160 research outputs found
Effect of dietary supplementation of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) on productive performance and carcass traits of growing rabbits
No full textThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation and the length of the supplementation
(between the ages of 5-11 or 8-11 weeks) of the growing rabbits’ diet by Spirulina or/and Thyme on the growing
rabbits’ production. The experiment was conducted at the experimental rabbit farm of the Kaposvár University
using maternal line rabbits (n=294). At weaning the rabbits were randomly sorted to 7 groups (42 rabbits/group).
Rabbits of the control group (C) received a pellet throughout the experiment (5-11 weeks of age) without any
supplementation. In the other groups the pellet was completed by 5% Spirulina (S), or 3% Thyme (T) or by both
(ST) for the whole (5-11 wk; groups: S-S, T-T, ST-ST), or for end of the growing period (8-11 wk; groups: C-S,
C-T, C-ST). Supplementing the diet by Spirulina or/and Thyme had no effect on the rabbits’ weight gain, body
weight, feed consumption, morbidity and mortality. Significant differences were only found for feed conversion
ratio (8-11, 5-11 weeks) of the C-T and C-C groups to the advantage of the C-T rabbits (P<0.05). The carcass
traits of different groups did not differ significantly. Based on the results the feed supplements applied separately
or jointly had no substantial effect on the growing rabbits’ production and health status
Rabbit's preference for cages and pens with or without mirrors
No full textFive week-old Pannon White rabbits were housed in a closed climatized rabbitry and randomly
assigned to pens (56 rabbits) having a basic area of 1 m2 with a stocking density of 16 and 12
rabbits/m2 or to 18 individual cages (0.24 m2; 1 rabbit/cage; stocking density of 4 rabbits/m2). The
pens and the cages were divided into 2 parts and animals could move freely among the 2 parts through
swing doors. The vertical sides of one part of the pens and cages were completely covered with
mirrors while the other part was covered with white plastic panels. A 24 hour video recording was
performed twice a week using infrared cameras and the number of rabbits in each pen and cage was
counted with a frequency of 15 minutes (96 times a day). The duration of the trial was 6 weeks. The
lighting period was 16L/8D. Rabbits were fed ad libitum a standard diet and water was available ad
libitum from nipple drinkers. Throughout the entire rearing period 67% of the individually caged
rabbits showed a preference for the part of the cage enriched with mirrors (P<0.001). This preference
slightly decreased with increasing age. The strong preference toward the part of the cage provided
with mirror walls was independent of the time of day. That is, during the active period (11:00 pm –
05:00 am), which corresponds to the dark part of the day, rabbits still preferred the mirror-side even
though they were not able to see their own reflected image at that time. Neither rearing rabbits in
groups under different stocking densities (12 vs. 16 rabbits/m2) nor the presence of conspecifics
reduced the interest toward mirrors. 65% of animals living at the stocking density of 16 rabbits/m2 and
61% of those living at the density of 12 rabbits/m2 were found on the side with mirrors (P<0.001)
during all the recordings. Group-penned rabbits showed a decisive preference toward mirrors during
the active period (71 to 74% for stocking densities of 12 and 16 rabbits/m2, respectively; P<0.001).
The results suggest that the mirrors’ presence offers some advantages, perhaps related to comfort and
welfare that could be used as environmental enrichments for fattening rabbits. However, the
installation costs should be taken into account before considering their use for long time individually
caged animals and for group-penned rabbits
EFFECT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF CHESTUNT HYDROLISABLE TANNIN ON DIGESTIVE EFFICIENCY, GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND MEAT QUALITY IN GROWING RABBITS
No full textThe aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the dietary supplementation of chestnut hydrolysable tannin on the feed digestibility and nutritive value, mortality and growth performance, fatty acid profile and TBARS of cooked Longissimus dorsi (LD) meat. From the age of 18 days the rabbits were fed pellets supplemented with coccidiostat (CC) or with tannin (400 g/100 kg: T400). At weaning (35 d of age) within both groups 5 dietary sub-groups were formed: medicated-free (C0), containing coccidiostatic (CC), or supplemented with increasing levels of chestnut tannin (T200, T400 and T600). Rabbits fed the 5 diets ad libitum until slaughter at 11 weeks of age. The coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients was not affected by the tannin inclusion, substantially, with exception of CTTAD of hemicelluloses, that was lower in T400 and T600 compared to C0 and T200 (P<0.001), the CTTAD of Ca, lower in T400 vs C0 and CC (P<0.05) and CTTAD of DP-to-DE ratio, lowest in CC and T600 (P<0.001). Dietary tannin significantly modified the CTTAD of FA classes. At weaning, the live weight of CC rabbits was significantly higher than that of the T400 rabbits (974 vs 940 g, P<0.05). The other variables related to growth performance, health status and carcass traits were not affected by the tannin supplementation. The T400 diet fed before weaning seemed to be more effective than the 3 tannin levels administered during fattening period on FA profile change in the LD muscle. T400 diet fed before weaning increased SFA and MUFA (P<0.01) and decreased PUFA (P<0.05), decreasing the n-6/n-3 ratio (P<0.01), however. When tannin-supplemented diets were fed during fattening, only T600 diet showed significantly higher (P<0.05) SFA and MUFA contents compared to CC diet. In conclusion, the dietary inclusion of chestnut hydrolysable tannin doesn’t provides improvements in health status, diet nutritive value, growth performance and carcass traits. Dietary hydrolysable tannin supplementation may play a role on lipid metabolism
Novendéknyulak vàlasztàsa tukros és tukor nélkuli ketrecek kozott.
