Effect of housing of growing rabbits in cage or in pen on productive and carcass traits.

The aim of the experiment was to examine the effect of housing condition on productive performance and carcass traits, to get information about the difference between cage and pen housed growing rabbits. Pannon Ka does were inseminated with semen of Pannon Large and Hungarian Giant bucks. The crossbred rabbits (n=336) were weaned at 5 weeks of age. Half of them were housed in cages, the other half in pens (Cage: 3 rabbits/cage, Pen: 14 rabbits/pen, the stocking density was: 16 rabbits/m2 in each group). Two subgroups were formed based on the feeding method. Only the effect of housing (between 5 and 12 wk) was evaluated. The differences in body weight between Cage and Pen rabbits were significant from 7 weeks of age, in favour of Cage group. It increased from 96 g at 7 weeks to 141 g at 12 weeks. The differences in weight gain were significant between 5-12 weeks (3.1 g/day), in favour of Cage rabbits. There were no significant differences in pellet intake, feed conversion ratio and mortality. The housing condition did not affect the dressing out percentage, but the ratio of ear lesions (0 and 34 %; P<0.001, in cage and pen, respectively). The ratios of fore and hind parts to reference carcass were higher in Pen rabbits, and that of mid part, perirenal and scapular fat were higher in Cage rabbits. In pens the rabbits could move more, thus their weight gain and body weight were lower, but the ratio of fore and hind parts were higher. It can be concluded that housing growing rabbits in pen (larger group) resulted lower body weight and longer fattening period to reach the same weight. Also, housing of rabbits in large group was against to welfare due to more ear lesions.