Debbie Gunn and David B. Morton
Department of Biomedical Science and Ethics, The Medical School,
University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, England
"Rabbits" is a chapter from: Smith, C.P. and V. Taylor (September 1995). Environmental Enrichment Information Resources for Laboratory Animals: 1965 - 1995: Birds, Cats, Dogs, Farm Animals, Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents. AWIC Resource Series No. 2. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD and Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW), Potters Bar, Herts, UK, pp. 127-143.
The following links access AWIC and other chapters in this publication:
[AWIC]
This short paper introduces the general housing and husbandry of laboratory rabbits. The behavior of wild rabbits is compared with that of their laboratory counterparts, and consideration is given to their behavioral needs from the welfare point of view as well as to the effects of husbandry on scientific research.
The wild rabbit is gregarious, living in family groups in natural colonies or warrens (Cowan 1987). Rabbits spend most of their time underground in burrows during the diurnal period and venture above ground at night when they are generally more active, feeding mainly at dawn and dusk (Mykytowycz 1958). Females dig burrows to prepare nests for the protection of their young which are born helpless and blind; they also serve as a haven in an emergency (Cowan and Bell 1986). In terms of their social activities, stable breeding groups are formed with linear hierarchies of both males and females (Mykytowycz 1958, Cowan 1987). Once stabilized, the order of dominance is generally sustained and fighting is rare (Mykytowycz and Rowley 1958, Lockley 1961); the social organization being controlled by scent marking and territorial patrols which involve chin-marking from cutaneous glands, urination, defecation, and behavioral displays. Male rabbits naturally distance themselves to avoid conflict (Mykytowycz 1958) while females will only fight to compete for burrows if they are in limited supply (Kunkele 1992). Social behaviors include allogrooming and group foraging activities. Rabbits adopt "look-out" positions for potential predators and foot-thumping serves as an alarm signal to alert the colony (McFarland 1987), from which the rabbits run at high speeds for cover, often leaping and jumping obstacles in the process.
Observations on domestic rabbits have shown that there are few differences in their behavior compared with their wild counterparts (Mykytowycz and Hesterman 1975, Bell 1984) so it remains likely that the potential for the full range of behavior of wild rabbits is still present genetically, despite some selection for physical, physiological and behavioral traits.
Whilst the quality and quantity of laboratory bred rabbits have improved over the past 40 years or so, their psychological well-being has largely been neglected. Advances have included genetic selection for clearly defined pure-bred strains, such as New Zealand Whites, Dutch and Lops, with traits for docility, reproductive performance and growth as well as a vastly improved health status. Other improvements include a standardized complete diet, and a protected and standardized environment of caging, ventilation, lighting, temperature and humidity (Clough 1982). However, such standardized cage designs have evolved mainly for the ease of husbandry and economic considerations, and it is apparent that some of these designs have had undesirable effects on the animals, particularly a reduction in space (Gunn and Morton 1994). Physical and social isolation offers no mental stimulation (Huls et al. 1991). Furthermore, the constant feeding of a highly refined pelleted diet is likely to be monotono us (BVAAWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW 1993). There is evidence that all of these have lead to both physiological (Lehmann 1984, Wieser 1984) and psychological problems. Caged rabbits also show behavioral abnormalities including stereotypies (Stauffacher 1992, BVA AWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW 1993) which may be signs of discomfort, mental suffering and distress (Lawrence and Rushen 1993, Gunn 1994) even though the animals are able to grow and reproduce. There is an ethical mandate to improve the animal's well-being (Broo m 1988, Wemelsfelder 1984). It is important to minimize suffering not only for welfare reasons, but also because such "suffering" may result in a range of physiological or psychological changes which could add unintentional variables to the experimental design and affect the accuracy and reliability of the scientific results (BVAAWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW 1993, Gunn 1994). This in turn may lead to more animals being used in research than is necessary.
