Rabbit Breeding and Welfare - Emphasis on Housing Conditions

Authors: Ana Carolina KK

Volume 2, Issue 1

Abstract

In order to understand the real need for more space or collective cages in the rabbit breeding is necessary to establish parameters to measure what is good or bad for the animals and not for the humans. In nature, rabbits spend most of their time in shelters or the search for feed. This behavior does not reproduce in captivity, because, the animals have restricted space. However, the questions are: Would the animals like more space even having feed always available? Would the animals even being protected would like to live in groups? In this sense, the most studies show that the group rearing in cages – for growing rabbits up 84 days – is the best choice to satisfy rabbit social behavior. In reproducing animals, alternative housing systems, that permit does to separate themselves from their litters, should be developed. So far the individual cages seem to be the most suitable for the does.

Keywords: Commercial conditions; Growing rabbits; Rabbit does

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