To investigate the effect of two housing systems on the behaviour of a slow growing local rabbit population, “Grigia Rustica”, 48 rabbits were divided into two groups: Indoor housed in colony cages (cm 65x40x32h, 4 animals/cage) and Outdoor in wire net floor colony cages (cm 100x150x76h, 8 animals/cage). One day before slaughter, rabbits underwent tonic immobility and open field tests. Tonic immobility was induced by placing the rabbit upside down in a V-shaped wooden cradle, with its head hanging over the edge and restrained for 50s with one hand placed on the sternum and the other hand covering the head; the test was repeated three times for a maximum time of 5 min to evaluate the response to external stimuli induced by a brief period of physical restraint. The open field apparatus consisted of a square enclosure (100x100 cm) with a concrete floor divided into nine squares by perpendicular lines. Latency time, digging, biting, standing, exploration, hitting, sitting were recorded as frequencies and analyzed by Wilcoxon test. The two housing systems did not show any statistical differences for tonic immobility (P≤0.23); nevertheless, a tendentially lower immobility induction was noted for Outdoor rabbits. In the open field test, the Outdoor rabbits showed higher frequencies of digging and lower thump (P≤0.05) in a closed corner; Outdoor rabbits also showed lower biting (P≤0.01) and sitting (P≤0.05) in the open field apparatus. In conclusion, the Outdoor rabbits showed less fear then Indoor rabbits.
Effect of Rearing System on Rabbit Behaviour
RUSSO, CLAUDIA;PREZIUSO, GIOVANNA
2008-01-01
Abstract
To investigate the effect of two housing systems on the behaviour of a slow growing local rabbit population, “Grigia Rustica”, 48 rabbits were divided into two groups: Indoor housed in colony cages (cm 65x40x32h, 4 animals/cage) and Outdoor in wire net floor colony cages (cm 100x150x76h, 8 animals/cage). One day before slaughter, rabbits underwent tonic immobility and open field tests. Tonic immobility was induced by placing the rabbit upside down in a V-shaped wooden cradle, with its head hanging over the edge and restrained for 50s with one hand placed on the sternum and the other hand covering the head; the test was repeated three times for a maximum time of 5 min to evaluate the response to external stimuli induced by a brief period of physical restraint. The open field apparatus consisted of a square enclosure (100x100 cm) with a concrete floor divided into nine squares by perpendicular lines. Latency time, digging, biting, standing, exploration, hitting, sitting were recorded as frequencies and analyzed by Wilcoxon test. The two housing systems did not show any statistical differences for tonic immobility (P≤0.23); nevertheless, a tendentially lower immobility induction was noted for Outdoor rabbits. In the open field test, the Outdoor rabbits showed higher frequencies of digging and lower thump (P≤0.05) in a closed corner; Outdoor rabbits also showed lower biting (P≤0.01) and sitting (P≤0.05) in the open field apparatus. In conclusion, the Outdoor rabbits showed less fear then Indoor rabbits.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
