Refinements in rabbit husbandry pdf

Show records i used this one on a rabbitrywide basis. Refining housing, husbandry and care for animals used in. Each doe produces 25 to 50 live rabbits a year, which will yield 125 to 250 pounds of meat. The welfare of pet rabbits is an area of growing interest in europe and the uk. The guidelines will be revised from time to time to take account of advances in the understanding of rabbit physiology and behaviour, technological advances, and changes in community attitudes and expectations about the welfare of animals. The rabbit is a test species commonly used in in vivo hazard identification tests to determine the developmental toxicity potential of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and many other chemicals. Behavioural effects of environmental enrichment for. Other breeds of rabbit may be used for these purposes. Guidelines for the housing of rabbits in scientific institutions. A good housing facility with adequate arrangement of ventilation is the most important factor in rabbit house. Technicians will log any enrichment provided to the rabbits in the enrichment log located in the rooms.

Members of rabbit husbandry working party d b morton chairman, m jennings secretary, g r batchelor, d bell, l birke, k davies, j r eveleigh, d gunn, m heath, b howard, p koder, j phillips. Then click save link as if you are using firefox, or save target as if you are using ie. The following topics are discussed in this publication. Rabbit calicivirus disease rcd has spread through many parts of australia, dramatically reducing european wild rabbit populations in some areas. Group on refinement report refinements in rabbit husbandry reference 1. Toys are very important to a rabbits feelings of well being. Covers individual and group housing, general husbandry, environmental enrichment, catching and handling, identification, breeding and health. In ordinary times many of the small rabbit raisers dont bother to save the skins, but they do have some value. Greg burkett, this client educational handout helps owners prepare for emergencies. They named their discovery ishepanham, meaning land or island of hyraxes. Caring and husbandry of pet rabbits pet rabbit care. Angora is a very ancient breed of small rabbit weighing around 3 kilograms. A sound rabbit diet consists of fresh hay, goodquality pellets, fresh vegetables, and water.

Today they are raised for meat, research, pets, show, and pelts. A theory exists though it is somewhat controversial. Feed each rabbit ad libutum teklad 8630 rabbit diet. In floor pens for group housing, the provision of visual barriers figure 2 is. Once the rabbit is wrapped in the blanket it is easy to examine her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

Two does and one buck should produce 180 pounds of meat per year. Suitable enrichment for rabbits includes at a minimum roughage, hay blocks, or chew sticks, as well as an area for withdrawal and lookout e. Breeding of laboratory research animals collection. Topics covered include the creation of a home hospital cage. Rabbit serves as a model organism in developmental biology, surgery, and in studies of many congenital, acquired cancer and others, and infectious. Access to society journal content varies across our titles.

Environmental enrichment for laboratory rodents and rabbits. The guidelines are not intended to be a complete manual on rabbit. With the release of rabbit calicivirus disease rcd, the number of harvested rabbits fell from about 2. Lu, clostridium difficile colitis in a rabbit following antibiotic therapy for pasteurellosis j am vet med assoc 179. We anticipate many cultures and communities globally and for the predictable future will either need or choose to use animals as food and.

In the past, the australian rabbit industry was based on harvesting wild rabbits. However, the wild rabbit remains a serious pest, and for this reason it is illegal to keep it as a pet or for commercial purposes. The aim of the report is to identify the needs of the domestic rabbit and to present information on ways in which current systems of housing can be improved. Basic requirements for good rodent housing and husbandry are given in the table below. The rabbit code is not intended to describe all production and management. Angora rabbits produce 8 to 10 inches, or 12 to 16 ounces, of wool per year. Purpose this standard operating procedure sop describes the basic procedures for routine care and husbandry of rabbits. Second report of the bvaawfframerspcaufaw joint working group on refinement. We anticipate many cultures and communities globally and for the predictable future will either need or choose to use animals as food andor raise them for their other byproducts. Does have been known to kindle give birth up to 23 kits at one time.