For many years rabbits have been housed in purpose-built metal cages. Single caging isolates rabbits from physical and visual contact and prevents any social interaction, particularly in solid-walled cages (Gunn 1994, Huls et al. 1991). They also restrict movement (with minimal floor area (Gunn and Morton 1994, BVAAWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW 1993) and height) so that rabbits are unable to perform normal ambulation or rearing activities (Gunn and Morton 1994, BVAAWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW 1993). The barren environment provides no stimulation which leads to abnormal behavior patterns such as bar-biting and clawing of the cage (Stauffacher 1992, Gunn and Morton 1994). These stereotypic activities substitute for natural behaviors which are denied by standard laboratory conditions (Stauffacher 1992) and may indicate frustration, anxiety or boredom, and develop in stages involving a progressive narrowing of the behavioral repertoire (Gunn 1994). A lack of exteroceptive stimulation, restricted movement and social inhibition are reported to be initial causal factors (Dantzer 1986). Other indicators of boredom have been observed such as hunched posture (Gunn and Morton 1994), inertia (Metz 1984), and a staring coat and dull eyes which may also indicate poor health (Wallace et al. 1990). As the caged environment is not sufficient to permit an adequate level of physical activity, caged rabbits can develop osteoporosis (Lehmann 1984) and back-bone distortions (Wieser 1984), and a high percentage of intestinal disorders (Jackson 1991) may be a result of "caging stress".
It is no longer considered acceptable to only provide for animals' physiological needs or to provide conditions which maximize productivity (Dawkins 1980). The care of captive animals should also include consideration of their behavioral needs. Some behaviors which are essential to the animal's well-being are not provided for in the laboratory, such as allogrooming, digging for the purpose of nest-building (Podberscek et al. 1991), and foraging (Stauffacher 1992). The inability to perform certain behaviors is thought to lead to intention movements, or inappropriate or abnormal behaviors (Dantzer 1986, Lawrence and Rushen 1993). Subjective states, such as boredom and frustration, can be evaluated through the use of careful experimental design. Other abnormal activities include under- or over- grooming and eating, leading to a staring coat, hair-balls (intestinal stasis - Jackson 1991), weight loss and obesity, respectively. These conditions are commonly observed in singly caged rabbits ( BVAAWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW 1993, Gunn 1994). Such behaviors are maladaptive and provide clear evidence of a need for some environmental improvement. These activities are often associated with apathy and a refusal to respond which are indicative of psycholo gical disorders and show a lack of adaptation rather than a coping strategy (Lawrence and Rushen 1993).
The natural social organization of this species should influence how we house rabbits in laboratories. Since wild rabbits live in groups containing at least one other rabbit of the same sex (Cowan 1987), it seems sensible to suggest that they should at least be housed in pairs, with the exception of mature males (unless they have been castrated - Gunn 1994). Whether grouping rabbits in pairs in cages, in floor pens, or in breeding groups, they should have opportunities for "exercise" and social interaction (BVAAWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW 1993, Batchelor 1991), allowing them more control over their immediate environment. As they are social animals they mix well at an early age, although there may be problems with removal or replacement of adults in an est ablished group (Hammond and Love 1989, Love and Hammond 1991). Males can also be group-housed until they reach sexual maturity, but may then have to be castrated to be housed successfully in stable groups for lengthy periods. If rabbits must be caged in dividually for experimental reasons, enriching the cage environment has been shown to be beneficial. The cages should be, as a minimum, large enough to enable the rabbits to sit upright and lie out at full stretch (Gunn 1994), have visual contact with ot her rabbits, an area to withdraw to, a shelf for resting on (Stauffacher 1992) as well as an improved visual field. The provision of roughage such as hay (Gunn 1994), and straw, a varied diet and objects to gnaw on (Stauffacher 1992) or manipulate (e.g., wooden shapes - Huls et al. 1991) have been suggested to alleviate boredom and stereotypic activities (Brooks et al. 1993, Gunn 1994) and thus substantially improve welfare. Some of these enrichments apply equally to rabbits grouped in pens. It is recommended from an animal welfare point of view that whenever possible rabbits should be group-housed (Home Office 1989, Batchelor 1991) unless the experimental design prohibits it.
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Anderson, C.O., V.H. Denenberg, and M.X. Zarrow (1972). Effects of handling and social isolation upon the rabbit's behaviour. Behaviour 43(1):165-175.
NAL call number: 410 B393
Descriptors: gestation, sexual activity, group vs. solitary housing, handling, social isolation.
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NAL call number: QL737 L3206
Descriptors: water, cage design, slaughter, housing, welfare, code.
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rabbits, draft of December 1982. Farm Animal Welfare Council
of the United Kingdom, Tolworth, Surbiton KT6 7NF, UK; Block B,
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Batchelor, G.R. (August 1991). Group housing on floor pens and environmental enrichment in sandy lop rabbits. Animal Technology: Journal of the Institute of Animal Technicians 42(2):109-120.
