ISSN: 2639-216X
Authors: Mwamlima S and Tanganyika J*
A total number of 16 New Zealand White rabbits were used at Small Animal-unit Farm, Bunda College of the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Malawi) to assess effect of cage housing environment on their behavioural and physiological parameters (indoor versus outdoor cages) and how sex affects response. They were equally and randomly divided into two groups each of eight rabbits (4 males and 4 females). Same feed and water was given ad lib, and other management practices in their respective treatments without bias. Means± SE of vital signs differed non-significantly (P>0.05), outdoors had better values than in indoors in weight (1.49± 0.24 vs 1.38± 0.13) kg; respiratory rate (150± 11.0 vs 136± 5.47) breaths/min; and temperature (38.3± 0.0918 vs 38.0± 0.14)oC. Same trend with sex, female and male rabbits in outdoor had better values than indoors and both differed in their treatments. Outdoor rabbits had high prevalence of diarrhoea and mortality rate in health indicator while indoors had high prevalence of coughing or sneezing especially females. In tests of stress indicators, rabbits in outdoor had better scores than indoors in lower fear levels, pain levels, emotional reactivity and anxiety while indoors had only better scores in ease of handling. With sex, in outdoor; female rabbits scored better than males and indoor; male rabbits scored better than females. In conclusion, outdoor cage housing environment is good rearing system recommended for fattening, petting and breeding systems with better performance in welfare and productivity of rabbits especially females.
Keywords: Behavior; Cages; Physiology; Scores; Welfare
