Effect of Cage Floor Type on Behavior and Performance of Growing Rabbits

Abstract

Twenty four New-Zealand White rabbits of both genders (12 males and 12 females), 4 weeks old, with nearly equal body weight at the beginning of the experiment, were randomly allotted to three groups of 8 rabbit each (4 males and 4 females). Three groups were established according to the cage floor type. The first group was raised on wire mesh cage floor throughout the experiment. The second group was raised on plastic hollow mat and the third was on rubber hollow mat. Rabbits were weighed at the beginning of the experiment and at weekly intervals thereafter during the experimental period (7 weeks). Individual body weight and feed consumption throughout the experiment were recorded weekly. Body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, ear and eye lesions, total and differential Leukocytes count were also calculated. The results demonstrated that the cage floor type affected drinking and agonistic behavior but did not affect any other behaviors. Rabbits raised on wire mesh floor showed the highest proportion of agonistic behavior. The cage floor type had no influence on BW, feed consumption, BW gain and feed conversion ratio of growing rabbit during the last three weeks of experiment. The incidence of ear and eye lesions was higher in cages with wire mesh (25%) than cages with plastic and rubber mat floor (12.5%). Wire caged rabbits revealed significant increase in white blood cells and lymphocyte counts. It could be suggested that placing of plastic or rubber mat on wire mesh of rabbit' cages has an important effect on reducing the incidence of ear and eye lesions caused by aggressive behaviors and reducing the effect of stress on the total and differential Leukocytes count, as well as improving their welfare state.