (C2) involved temporary grouping around parturition.
Main Results:
- Individually housed does (C) exhibited the most stereotypic behaviors.
- Continuously grouped does (C1) showed the highest incidence of aggression post-grouping.
- Combi-cages (C2) resulted in intermediate welfare and reproductive outcomes, with higher fertility and kit survival than C1, but lower than C.
Conclusions:
- Conventional individual housing negatively impacts rabbit welfare due to stereotypic behaviors.
- Continuous group housing (C1) increases aggression, compromising welfare and productivity.
- Combi-cages (C2) offer a potential compromise, improving welfare and productivity over continuous group housing, though individual housing remains superior for performance.
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