Productive, carcass traits and meat quality of growing rabbits in different housing systems

Under natural conditions European wild rabbits can balance between the benefits and costs to select the best decision. Farmed rabbits’ welfare depends mainly on the housing conditions created by people. When the group size is above 4-5 rabbits, maximum a litter together, the disadvantages (higher risk of contamination with diseases and mortality, higher rate of aggressiveness – injured rabbits) are more than the advantages (higher moving possibility, more social contacts). According to several results, the optimal stocking density is 16-18 rabbits/m2 (final animal load 40-45 kg/m2), depending on the final weight. Deep litter is unfavorable because of the high contamination with coccidiosis (higher mortality), lower productive and carcass traits and wire net is less preferred above 15°C. There are no difference in productive performance, carcass traits and frequency of behavioural patterns of rabbits housed on wire net or plastic net floor, but at younger age growing rabbits prefer staying on plastic net. Gnawing stick made of soft wood, fixed on the cage wall at similar height as the rabbits head are the most effective against to aggressiveness (body lesions).