Minimum requirements of welfare for housing of rabbits on large-scale farms – recommendations of the Hungarian Branch of WRSA

Abstract

The Hungarian Branch of WRSA formulated the minimum requirements of welfare for housing of rabbits in large-scale farms. These are as follows.

General recommendations

- The farmers are obliged to keep the animals in accordance with the scientific knowledge and experience and the genotype, age, physiological status and behavioural needs. Attention needs to be paid on: provision of adequate housing system to meet the environmental requirements of the animals; provision of sufficient space, feed and water for the animals; care them according to welfare requirement; with attention to the behavioural and social needs of the animals. Any person working with the animals has to receive instructions and guidance on the relevant provisions and complete appropriate training in particular focus on welfare aspects

- Animal accommodation should be designed and managed to meet species-specific needs, and can not be contrary to any of the five freedoms of the animals.

- The buildings have to be constructed and maintained so that the risk of fire is minimised. The materials used should be fire-resistant.

- Avoid causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury of the animals.

- Animals and any technological equipment used in rabbit farm should be inspected at least once a day, and any malfunctions should be eliminated immediately.

- The cages or pens of rabbits should be designed to meet the breed, age, sex, and physiological state.

- The cages or pens should be constructed of durable, impervious materials and designed and continuously maintained so that they do not cause injury of animals, and the animals are free from pain and injuries whilst taken in and out of the cage.

- The cages or pens have to be clearly arranged, and easy to control.

- Floors of cages must ensure that the droppings fall out of the cage, and the animals do not contact with manure.

- Feeding and watering systems have to be constructed, placed, operated and maintained to
meet the physiological needs of the animals; reduce feed waste, leakage or contamination of the water, each animal should have sufficient access opportunities, so avoiding competition among animals for feed or water; do not cause injury of the animals; the feed and water consumption can be controlled.

- Permanent access to a sufficient quantity of fresh water has to be provided. The feeders and drinking systems have to be checked daily.

- Before the introduction of a new stock of the rabbits, the house/cages should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

- All-in all-out management is recommended to improve rabbit health, where rabbits are produced in one batch on a 6 week (or similar) cycle allowing the rabbit building to be vacated for a short period for intensive cleaning and disinfection.

- Only skilled persons are permitted to work with direct contact to the rabbits. Care of the rabbits can only be carried out by a person who has adequate theoretical and practical knowledge of that breed, age group and the used management in order to be able to
detect the cause of behavioural changes in the animals and their health status.

- If it is suspected that the animal is not healthy or the behaviour appears to change adversely, the farmer has to eliminate the cause without delay, and if necessary, call a veterinarian. If necessary, the sick or injured animal has to be separated.

- The farmer has to register the number of rabbits, the animal losses, the treatments, disinfection, production and stock change (selling and buying) in the record keeper in a daily basis.

- Keeping rabbits in buildings with continuous high noise levels would be avoided. While rabbits can be scared by sudden noise, a continuous music can have a positive effect.

General rules for rabbit does, bucks, suckling and growing rabbits

- The air flow rate (maximum 0.4 m/sec), dust level, relative humidity (between 55 and 85%), the concentration of carbon dioxide (maximum 0.002 %Vol.) and ammonia (maximum 0.3%Vol.) should be at a level which is not harmful to rabbits.

- The air temperature should be between 10 °C and 28 °C. The minimum temperature for does at time of kindling is 15 °C.

- Rabbits are active from late afternoon till early morning; however, suitable lighting is necessary for them (minimum 30 and 10 lux for breeding does and growing rabbits, respectively), but protection against bright light should be provided for them. At least a daily continuous 8-hour dark period should be provided.

- Keeping rabbits in cages with solid walls without visual connection is prohibited, except bucks mainly at the time of mating and semen collection.

- Floors of cages and pens must be smooth but not slippery to prevent injuries of the rabbits and so designed, constructed and maintained as not to cause injuries or suffering of the animals.

- The dead rabbits must be removed immediately from the cage.

- Rabbits should have permanent access to a sufficient quantity of material, such as wood, straw, hay, or other material, which does not compromise the health of the animals, to enable proper investigation and manipulation activities and gnaw it. Gnawing sticks or other chewable materials are recommended for rabbit does, bucks and growing rabbits.