Raising rabbits for meat is a lucrative business, providing income for millions of people, but there are some essential things you need to do before you venture into the rabbit farming business. The current state of welfare, housing and husbandry of the. A critique of henry heffners arguments, colin allen, marc bekoff, and lori gruen. Biotelemetry can contribute towards reducing animal numbers and suffering in disciplines including physiology, pharmacology and behavioural research. I only kept one sheet for the whole rabbitry and noted several rabbits placements on it in each show. Good practice for housing and care by the rspca research. Phoenician sailors visiting its coast around the 12th century bc mistook the european rabbit for the familiar rock hyrax procavia capensis of their homeland. If you have access to a journal via a society or association membership, please browse to your society journal, select an article to view, and follow the instructions in this box. Anything beyond this is considered a treat and should be offered in limited quantities only. First aid is the initial treatment given to an injured or ill bird during an emergency.

It describes ways in which the current systems of housing rabbits can. A total of 60 new zealand white rabbits housed individually in cages were used. More indepth guidance on behaviour and husbandry refinements can be found in references 2 and 3 and a very accessible guide to behaviour in 4. This meeting reported on the latest and best rabbit technologies, as well as those which. Refinements in rabbit husbandry second report of the bvaframerspcaufaw joint working group on refinement. It recognises that the basic requirement for the welfare of rabbits is a husbandry system appropriate to their physiological and behavioural needs. They are found to be highly adaptive to kerala conditions. To download, rightclick either pdf or word under each icon. Further research warranted on behavior and husbandry. Good housing and husbandry for rabbit housing should take account of the following principles.

Husbandry standards for commercial rabbit production. Enrichment will be provided to the rabbits by the technicians at changeout and various times throughout the week. Pdf this resource was produced by members of the ufawrspca rabbit. Refinement is the attempt to enhance animal welfare by reducing to an. Electrical wiring, toxic paints, pressuretreated lumber and plastic are all potential problems. Types of rabbit production fanciers pets, breeding stock, and show animals laboratory furhair angora rex meat largest rabbit market. It is generally accepted that social species, including many commonly used laboratory mammals, should be housed in stable, compatible groups 7,15. However, to build a successful, sustainable commercial rabbit farming business, you require sufficient knowledge of how to efficiently raise the rabbits, good management skills, and a good rabbit farming business plan. One community feels that modeling ethical and humane animal stewardship is essential and for the highest good of all in todays world of diverse needs.

Housing in pens on the floor should always be considered before. Transfer rabbits to clean cages along with their individual cage card. This code of practice is intended as a guide for all persons responsible for the intensive husbandry of domestictype rabbits for commercial production. Here we provide general information on the housing and husbandry requirements of laboratory rabbits. The guidance on how to meet the needs of the rabbit has been drawn. Average gain of around 300400 gm has been suggested from mating to 30 days in large sized rabbit. Guidelines for the housing of rabbits in scientific. A complete cage change is performed biweekly rack, feeders, enrichment devices, water bottles. In europe and the united states large scale commercial rabbit farming has been practised for many years and standards of husbandry raised. Store feed on plastic pallets off the floor and 46 inches away from walls, in a verminproof storeroom. Jul 17, 2011 storeys guide to raising rabbits, 4th edition is one of the books i read the most, but if you dont want to purchase a book the usda has a page devoted to rabbit husbandry with many links to.

This varies with species, strain and sex, for example there is debate over the benefits of group housing hamsters and some strains of male mice. More detailed guidance can be found in the related resources and references provided. If the rabbit is kept loose in the house the house needs to be rabbitproofed. The cagepen must be provisioned with at least 1 type of refinement on a continual basis. This article will outline how to start a commercial rabbit farming business, and the rabbit farming business plan pdf, word and excel. The present report, entitled refinements in rabbit husbandry, is the second of the series. Monitor rabbits to ensure the refinements are not causing health problems. Annual wool yield recorded is between 300g in 3 to 4 clippings. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Store open feed bags in leakproof containers with tightly fitting lids. An abundance of ancient rabbits may have played a part in the naming of spain.

