A review of recent research outcomes on the housing of farmed domestic rabbits: reproducing does
The housing of farmed animals is increasingly scrutinised by society and thereby subject to a change towards more animal-friendly systems. For rabbits, also kept as pets, there are no EC regulations regarding their housing under farming conditions. In many countries, studies have been carried out to...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Universitat Politècnica de València
2019-03-01
|
| Series: | World Rabbit Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://polipapers.upv.es/index.php/wrs/article/view/10599 |
| _version_ | 1818146588022800384 |
|---|---|
| author | Zsolt Szendrő Angela Trocino Steffen Hoy Gerolamo Xiccato Arantxa Villagrá Luc Maertens |
| author_facet | Zsolt Szendrő Angela Trocino Steffen Hoy Gerolamo Xiccato Arantxa Villagrá Luc Maertens |
| author_sort | Zsolt Szendrő |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The housing of farmed animals is increasingly scrutinised by society and thereby subject to a change towards more animal-friendly systems. For rabbits, also kept as pets, there are no EC regulations regarding their housing under farming conditions. In many countries, studies have been carried out to improve their welfare and health under current and alternative housing systems. This paper reviews and integrates the research efforts made since the EFSA report in 2005 on reproducing rabbit does and provides some conclusions, where possible, with special emphasis on animal welfare according to the principles stated by the Welfare Quality® project, i.e. good housing, good health and appropriate behaviour. The use of an elevated platform provides greater opportunities for does and their kits to move, jumping up and down. Management and housing systems (especially flooring) must guarantee good hygienic conditions (all-in, all-out) and separation of the rabbits from their excreta for proper resting places, hygiene and health. Plastic floors and footrests and environmental enrichments (e.g. gnawing material) are also recommended. Continuous group housing systems for reproducing females have been definitively proven to challenge animal welfare by increased aggression and injuries among does and to kits. Part-time group housing systems have proven to have potential, but cannot yet be recommended in farms until major problems of aggression and injuries among animals are solved. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T12:21:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d3ec3e4f12164784bd10e69207915ed3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1257-5011 1989-8886 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T12:21:44Z |
| publishDate | 2019-03-01 |
| publisher | Universitat Politècnica de València |
| record_format | Article |
| series | World Rabbit Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-d3ec3e4f12164784bd10e69207915ed32022-12-22T01:07:30ZengUniversitat Politècnica de ValènciaWorld Rabbit Science1257-50111989-88862019-03-0127111410.4995/wrs.2019.105997368A review of recent research outcomes on the housing of farmed domestic rabbits: reproducing doesZsolt Szendrő0Angela Trocino1Steffen Hoy2Gerolamo Xiccato3Arantxa Villagrá4Luc Maertens5Kaposvár UniversityUniversity of PadovaJustus Liebig University GiessenUniversity of PadovaCentro de Tecnología Animal CITA-IVIAInstitute for Agricultural, Fisheries and Nutrition Research (ILVO)The housing of farmed animals is increasingly scrutinised by society and thereby subject to a change towards more animal-friendly systems. For rabbits, also kept as pets, there are no EC regulations regarding their housing under farming conditions. In many countries, studies have been carried out to improve their welfare and health under current and alternative housing systems. This paper reviews and integrates the research efforts made since the EFSA report in 2005 on reproducing rabbit does and provides some conclusions, where possible, with special emphasis on animal welfare according to the principles stated by the Welfare Quality® project, i.e. good housing, good health and appropriate behaviour. The use of an elevated platform provides greater opportunities for does and their kits to move, jumping up and down. Management and housing systems (especially flooring) must guarantee good hygienic conditions (all-in, all-out) and separation of the rabbits from their excreta for proper resting places, hygiene and health. Plastic floors and footrests and environmental enrichments (e.g. gnawing material) are also recommended. Continuous group housing systems for reproducing females have been definitively proven to challenge animal welfare by increased aggression and injuries among does and to kits. Part-time group housing systems have proven to have potential, but cannot yet be recommended in farms until major problems of aggression and injuries among animals are solved.https://polipapers.upv.es/index.php/wrs/article/view/10599rabbit doeshousing equipmentenrichmentwelfaregroup-housing |
| spellingShingle | Zsolt Szendrő Angela Trocino Steffen Hoy Gerolamo Xiccato Arantxa Villagrá Luc Maertens A review of recent research outcomes on the housing of farmed domestic rabbits: reproducing does World Rabbit Science rabbit does housing equipment enrichment welfare group-housing |
| title | A review of recent research outcomes on the housing of farmed domestic rabbits: reproducing does |
| title_full | A review of recent research outcomes on the housing of farmed domestic rabbits: reproducing does |
| title_fullStr | A review of recent research outcomes on the housing of farmed domestic rabbits: reproducing does |
| title_full_unstemmed | A review of recent research outcomes on the housing of farmed domestic rabbits: reproducing does |
| title_short | A review of recent research outcomes on the housing of farmed domestic rabbits: reproducing does |
| title_sort | review of recent research outcomes on the housing of farmed domestic rabbits reproducing does |
| topic | rabbit does housing equipment enrichment welfare group-housing |
| url | https://polipapers.upv.es/index.php/wrs/article/view/10599 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zsoltszendro areviewofrecentresearchoutcomesonthehousingoffarmeddomesticrabbitsreproducingdoes AT angelatrocino areviewofrecentresearchoutcomesonthehousingoffarmeddomesticrabbitsreproducingdoes AT steffenhoy areviewofrecentresearchoutcomesonthehousingoffarmeddomesticrabbitsreproducingdoes AT gerolamoxiccato areviewofrecentresearchoutcomesonthehousingoffarmeddomesticrabbitsreproducingdoes AT arantxavillagra areviewofrecentresearchoutcomesonthehousingoffarmeddomesticrabbitsreproducingdoes AT lucmaertens areviewofrecentresearchoutcomesonthehousingoffarmeddomesticrabbitsreproducingdoes AT zsoltszendro reviewofrecentresearchoutcomesonthehousingoffarmeddomesticrabbitsreproducingdoes AT angelatrocino reviewofrecentresearchoutcomesonthehousingoffarmeddomesticrabbitsreproducingdoes AT steffenhoy reviewofrecentresearchoutcomesonthehousingoffarmeddomesticrabbitsreproducingdoes AT gerolamoxiccato reviewofrecentresearchoutcomesonthehousingoffarmeddomesticrabbitsreproducingdoes AT arantxavillagra reviewofrecentresearchoutcomesonthehousingoffarmeddomesticrabbitsreproducingdoes AT lucmaertens reviewofrecentresearchoutcomesonthehousingoffarmeddomesticrabbitsreproducingdoes |