NAL call number: QL55.I5
Descriptors: social groups, solitary housing, hierarchy, space, behavioral repertoire, environmental enrichment, group housing.
Beaver, B.V. (1989). Environmental enrichment for laboratory animals. ILAR News 31(2):5-11.
NAL call number: QL55.A1I43
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Brain, P.F. (1992). Understanding the behaviours of feral
species may facilitate design of optimal living conditions for common
laboratory rodents. Animal Technology: Journal of
the Institute of Animal Technology 43(2):99-105.
NAL call number: QL55 I5
Descriptors: welfare, housing, husbandry, rabbit, mouse, rat, gerbil, hamster, optimal living conditions.
Brenner, F.J. and D.P. Flemming (1979). Behavioral determination of dominance in captive male cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus). Proceedings of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science 53(2):139-142.
NAL call
number: 500 P383
Descriptors: social behavior, dominance, hierarchy, aggression.
Brooks, D.L., W. Huls, C. Leamon, J. Thomson, J. Parker, and S. Twomey (May 1993). Cage enrichment for female New Zealand White rabbits. Lab Animal 22(5):30-38.
NAL call number: QL55 A1L33
Descriptors: paired housing, single housing, enrichment objects, behavior, social contact, activity, PVC pipe.
Broom, D.M. (July 1988). The scientific assessment of animal welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 20(1):5-19.
NAL call number: QL750 A6
Descriptors: welfare, stimuli, preference-test, environment, indicators, behavior, physiology.
Cone, D.M. and A.L. Cone (1970). Cage activity in cottontail rabbits. Psychonomic Science 21(5):259-260.
Descriptors: photoperiod, illumination, behavior, resting periods, time of day, cage.
Dantzer, R. (June 1986). Behavioral, physiological and functional aspects of stereotyped behavior: A review and re-interpretation. Journal of Animal Science 62(6):1776-1786.
NAL call number: 49 J82
Descriptors: stereotypy, environment, behavioral repertoire, behavior, endogenous brain opioid peptides, catecholamine, neurotransmitter, dopamine, norepinephrine.
Denenberg, V.H., M.V. Wyly, J.K. Burns, and M.X. Zarrow (June 1973). Behavioral effects of handling rabbits in infancy. Physiology and Behavior 10(6):1001-1004.
NAL call number: QP1 P4
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Denenberg, V.H., D. DeSantis, S. Waite, and E.B. Thoman (April 1977). The effects of handling in infancy on behavioral states in the rabbit. Physiology and Behavior 18(4):553-557.
NAL call number: QP1 P4
Descriptors: resting behavior, daily activity, physiological effects, sleep, infancy, handling.
DeSantis, D., S. Waite, E.B. Thoman, and V.H. Denenberg (October 1977). Effects of isolation rearing upon behavioral state organization and growth in the rabbit. Behavioral Biology 21(2):273-285.
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Descriptors: feeding behavior, sleeping behavior, locomotor activity, social stimulation, isolation.
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NAL call number: 10 Ou8
Descriptors: productivity, behavior, diet, environment, confinement, population density, selective breeding.
Falk, S.A. (October 1973). Letter: Environmental noise. American Journal of Public Health 63(10):833-836.
NAL call number: 449.9 Am3J
Descriptors: rabbits, acoustic stimulus, stressors, sleep, behavior, environmental noise.
Farabollini, F. (1987). Behavioral and endocrine aspects of dominance and submission in male rabbits. Aggression and Behavior 13(5):247-258.
Descriptors: social behavior, testosterone, estradiol, androstenedione, corticotropin, dominance, submission.
Farabollini, F., M.E. Albonetti, and F. Dessi-Fulgheri (1991). Response to intruders in female rabbit colonies is related to sex of intruder and rank of residents. Behavioural Processes 24(2):111-122.
NAL call number: QL750 B4
Descriptors: housing, behavior, agonism, dominance, social behavior, intruder, rank.
Farabollini, F., G. Giordano, and G. Carli (December 1988). Tonic pain and social behavior in male rabbits. Behavior and Brain Research 31(2):169-175.
Descriptors: dominance, intermale activity, tonic pain, social behavior.
Finzi, A. and L. Gualterio (1990). Rabbit behaviour in communal nest boxes. [Nidi in comune nell'etologia cunicola.] Rivista di Coniglicoltura 27(3):29-31.
NAL call number: SF451 R5
Descriptors: colony cage, nesting, breeding, social interactions, productivity, paddock system, communal nest box.