For breeding does, nesting material and a nest box or other refuge should be provided. The towel burrito is also an excellent way to examine a rabbit and perform any husbandry procedures the rabbit may require. Basic rabbit care handout and infographic lafebervet. Reprinted from laboratory animals 1993 vol 27, pages 3029available from british library document supply centredsc.

Maintain temperature and humidity controls in the storeroom. Commercial rabbit production rabbits have been produced for 3,000 years. Husbandry standards for commercial rabbit production by corinne fayo, mark a grobner phd and linda welch 2005 rabbit classification. Good house denotes proper cages or hutches and arrangement for feeding, watering, cleaning. Each pen can hold 15 rabbits weighing less than 4 kg or 11 rabbits weighing 45 kg. This study analyses questionnaire results from a diverse population of 1254 rabbit owners from three different geographical areas in england with the aim of providing an accurate representation of how pet rabbits are currently housed and cared for and key aspects of their health and welfare.

The goal of first aid is to stabilize the bird until veterinary medical care can be provided. Typical parttime enterprises consist of 50 to 100 rabbits. To examine the rest of her body, the towel can be lifted up or unwrapped in the area that is being examined. The guide to raising and breeding rabbits for meat. Publication of the handbook, delayed for many months, coincided with the sixth world rabbit congress held in toulouse from 8 to 12 july 1996. Rabbit production manual government of nova scotia. More detailed guidance can be found in the resources and references provided.

Rabbit farming business is a very profitable business, and many people are making money all over the world by raising rabbits for meat. Rabbits usually have four to five litters per year. Husbandry of laboratory research animals laboratory. Variables, refinement and environmental enrichment for rodents. If there are no ongoing health issues, a rabbit should visit the veterinarian each year for an annual exam, just as is typically done for a cat or dog. However, the technique can also cause harm to animals, making biotelemetry a refinement that needs refining. Meat rabbits how to handle a predator attack in the rabbitry aggressive rabbits dealing with aggressive rabbits sky has lately been an aggressive rabbit when we. Basic requirements mice rats guinea pigs gerbils hamsters related resources references basic requirements basic requirements for good rodent. Enrichment devices are to be exchanged, so that each rabbit is given a different device from the week previous. Rabbit husbandry a discussion about rabbit husbandry and dropdown nest boxes what others are saying when we build our rabbit nest boxes, lets make them out of wire instead of wood, line with cardboard and bedding, and have a trap door to release into waste bins below when the boxes are no longer needed. The guide to raising and breeding rabbits for meat mother. The crosses between the above mentioned breeds and local types have been produced. This report describes ways in which the current systems of housing rabbits can be improved by group housing or by enriching the environment of individual cages.

Publication of the handbook, delayed for many months, coincided with the sixth world rabbit congress held in toulouse from 8 to 12 july. Indeed, the animal welfare literature itself does not distinguish stress from distress in any systematic fashion, and the term distress rarely appears in the biomedical sciences literature. It recognises that the basic requirement for the welfare of rabbits is a husbandry system appropriate to their physiological and. Code of practice for the intensive husbandry of rabbits. House is important to keep the broiler rabbit in one roof and to prevent them from running away. Here we provide general information on the housing and husbandry requirements of commonly used laboratory rodents, including mice, rats, guinea pigs, gerbils and hamsters.

Group housing in pens daily rabbits are housed in 7. Free rabbitry record sheets to download and print rabbit. Rabbit husbandry and care laboratory animal resources. A fulltime enterprise should have at least 600 females does and 60 males bucks. Rabbit husbandry is very important so we wanted to share sarabis babies with our viewers a. Refinements in rabbit husbandry second report of the. Responsibility animal care staff, facility supervisors, facilities manager. S532 24 skara, sweden accepted 19 july 1996 abstract the behavioural effects of providing male laboratory rabbits with one of four objects in their cage as environmental enrichment were investigated. Introduction the importance of the domestic rabbit as a supplier of meat for human consumption is widely recognised throughout the world. The various views and language used in the discussion of stress and distress lead to confusion in the scientific, regulatory, and animal welfare communities.