Evaluation of Two Different Flooring Designs for Rabbit Housing in Accordance with German Welfare Regulations: Soiling and Mortality

Sally L Rauterberg,Michaela Fels,Nicole Kemper,Sarah Kimm,Joana Bill

doi:10.3390/agriculture9120257

Sally L Rauterberg, Michaela Fels + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9120257

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate a new housing system for fattening rabbits with two different flooring designs (F1 and F2) in accordance with new legal requirements in Germany (11 mm slats and 11 mm gaps, elevated platform with 15% perforation), in comparison with an established system with wire mesh flooring (C). While F1 flooring was made of punched slatted plastic panels, F2 consisted of fixed single rods with a rounded surface. In six batches with F1 and C housing, and subsequently three batches with F2 housing, soiling of rabbits’ hind feet, pens, and cages as well as mortality rates were recorded. While pens and rabbits in F2 conditions were assessed as being cleaner than F1, neither reached the cleanliness of C rabbits and cages. Mortality was highest in F1 housing (18.1%) and comparable between F2 (10.3%) and C housing (11.7%). The present investigations showed different results in terms of soiling and mortality for different implementations of the German regulations. Nevertheless, both floors in accordance with these requirements revealed hygienic disadvantages compared to the established cages. Further research is necessary in order to keep rabbits under good hygienic conditions and in compliance with legal requirements.

Highlights

In Europe, commercially kept rabbits are usually housed in cages with wire mesh flooring [1]
Even if this floor type is preferred in fattening rabbits at higher temperatures [2], is easy to keep clean and dry, and is generally rated as the most hygienic option [3,4], it seems to have some disadvantages
This was shown in free choice tests, where wire mesh was less preferred compared to plastic floors, especially by younger rabbits [2,5,6]

Summary

Introduction

In Europe, commercially kept rabbits are usually housed in cages with wire mesh flooring [1] Even if this floor type is preferred in fattening rabbits at higher temperatures [2], is easy to keep clean and dry, and is generally rated as the most hygienic option [3,4], it seems to have some disadvantages. As solid and straw-littered floorings may bring some disadvantages due to hygienic challenges and may have additional negative effects on the performance of rabbits [5,11,12,13], their practical application is limited in commercial rabbit husbandry Alternatives such as perforated plastic flooring seem to be promising, and should be developed further and assessed in practice

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Results