Fox, M.W. (1971). Environmental influences on behavior of domesticated and laboratory animals. Advances in Veterinary Science and Comparative Medicine 15:47-65.
NAL call number: 41.8 Ad9
Descriptors: management, psychological needs, environmental enrichment, age, trauma, stress, exploratory activity.
Harkness, J.E. (1988). Rabbit behavior as related to environmental stress. Journal of Applied Rabbit Research 11(3):227-236.
NAL call number: QL737 L32J6
Descriptors: ambient temperature, photoperiod, spatial needs, stress, social behavior, acoustic environment.
Hart, L.A. (1994). Opportunities for environmental enrichment in the laboratory. Lab Animal 23(2):24-27.
NAL call number: QL55 A1L33
Descriptors: rats, rabbits, reptiles, zoo animals, farm animals, noise, housing, caging, burrows, nesting materials, social groups.
Heath, M. and E. Scott (1990). Housing rabbits the unconventional way. Animal Technology: Journal of the Institute of Animal Technology 41(1):13-26.
NAL call number: QL55 I5
Descriptors: social behavior, floorpen, cage, feeding, exercise, groups.
Horton, B.J., S.D. Turley, and C.E. West (December 1974). Diurnal variation in the feeding pattern of rabbits. Life Sciences 15(11):1895-1907.
NAL call number: QH301.L54
Descriptors: caging, genetics, behavior, illumination, physiological response, diurnal.
Hudson, R. and T. Vodermayer (February 1992). Spontaneous and odor-induced chin marking in domestic female rabbits. Animal Behaviour 43(pt.2):329-336.
NAL call number: 410 B77
Descriptors: bricks, oestrus, sexual display, chemosignals, chin marking, photoperiod.
Huls, W.L., D.L. Brooks, and D. Bean-Knudsen (December 1991). Response of adult New Zealand White rabbits to enrichment objects and paired housing. Laboratory Animal Science 41(6):609-612.
NAL call number: 410.9 P94
Descriptors: caging, females, pairs, chewing behaviors, preference, single housing, enrichment objects.
Jackson, G. (September 1991). Intestinal stasis and rupture in rabbits. The Veterinary Record: Journal of the British Veterinary Association 129(13):287-289.
NAL call number: 41.8 V641
Descriptors: intestinal stasis, intestinal rupture, handling, stress.
Jilge, B. (1991). The rabbit: A diurnal or a nocturnal animal? Journal of Experimental Animal Science 34(5-6):170-183.
NAL call number: QL1 J687
Descriptors: chronobiology, locomotor activity, food intake, water consumption, defecation, noise, feed restriction, diurnal, nocturnal.
Khabibulov, M.A. and V.P. Chikunova (1975). Effect on rabbits of different management systems (housing vs. outside cages). Veterinariya (No. 1):29-31.
Descriptors: husbandry, production, pens, manage, management systems, housing, cage.
Kraft, R. (1979). Comparative ethology of domestic and wild rabbits. Part 1: Behavior inventory of wild and domestic rabbits. Zeitschrift für Tierzuechtung und Zuechtungsbiologie 95(2):140-162.
Descriptors: domestication, defense, locomotion, social display, wild, ethology.
Kraft, R. (1979). Comparative ethology of domestic and wild rabbits. Part 2: Quantitative observation on social behavior. Zeitschrift für Tierzuechtung und Zuechtungsbiologie 95(3-4):165-179.
Descriptors: aggression, sexual behavior, affiliative behavior, chinning, ethology, domestic, wild.
Kraft, R. (1979). Comparative studies of behaviour in wild and
domestic rabbits. I. Behavioural inventory.
[Vergleichende verhaltensstudien an wild und hauskaninchen. I. Das
verhaltensinventar von wild und hauskaninchen.] Zeitschrift
für Tierzuchtung und Zuchtungsbiologie. 95(2):140-141.
NAL call number: SF105 A1F6
Descriptors: social activity, dominance, breeding, spatial behavior, wild.
Kryter, K.D. (March 1972). Non-auditory effects of environmental noise. American Journal of Public Health 62(3):389-398.
Descriptors: threshold, psychology, adaptation, infarction, environmental noise.
Lefevre, B. and B. Moret (1978). Effect of sudden environmental change on the onset of estrus in nulliparous rabbits. Annales de Biologie Animale Biochimie Biophysique 18(3):695-698.
