Consequences of behaviour on productive performances of rabbits reared in pens

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the behaviour of rabbits fattened in an alternative pen housing system, and to study its effects on growing performances. Group housing, allowing social behaviour and higher animals’ interaction may influence their normal activity and could increase aggressiveness, depending on the age, weight and number of heads per group. To evaluate the relationship between behaviour and productivity, time spent in different activities was related to growth performances, particularly in the last period of fattening.

Keywords

• housing system, performances, behaviour, rabbits.