No full textFive week-old Pannon White rabbits were housed in a closed climatized rabbitry and randomly assigned
to pens (56 rabbits) having a basic area of 1 m2 with a stocking density of 16 and 12 rabbits/m2 or to 18
individual cages (0.24 m2; 1 rabbit/cage; stocking density of 4 rabbits/m2). The pens and the cages were divided
into 2 parts and animals could move freely among the 2 parts through swing doors. The vertical sides of one part
of the pens and cages were completely covered with mirrors while the other part was covered with white plastic
panels. A 24 hour video recording was performed twice a week using infrared cameras and the number of rabbits
in each pen and cage was counted with a frequency of 15 minutes (96 times a day). The duration of the trial was
6 weeks. The lighting period was 16L/8D. Rabbits were fed ad libitum a standard diet and water was available
ad libitum from nipple drinkers. Throughout the entire rearing period 67% of the individually caged rabbits
showed a preference for the part of the cage enriched with mirrors (P<0.001). This preference slightly decreased
with increasing age. The strong preference toward the part of the cage provided with mirror walls was
independent of the time of day. That is, during the active period (11:00 pm – 05:00 am), which corresponds to
the dark part of the day, rabbits still preferred the mirror-side even though they were not able to see their own
reflected image at that time. Neither rearing rabbits in groups under different stocking densities (12 vs 16
rabbits/m2) nor the presence of conspecifics reduced the interest toward mirrors. 65% of animals living at the
stocking density of 16 rabbits/m2 and 61% of those living at the density of 12 rabbits/m2 were found on the side
with mirrors (P<0.001) during all the recordings. Group-penned rabbits showed a decisive preference toward
mirrors during the active period (71 to 74% for stocking densities of 12 and 16 rabbits/m2, respectively;
P<0.001). The results suggest that the mirrors’ presence offers some advantages, perhaps related to comfort and
welfare that could be used as environmental enrichments for fattening rabbits. However, the installation costs
should be taken into account before considering their use for long time individually caged animals and for grouppenned
rabbits
Effect of housing conditions on production, carcass and meat quality traits of growing rabbits
No full textProduction, carcass traits and meat quality of rabbits housed in cages or in different pens were compared.
Rabbits (n = 579) were sorted into 5 groups: C = cage (2 rabbits/cage); pen without platform: P11 = 9
rabbits/pen; P16 = 14 rabbits/pen; pen with platform: PW = wire net platform, 14 rabbits/pen; PD = platform
with straw-litter, 14 rabbits/pen. Feed intake and average daily gain between 5 and 11 weeks, and body
weight at 11 weeks were significantly higher in C rabbits than that of the mean of pen-housed groups,
while the PD group had the lowest growth performance. C rabbits had the smallest hind part to reference
carcass (P b 0.001) and the largest percentage of perirenal and scapular fat (P b 0.001). The meat/bone
ratio was the largest in group C (P b 0.05). Differences were recorded in a* value and lipid content of m.
Longissimus dorsi. Rabbits housed in cages generally had the best performance whereas those housed in
pens with platform exhibited the worst
Experimental results in the field of housing, behaviour and welfare of rabbits at Kaposvàr University between 2008 and 2012
No full textWe summarize the results of the experiment carried out at the Kaposvár University during the last 5 years..
