Assessing Ulcerative Pododermatitis of Breeding Rabbits

Rabbits in conventional farms are housed in wire net cages with mesh floors to separate them from droppings. In time, lacerations appear on the legs of adult rabbits causing ulcerative pododermatitis or sore hocks, a severe health and welfare problem. Pain causes behavioral changes; productivity is...

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Main Authors: Joan M. Rosell, L. Fernando de la Fuente
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2013-04-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/3/2/318
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author Joan M. Rosell
L. Fernando de la Fuente
author_facet Joan M. Rosell
L. Fernando de la Fuente
author_sort Joan M. Rosell
collection DOAJ
description Rabbits in conventional farms are housed in wire net cages with mesh floors to separate them from droppings. In time, lacerations appear on the legs of adult rabbits causing ulcerative pododermatitis or sore hocks, a severe health and welfare problem. Pain causes behavioral changes; productivity is reduced and the most seriously affected animals die or are culled. In this study we evaluated the attention producers have given to this problem and its prevention by installing footrests in cages. We made 2,331 visits to 664 commercial farms in Spain and Portugal between 2001 and 2012, and evaluated morbidity by examining 105,009 females and 10,722 males. The study highlights that the rate of farms with footrests increased from 27.8% in 2001 to 75.2% in 2012. Prevalence of sore hocks in does in 2001 was 11.4%, decreasing to 6.3% in 2012; prevention of ulcerative pododermatitis was associated (P < 0.001) with the presence of footrests. Overall, prevalence was 4.87 ± 0.26 on farms with footrests and 13.71 ± 0.32 without (P < 0.01).
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spelling doaj.art-7bd3d6283ba44cbc9d5b38cf7f6026382022-12-22T01:11:55ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152013-04-013231832610.3390/ani3020318Assessing Ulcerative Pododermatitis of Breeding RabbitsJoan M. RosellL. Fernando de la FuenteRabbits in conventional farms are housed in wire net cages with mesh floors to separate them from droppings. In time, lacerations appear on the legs of adult rabbits causing ulcerative pododermatitis or sore hocks, a severe health and welfare problem. Pain causes behavioral changes; productivity is reduced and the most seriously affected animals die or are culled. In this study we evaluated the attention producers have given to this problem and its prevention by installing footrests in cages. We made 2,331 visits to 664 commercial farms in Spain and Portugal between 2001 and 2012, and evaluated morbidity by examining 105,009 females and 10,722 males. The study highlights that the rate of farms with footrests increased from 27.8% in 2001 to 75.2% in 2012. Prevalence of sore hocks in does in 2001 was 11.4%, decreasing to 6.3% in 2012; prevention of ulcerative pododermatitis was associated (P < 0.001) with the presence of footrests. Overall, prevalence was 4.87 ± 0.26 on farms with footrests and 13.71 ± 0.32 without (P < 0.01).http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/3/2/318animal welfaredisease preventionfootrestrabbitsore hocksulcerative pododermatitis
spellingShingle Joan M. Rosell
L. Fernando de la Fuente
Assessing Ulcerative Pododermatitis of Breeding Rabbits
Animals
animal welfare
disease prevention
footrest
rabbit
sore hocks
ulcerative pododermatitis
title Assessing Ulcerative Pododermatitis of Breeding Rabbits
title_full Assessing Ulcerative Pododermatitis of Breeding Rabbits
title_fullStr Assessing Ulcerative Pododermatitis of Breeding Rabbits
title_full_unstemmed Assessing Ulcerative Pododermatitis of Breeding Rabbits
title_short Assessing Ulcerative Pododermatitis of Breeding Rabbits
title_sort assessing ulcerative pododermatitis of breeding rabbits
topic animal welfare
disease prevention
footrest
rabbit
sore hocks
ulcerative pododermatitis
url http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/3/2/318
work_keys_str_mv AT joanmrosell assessingulcerativepododermatitisofbreedingrabbits
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