EFFECT OF DIFFERENT HOUSING ONPRODUCTIVE TRAITS AND ON SOMEBEHAVIOUR PATTERNS OF GROWINGRABBITS. PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Two-hundred-twenty-eight 5-week-old Pannon White rabbits were housed in cages (2 rabbits/ cage, 0.12 m2) or in pens (13 rabbits/pen, 0.83 m2) with the same stocking density. Half of the cages and pens had wire net floor while the other half had plastic net. In every second cage and pen wooden gnawing stick was fixed onto the wall. Every second week a 24-hour video recording was done. At 11 weeks of age ear lesions were checked. Body weight of rabbits in cages was significantly higher between 7 and 11 weeks of age. Floor type had no influence on weight gain and body weight. Rabbits in cages/ pens with gnawing stick were significantly heavier at 11 weeks of age. Mortality was independent of all treatments. Gnawing stick consumption was significantly higher in pens. Ear lesions were more frequent in rabbits housed in pens or on plastic net, however, significant difference was found only between rabbits with or without wooden stick, with higher ear lesions on rabbits reared without wooden stick.