PROCEEDINGS OF THE 12 th WORLD RABBIT CONGRESS LOCATION PREFERENCE OF RABBIT DOES IN A PEN SYSTEM COMBINING GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL HOUSING

The aim of the experiment was to test the preference of rabbit does in a special pen system of combination of group and individual housing. The experiment was conducted at Kaposvár University with multiparous pregnant and lactating Pannon White rabbit does (n=48). The 1.83 x 2.00 m open top pen consisted of four individual cages (0.5 x 0.91 m) which were connected to the 1.83 x 1.00 m common area throughout a 0.25 m long and 0.20 m wide lockable corridor. The rabbit does were randomly divided into three groups (3 experimental units per group). The groups differed in the material of walls of the individual cages: pen with solid wall cages (Solid, n=16); pen with wire-mesh wall cages (Wire, n=16) and pen with two solid and two wire-mesh wall cages (Mix, MP, n=16). Four rabbit does were placed into one of the closed individual cages 3 days before the expected parturition for 21 days. Day 18 after kindling the entrances of the individual cages were opened, and a 21-day group-housing started. During this period, 4 does and their kits in each pen could use all individual cages and the common area freely. The kits were weaned at 35 days of age. The injuries on ears, and body of does were checked on days 2, 4, 8, 14 and 22 after grouping. The 24-h video recordings were made on days 1, 2, 3, 7 and 13 after opening the doors, and location of does was registered at every 15 min. On day 1, rabbit does preferred to stay alone than together (Solid: 62.3%; Wire: 64.3%; Mix: 82.8%). Later on, less rabbit does located alone (on day 13: Solid: 30.8%; Wire: 51.0%; Mix: 39.2%). On day 1 in all pens the majority of the does located in the individual cages (Solid: 77.3%; Wire: 76.8%; Mix: 83.9%), however later the percentage of does in the individual cages decreased until day 13. At almost every day less rabbit does preferred the individual cages in the Solid than in Wire or Mix group. The ratio of injured rabbits was higher than 50% in each system. Based on the results it can be concluded that the main problems of group housing of does (aggressiveness, injuries) have not been solved in this system. The aim was to