Effects of Genotype and Housing System on Rabbit Does' Aggressive Behaviors and Injuries in Smallholding Conditions
Ondřej Krunt1, Lukáš Zita1, Adam Kraus1
1Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Suchdol, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|April 28, 2023
Summary
Rabbit housing and genotype significantly impact aggression. Mecklenburg does on ground soil with burrowing options showed the least aggression, reducing injuries and kit mortality in group housing systems.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Ethology
- Animal Husbandry
Background:
- Aggression and injuries in group-housed rabbits can negatively impact welfare and productivity.
- Understanding the interplay between housing systems and genetic factors is crucial for optimizing rabbit farming.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of two housing systems (deep litter with concrete vs. ground soil allowing burrowing) and two rabbit genotypes (Mecklenburg vs. Hyplus) on aggressive behavior.
- To assess the impact of these factors on social contacts, injuries in does and kits, and kit mortality.
Main Methods:
- Twelve groups of six rabbit does (n=72) were allocated to four treatment combinations.
- Data on aggressive behavior, social interactions, injuries, and kit mortality were systematically recorded.
- Multivariate Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) were employed to analyze the effects of housing and genotype.
Main Results:
- A significant interaction between housing and genotype was observed for aggressive behavior in group-housed does (p=0.0003).
- Mecklenburg does housed on ground soil with burrowing potential exhibited the lowest incidence of aggression.
- This reduction in aggression correlated with fewer injuries in does and kits, and lower kit mortality (p<0.0001 for all).
Conclusions:
- The combination of rabbit genotype and housing system critically influences aggressive behavior, injuries, and mortality.
- Selecting appropriate housing, such as ground soil allowing burrowing, in conjunction with suitable genotypes (e.g., Mecklenburg), can significantly improve rabbit welfare and reduce losses in group-housing scenarios.