Exp. 1. The objective of this study was to analyse the effects of the sex-composition of group on the production
and behaviour of growing rabbits. The rabbits placed to the same pen were full sibs (FS), only females (F), only
males (M), or mixed sexes (M). The sex-composition of the groups had no effect on the production. No
differences were found on behavioural patterns. Lesions on the body caused by the aggressive animals were
initially observed at the age of 7 weeks. It was more frequent for the F group at the ages of 7 and 9 weeks, but on
the contrary, at the age of 11 weeks the occurrence of the lesions was 40.5% in the M group, which was higher
than that of the other groups (23.8-28.6%). Based on the results it could be concluded that housing the growing
rabbits segregated by sex, especially only males, was disadvantageous.
Exp. 2. The objective of this study was to test a pen prototype. The basic area of the pen was 4.4m2, the floor and
the platform were made of plastic mesh; 65 rabbits per pen were housed. The basic area of cage was 0.54m2, the
floor was wire mesh and the platform was made of plastic mesh; 8 littermate rabbits per cage were housed. The
rabbits housed in cages had higher body weight at the ages of 11 weeks (2540 vs. 2443 g) and average daily gain,
better feed conversion ratio, on the contrary they had lower mortality rate (5.2 vs. 31.5%) compared to rabbits
housed in pens. Among the pen-housed rabbits injuries originated to aggression were detected at the age of 9
weeks contrary to the cage-housed rabbits where injured rabbits were detected only at the end of the experiment.
The ratio of the mid part and the perirenal fat to the reference carcass were higher for the rabbits housed in cages,
while the ratio of the hind part to the reference carcass was significantly larger for the rabbits housed in pens.
Based on the results it can be concluded that housing the rabbits in larger groups (pen with plastic mesh floor) is
unfavourable from the aspects of production and animal welfare.
Exp. 3. Location preference of growing rabbits was evaluated depending on the different floor types (plastic
mesh, wire mesh and deep litter), at the temperature of 10°C. The rabbits showed the highest preference for
plastic mesh, at every age they spent more time there (70 and 52%, at the ages of 5.5 and 10.5 wk, respectively)
than the expected value (33.3%). The preference of the wire mesh floor was lower (between 20 and 33%). Deep
litter was the least frequently chosen floor type at all ages (8 and 14%, at the ages of 5.5 and 10.5 wk,
respectively). Comparing the productive and carcass traits of rabbits housed on the three different floors, only a
slight decline was observed in group of deep litter.
Exp. 4. The objective of this experiment was to analyze growing rabbits’ preference between different areas of
pen depending on the elevated platforms' floor-type. Two types of flooring of the elevated platforms were used:
wire mesh and deep litter floor. When the platform was deep litter, more rabbits used the area under the platform
(54 %) than stayed on the platform (12 %). When the platform was wire mesh more rabbits stayed on the
platform than under it, because of the rabbits on the platform may urinate on the rabbits underneath the platform.
However, when manure-trays were insert under the wire mesh platform, the rabbit preferred the most safety part
of the pen, most of them stayed under the platform. The results demonstrate that the wire-net platform with the
manure tray provides the optimal environment. At the same time a platform with deep litter could be a good
compromise between wire mesh and deep litter floor, because it could be considered positively by consumers.
Comparing the productive and carcass traits of growing rabbits housed in cage, pen without and with elevated
platform (wire mesh or deep litter), significant differences were found only between cage and pen with deep
litter platform, rabbits housed in cages generally had the best performance.
Exp. 5. The nursing behaviour of rabbit does in a routine (24h, 16L:8D) and in a proportionally shorter (18h,
12L:6D) lighting schedule was compared. In the 24h group, 78% of the nursing events took place during the
dark period and in the two hours after light switch on. This tendency could not be observed in the 18h group.
Only a small part of the nursing events was recorded during the dark period. Even if the rabbit does, who were born and grew up in 16L:8D (24h) lighting schedule, were housed in 12L:6D (18h) schedule their nursing events
were still based on 24 hours intervals and lighting schedule. Contrary to our hypothesis, applying a “reduced
day” (12L:6D = 18h) instead of the routine 16L:8D lighting schedule did not increase the number of nursing
events per 24 hours. Reproductive performance of the two groups was similar.
