Abstract
Simple SummaryCage housing of growing rabbits is associated with welfare concerns. An alternative system that has already been introduced involves pens with non-wire floors. An important aspect of group pens, for which the best solution has not yet been clearly demonstrated, is the choice of floor material. We investigated effects of two ground floor types—slatted plastic floor versus concrete floor with straw litter—on health-related parameters and weight of rabbits reared in large group pens on a commercial rabbit farm, i.e., with preventive coccidiostatic, and if required, additional therapeutic medical treatment. Pens were identical in dimensions, equipment (including platforms), and initial group size (60 animals/pen). Four pens were studied per ground floor type in three consecutive rearing periods, i.e., 12 pens/ground floor type. A higher percentage of rabbits per pen had clean fur if reared on straw. No significant differences were found in parasitic burden, mortality, pathological alterations, or causes of loss. Thus, often-expressed concerns that parasitic load and mortality would be higher in groups kept on straw were not confirmed when rabbits were housed under otherwise equal conditions. Average slaughter weight was higher in rabbits reared on a slatted plastic floor, confirming previous findings of a negative impact of straw litter on weight gain.Cage housing of growing rabbits is associated with welfare concerns. An alternative system that has already been introduced involves pens with non-wire floors. An important aspect of group pens, for which the best solution has not yet been clearly demonstrated, is the choice of floor material. The study investigated effects of two ground floor types—slatted plastic floor versus concrete floor with straw litter—on health-related parameters and weight of rabbits reared in large group pens on a commercial rabbit farm, i.e., with preventive coccidiostatic, and if required, additional therapeutic medical treatment. Pens were identical in dimensions, equipment (including platforms), and initial group size (60 animals/pen). Four pens were studied per ground floor type in three consecutive rearing periods (in total, 12 pens per floor type). A higher percentage of rabbits per pen had clean fur if reared on straw (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in the load of coccidial oocysts in collective faecal samples, mortality, pathological alterations, or causes of loss (p > 0.05). Thus, often-expressed concerns that parasitic load and mortality would be higher in groups kept on straw were not confirmed when rabbits were housed under otherwise equal conditions. Average slaughter weight was higher in rabbits reared on a slatted plastic floor (p < 0.05), confirming previous findings of a negative impact of straw litter on weight gain.
Highlights
To date, most rabbits reared for meat production in Europe are still housed in pairs or small groups of four to six animals in cages on wire net floors [1,2]
In spite of potential advantages of littered floors, a higher percentage of rabbits was counted on non-littered wire floors than on wire floors covered with straw litter in preference tests [10,11], but ambient temperature has an impact on floor preferences [8,12]
Regarding the soiling score for individual the idea was that the ground floor type might affect the degree of soiling of animals via animals, direct the idea was that the ground floor type might affect the degree of soiling of animals via direct contact with the floor, and indirectly via an impact on animal health
Summary
Most rabbits reared for meat production in Europe are still housed in pairs or small groups of four to six animals in cages on wire net floors [1,2]. There have been trends in some European countries of banning cage housing on wire-net floors, or at least of adopting minimum legal welfare requirements [2] (e.g., Austria, Germany, the Netherlands). Alternative systems that have already been introduced include pens with non-wire floors. These could benefit rabbit welfare because they avoid the presumed physical discomfort of wire floors and allow for more natural locomotor behaviour. Pens can have non-perforated or perforated floors (e.g., plastic slats or mesh) The latter help to separate animals from manure. In spite of potential advantages of littered floors, a higher percentage of rabbits was counted on non-littered wire floors than on wire floors covered with straw litter in preference tests [10,11], but ambient temperature has an impact on floor preferences [8,12]
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