Effects of husbandry and management systems on physiology and behaviour of farmed and laboratory rabbits Marina Verga ⁎ , Fabio Luzi, Corrado Carenzi Institute of Zootechnics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy Received 28 March 2007; revised 28 March 2007; accepted 29 March 2007 Available online 4 April 2007 Abstract The major issues regarding the welfare of both farmed and laboratory rabbits are reviewed, according to husbandry and management systems. The main stressors that can affect welfare and homeostatic responses in rabbits are also reviewed. An overview of the most widespread housing systems for both farmed and laboratory rabbits is presented. The main problems related to housing and management are identified, in particular those related to individual and group housing, space requirements and group size, as well as human–animal interaction. The effects of psychological and physical stressors on physiology and behaviour are illustrated through examples in various rearing conditions. Psychological stressors include social stress and fear, while physical stressors include environmental variables such as housing system and climatic factors, i.e. heat. Welfare indicators are identified that can be monitored to determine the effects of individual and environmental variables on the animals' possible coping strategies. Physiological indicators include the neuro-endocrine and psycho-neuro-immuno-endocrine measurements, while behavioural indicators include the behavioural repertoire and responses to behavioural tests. Some possible ways to enhance welfare are indicated, such as enrichment of the environment and improved handling procedures. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Keywords: Rabbit; Welfare; Physiology; Behaviour; Behavioural test; Coping strategy; Husbandry; Management; Handling; Environmental enrichment Introduction Domestic rabbits kept for meat production are generally reared in intensive husbandry systems in several European countries. However the term ‘intensive’ in farmed rabbits refers in particular to the reproduction system, which may be intensive, semi-intensive and extensive as far as the interval between parturition and re-mating is concerned. Re-mating may be carried out immediately after parturition (2 or 3 days), in early lactation (11 days) or after weaning of the kits (35 days postpartum). Farmed does are usually individually caged, although attempts at group housing have been made, mainly in small scale ‘alternative’ systems. Yet, group housing of pregnant females under full commercial circumstances is not possible because the intense competition may lead to fighting among the does trying to use the same nest box (Fig. 1)(Ruis and Coenen, 2004). Individual cages for the does have an external nest (Fig. 2) that the doe lines with collected material (straw nest) and hair from her own body (maternal nest) (Zarrow et al., 1961; Denenberg et al., 1969; Canali et al., 1991; Gonzalez-Mariscal et al., 1994; Hudson et al., 2000). In farming systems the photoperiod for does is 16 h light/8 h dark per day. The environmental temperature range should be 16–21 °C and the relative humidity around 60–70%. Food is usually provided ad libitum. Bucks (i.e. reproductive males) are usually individually caged and kept separate from females. The photoperiod for bucks is 10 h light/14 h dark per day; the environmental temperature range should be 12–16 °C and the relative humidity 60%. Bucks are usually fed a ratio of 130–150 g of integrated commercial feed per day (Luzi et al., 1996). Fattening rabbits (or fatteners) refer to animals between 35 and 85 days of age, which is usually the period from weaning to slaughter. Fatteners are kept in groups of different size, according to the cage dimensions. In Italy they are mainly Hormones and Behavior 52 (2007) 122 – 129 www.elsevier.com/locate/yhbeh ⁎ Corresponding author. Istituto di Zootecnica, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. Celoria, 10, I 20133 Milano, Italy. Fax: +39 02 50318030. E-mail address: marina.verga@unimi.it (M. Verga). 0018-506X/$ - see front matter © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2007.03.024