Exp. 6. The production of single-cged (S) and group-housed does (G) was compared. In group G, four does and
one buck were housed in each of four pens with 7.7 m2 with 4 nest boxes in each. In group S half of the does
were artifivally inseminated. The average of kindling rate was 77.6, 85.2 and 45.6%, resp. in groups of S-33, S-
42 and G (P<0.001). No significant differences were observed for litter size. The suckling mortality was 14.6
and 38.5% (P<0.001), and the survival of does was 76 and 50%, resp. in groups of S and G (P=0.084). The
corticosterone levels (measured in faecal) were 61, 54 and 175 nmol/g. The high mortality of kits was partly
connected with stress and aggressive behaviour of does: scratching, biting or killing the kits. Due to high stress,
increased mortality and morbidity, and low productivity, group-housing of rabbit does resulted in poorer animal
welfare and increased production costs, and therefore, is not recommended.
Exp. 7. In this study, the location preferences of rabbit does and their kits were analyzed in two types of pens
with elevated platforms (wire-mesh or plastic-mesh). On average the does spent by 25% more time on the
platform when they were placed to PP pens compared to the PW pens. After the kits left the nest boxes the does
chose the platform more frequently, then after day 21, when the kits started to visit the platform, the does’
platform preference decreased. Usage of the wire-mesh platform by kits was significantly lower than that of the
plastic platform. From the aspect of animal welfare cages/pens enriched with platforms can be considered
advantageous especially when the platform is made from plastic-mash
Effect of restricted feeding after weaning on the productive and carcass traits of growing rabbits
No full textThe aim of the experiment was to study the influence of feeding medicated or non-medicated diets
followed by a feed restriction after weaning on the productive and carcass traits of growing rabbits.
Half of the rabbits was fed non-medicated (NOMED: 10.65 DE/kg, CP: 16.9%, CF: 17.3%; n=106)
while the other half was fed medicated diet (MED: the same diet was supplemented with 500 mg/kg
Oxitetraciclyn and 50 mg/kg Tiamuline; n=108) between 4 and 9 weeks of age, then they consumed
non-medicated diet. Within both diet groups half of the rabbits was fed ad libitum (ADLIB) while the
other half restricted (RESTR). In the latter group rabbits were allowed to consume for 9, 10, 12 or 14
hours between 4-5, 6-7, 7-8 or 8-9 weeks of age, respectively, then they were fed ad libitum. The feed
intake was 26.7, 18.3 (P<0.001) and 5.3% (P=0.059) lower in the RESTR group at the ages of 4-5, 5-6
and 6-7 weeks, respectively. After 7 weeks of age no difference was found between groups. Body
weight gain of RESTR rabbits was 20.9 (P<0.001) and 8.5% (P=0.039) lower at the ages of 4-5 and 5-
6 weeks, respectively, while between 6 and 8 weeks of age it slightly increased. Body weight of
RESTR rabbits was 9.2% lower at 5 weeks of age compared to ADLIB group (871 vs. 959 g) but this
was partly compensated at the end of the experiment (2737 vs. 2799 g, P=0.056). Feed conversion of
RESTR group was better compared to ADLIB rabbits: 2.57 vs. 2.64 (P=0.01). No significant
difference was found in the mortality (1 vs. 3.6%). Dressing out percentage (59.4 vs. 58.6%, P<0.001)
and the proportions of hind part (19.2 vs. 18.8%), hind legs (18.3 vs. 18.0%) and that of the m.
