Effect of environmental enrichment on productive performance and welfare aspects in fattening rabbits

Abstract

Fattening rabbits are conventionally housed in 2 animals per cages, according to the local tradition. Presently in Europe no EU Directive exists on cage dimensions for these animals, while in some Countries local Codes (i.e.Ministry of Agriculture, U.K., 1987) indicate the housing dimensions for fattening rabbits (rabbits between 5 and 12 weeks of age: 0.07m2 pro capite; rabbits above 12 weeks of age: 0.18m2 pro capite in individual cages and rabbit between 5 and 12 weeks of age: 0.09m2 in colony cages). The conventional housing system may negatively affect animals' welfare, both for breeding and for fattening rabbits (Verga, 2000). No abnormal behaviours have been shown in group-housed females (Gunn, 1994) while they have been found in males, because they may become more aggressive when reaching sexual maturity (Hackness and Wagner, 1989)...