The effects of feeding and housing on the behaviour of the laboratory rabbit.

ABSTRACT

The effects of housing, feeding time and diet composition on the behaviour of the laboratory rabbit were examined. The animals were caged individually in single or double metal cages with perforated metal floors, metal walls, and bars in the front, or kept as a group in floor pens. The light/dark cycle was 12/12 h with light from 0400 to 1600 h and 30 min twilight. One experiment compared feeding equal energy levels of a high energy diet (10.1 MJ/kg) and with a low energy diet (7.0 MJ/kg) at 0800 h. The second experiment compared feeding the high energy diet at 0800 h and at 1400 h. In both studies the behaviour of the rabbits was recorded between 0800 and 1400 h and between 1600 and 2200 h. Feeding the animals at 1400 h reduced abnormal behaviour during the dark period compared to feeding at 0800 h, whereas no difference in behaviour could be detected between feeding a high-energy and a low-energy diet at 0800 h. Animals in floor pens generally showed less abnormal behaviour than caged animals. The results indicate that the welfare for caged rabbits can be improved by feeding the animals in the afternoon rather than in the morning.