Longissimus dorsi (7.1 vs. 6.8%) to the body weight were higher in ADLIB rabbits. No difference was
found in the proportion of perirenal fat. Production and mortality of MED and NOMED groups were
similar however, the feed intake and the body weight gain of MED rabbits decreased during the
transition from MED to NOMED diet at 9 weeks of age. Significantly higher dressing out percentage
(59.5 vs. 58.5%, P<0.001) and proportion of fore and hind parts of carcass as well as that of the hind
legs and m. Longissimus dorsi to the body weight were found in MED rabbits
Use of different areas of pen by growing rabbits depending on the elevated platforms’ floor-type
No full textThe addition of platforms to rabbit cages increases their accessible area and provides rabbits greater freedom and mobility. Different types of platforms enable rabbits to situate themselves where they are most comfortable. The objective of this experiment was to analyse preference of growing rabbits between different areas of the pen depending on the elevated platforms’ floor-type. Pens with a basic area of 0.84 m2 were equipped with platforms of 0.42 m2. Three types of flooring of the elevated platforms were used as treatments: deep-litter floor and an open wire-net floor (Experiment 1), and a deep-litter floor and a wire-net floor with a manure tray beneath it (Experiment 2). Growing rabbits (n = 168; 42 per treatment) between the ages of 5 and 11 weeks were studied, based on 24 h video recordings from infra-red cameras (one recording per week) applying scan sampling method with a frequency of 30 min. When the platform was deep-litter, significantly (P < 0.001) more rabbits used the area under the platform (53.7% and 54.3% in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively) than stayed on the platform (16.7% and 7.6%). In treatments of wire-net platform with and without tray beneath the platform also significantly (P < 0.001) more rabbits stayed under the platform (43.7% and 34.7%, respectively) than on the platform (19.5% and 29.9%, respectively). The differences from the expected 33.3% staying on the platform or under the platform were significant at least at the level of P < 0.05. The results show that the wire-net platform with the manure tray provides the optimal environment as it leads to the rabbits spreading themselves more evenly in the pen (i.e. the platform expands available floor area) without the risk of soiling from above, and without adverse effects on heat dissipation, and with the possibility of seeking cover when desired
The effect of the feed supplemented by different tannin levels on the production and carcass traits of growing rabbits
No full textThe objective of the experiment was to analyze the production and carcass traits of growing rabbits fed by
medicament free and by supplemented (with coccidiostaticum, or with 3 different tannin levels) pellet,
respectively. From the age of 18 days the rabbits were fed by medicament free pellet supplemented by
coccidiostaticum (Cc), or by tannin (400g/100kg: T400). At weaning (35 days of age) within both groups 5 subgroups
were formed: medicament free (CO), and supplemented pellet containing coccidiostaticum (Cc), or
different levels of tannin (Farmatan) (T200, T400 and T600). At weaning the body weight of the Cc rabbits was
significantly higher than that of the T400 rabbits (974 vs. 940g, P<0.05). Except for this finding the fed pellet
type did not influence the growing rabbits’ production (weight gain, body weight, feed consumption, feed
conversion ratio, mortality). The pellet type fed prior to weaning significantly affected the perirenal fat weight
(Cc = 28.9 and T400 = 26.3 g; P<0.05). The rabbits fed by tannin supplemented pellet after weaning had a higher
mid part ratio compared to the reference carcass (P = 0.1). As the mortality rate was low in all groups (CO, T200
and T600 = 5.9%, T400 = 1.4%, Cc = 0%, NS), it can be concluded that no positive effect can be expected when
the analyzed population is healthy and the housing conditions and the feed compositions are adequate
Effect of genotype, housing system and hay supplementation on performance and ear lesions of growing rabbits
No full textThere is growing demand by consumers for meat produced in alternative systems. Since its growing, it could be important to deal with this issue. The aim of the experiment was to examine the effects of genotype (terminal line or traditional giant breed), housing system (cage or pen) and feeding method (only pelleted diets or pelleted diets plus hay) on production and market share is quite small, but is ear lesions of growing rabbits. The crossbred rabbits (n=336) Pannon Large x Pannon Ka (Large) and Hungarian Giant x Pannon Ka (Hung) were weaned at 5 wk of age. Half were randomly housed in cages (3 rabbits/cage) and the other half in pens (14 rabbits/pen). Two other subgroups were formed, rabbits that received only pelleted commercial diets (Pellet) or pelleted commercial diets plus grass hay (P+Hay), ad libitum. Differences were found in body weight at 12 wk of age and in weight gain and pellet intake between 5 and 12 wk in favour of the Large rabbits (3170 vs 2935 g, P<0.001; 42.3 vs 39.5 g/d, P<0.001; 147 vs 132 g/d, P<0.01, respectively). There were no significant differences in feed conversion ratio or mortality. The caged rabbits achieved better results for body weight at 12 wk and daily weight gain than the rabbits housed in pens (3123 vs 2982 g, P<0.001; 42.5 vs 39.4 g/d, P<0.001): while differences in pellet intake, feed conversion ratio and mortality were not significant. The rabbits that consumed only pelleted diets had higher body weights at 12 wk and weight gains than group P+Hay (3093 vs 3017g, P<0.05; 41.6 vs 40.3 g/d, P<0.05, respectively). Ratios of ear lesions in the Large and Hung rabbits were not significantly different but were affected by housing system (0 and 34 %; P<0.001, in cage and pen, respectively) and feeding method (20.6 and 8.3 %; P<0.003, in the groups Pellet and P+Hay, respectively). It can be concluded that the alternative systems negatively influenced the production; the genotype had the greatest, while the feeding method had the lowest impact. Housing of rabbits in large groups was contrary to animal welfare (more ear lesions), although the hay supplementation reduced the aggressiveness
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