- Using a dual system in rabbit farms is recommended to decrease the stress at weaning. These systems are used for does with their kits, and after weaning the growing rabbits stay in the original cage and does are moved into a clean and disinfected cage before kindling.

- Environmental pollution of the rabbit farms have to be decreased.

The minimum requirements for housing of rabbit does

- Future breeding female rabbits have to be housed individually after the age of 12 weeks because of the high incidence of aggressiveness, fighting and injuring.

- At present, all cages are accepted which are produced by large cage factories in Europe, these cages can be found in several European rabbit farms, if its floor size is minimum 38x87 cm and its height is minimum 32 cm). The minimum requirement is that the floor area allows the does to turn around easily and lie in stretched position.

- When using a wire-mesh floor, it is necessary to provide at least a 25×40 cm sized plastic-mesh footrest for the does for preventing the sore hocks.

- Elevated platforms in cages or pens of rabbit does are recommended because they give larger possibility for moving than the flat-deck cages.

- Group-housing of rabbit does is not recommended, because of aggressiveness, fighting, injuries and stress.

- A nest box or nesting part in the cage has to be provided for rabbit does. The basic area size of the nest box for a medium-sized doe is at least 800 cm² with a shorter side of minimum 38 cm.

- The nest box or nest tray has to be given at least three days before the expected parturition to have enough time for does to prepare a good quality nest.

- For the nest-building suitable nesting material (e.g. wood shavings, hay, strax) in sufficient quality and quantity must be given.

- The possibility of closing the nest box should be provided by a door for using controlled nursing.

- The nest should be clearly arranged, and the kits in it have to be checked daily.

The minimum standards for housing of bucks

- Future breeding male rabbits have to be housed individually after the age of 10 weeks to avoid aggressiveness, fighting and castration.

- The minimum requirement is that the floor area allows the bucks to easily turn around and lie in stretched position. The minimum foor size is 50x64 cm, and 40 cm height.

- Plastic-mesh floor is recommended; however, when using a wire-mesh floor, it is necessary to provide at least a 25×40 cm sized plastic-mesh footrest for preventing the sore hocks.

The minimum standards for housing of growing rabbits

- The cages or pens for growing rabbits can be up to maximum three-storey for the proper checkability of the animals.

- No individual housing of growing rabbits is allowed, except aggressive or sick animals.

- The smallest group size is 2-3 rabbits per cage. In case of larger group, it is not recommended to house animals from more than one litter (8-10 rabbits) in a cage or pen, because in large groups the risk of infection, stress and aggressiveness is higher.

- The stocking density at the end of the fattening period should not exceed 16 rabbits/m² or 45 kg rabbit/m².

- The height of 30-35 cm for fattening cages/pens is acceptable because rabbits prefer covered places.

- Deep litter floor is not recommended because growing rabbits refuse staying on it, animals can consume from the litter material mixed with manure and urine, and the risk of diseases and mortality is higher.

- Wire-mesh and plastic-mesh floors are accepted.

- When growing rabbits kept in groups they are fed using a system which ensures that each individual can obtain sufficient food even when competitors for the food are present. A 10 cm wide feeder is enough for 10 growing rabbits. If the size of the group is larger, the size of the feeder should be increased proportionally.

- When growing rabbits are kept in groups such a drinking system should be used which ensures that each individual can obtain sufficient water even when competitors for the water are present. Ten growing rabbits should reach at least two nipple drinker. If the group size is larger, the number of drinkers should be increased.

We agree with the text of European Parliament resolution of 14 March 2017 on minimum standards for the protection of farm rabbits (2016/2077(INI)). It pointed out that „a balance must be kept between the various aspects to be taken into consideration, as regards animal welfare and health, the financial situation and working conditions of farmers, sustainability of production, environmental impact and consumer protection; points out also that account must be taken of consumer needs for affordable, high-quality rabbit meat.” Namely, changing housing system is high cost for the farmer, so necessary a financial assistance to farmers by Commission to support the rabbit farming sector in future EU budgets.