NAL call number: 442.8 AN75
Descriptors: photoperiod, handling, exposure to male, individual cages, stress, environmental change, estrus, nulliparous.
Lehmann, M. (November 1991). Social behavior in young domestic rabbits under semi-natural conditions. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 32(2-3):269-292.
NAL call number: QL750.A6
Descriptors: feeding, locomotor activity, exploration, spatial behavior, social.
Lindemann, H. (1978). Behavioural habits as values for
studying the well-being of domestic rabbits. [Verhaltensweisen als
parameter für das wohlbefinden von hauskaninchen.] In:
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M.C. Schlichting, eds., Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen in der
Landwirtschaft: German Federal Republic, pp. 84-92.
NAL call number: 18 K96 No. 233
Descriptors: housing, cages, floor pens, husbandry, social behavior.
Loeffler, K., B. Drescher, and G. Schulze (1991). Effects of different housing systems on the behaviour in Chinchilla-Bastard-Experimental and New Zealand White rabbits. Part I. [Einfluss unterschiedlicher haltungsverfahren auf das Verhalten v
on versuchs und fleischkaninchen. I. Mitteilung.] Tierärztliche Umschau 46(8):471-478.
NAL call number: 41.8 T445
Descriptors: wire-floor, cages, straw bedding, feeding, locomotion, nest building, circadian activity, housing.
Love, J.A. (February1994). Group housing: Meeting the physical and social needs of the laboratory rabbit. Laboratory Animal Science 44(1):5-11.
NAL call number: 410.9 P94
Descriptors: group housing, single caging, group sizes, management, space allocation, diet, stress, stereotypy, behavior, activity, disease, economic guidelines.
Love, J.A. and K. Hammond (September 1991). Group-housing rabbits. Lab Animal 20(8):37-43.
NAL call number: QL55 A1L33
Descriptors: group housing, single caging, welfare, cage space, behavior, management, disease.
Luzi, F., E. Heinzl, and C. Crimella (1990). Effects of
transport on some measures of production in rabbits. [Influenza del
transporto su alcuni parametri produttivi nella specie cunicola.]
Rivista di Coniglicoltura 27(6):37-40.
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Descriptors: season, ambient temperature, plastic cages, stress, travel, transport.
Milligan, S.R., G.D. Sales, and K. Khirnykh (1993). Sound levels in rooms housing laboratory animals: An uncontrolled daily variable. Physiology and Behavior 53(6):1067-1076.
NAL call number: QP1 P4
Descriptors: noise, stress, rabbits, rodents, ultrasound, ferrets.
Morton, D. (1994). Enrichment techniques for rodents and
rabbits. In: Rodents and Rabbits: Current Research
Issues, S.M. Niemi, J.S. Venable, and H.N. Guttman, eds., Scientists
Center for Animal Welfare: Greenbelt, MD and WARDS: Washington, DC, pp.
20-27.
Descriptors: group housing, behavior, economics, noise, labor.
Morton, D.B., M. Jennings, G.R. Batchelor, D. Bell, L. Birke, K.
Davies, J.R. Eveleigh, D. Gunn, M. Heath, B. Howard, P. Koder, J.
Phillips, T. Poole, A.W. Sainsbury, G.D. Sales, D.J.A. Smith, M.
Stauffacher, and R.J. Turner (October 1993). Refinements in rabbit
husbandry: Second report of the BVAAWF/FRAME/ RSPCA/UFAW Joint working
group on refinement. Laboratory Animals
27(4):301-329.
NAL call number: QL55 A1L3
Descriptors: welfare, husbandry, housing, density, environmental enrichment, breeding, health, costs, cage, lighting, natural behavior, stereotyped behavior, temperature, humidity, ventilation, handling, bedding, food.
Muller, H.A. and H. Brummer (1981). Reproductive behaviour and
fertility of rabbits kept individually or in groups. [Untersuchungen uber
fortpflanzungsverhalten und fertilitat des hauskaninchens in einzel und in
gruppenhaltung.] Tierärztliche Umschau
36(11):763-767.
NAL call number: 41.8 T44S
Descriptors: breeds, housing, litter size, behavior, reproductive behavior, fertility.
Nayfield, K.C. and E.L. Beach (1981). Comparative responses of rabbits and rats to elevated noise. Laboratory Animal Science 31(4):386-390.
NAL call number: 410.9 P94
Descriptors: rabbits, rats, noise, behavior.
Olfert, E.D., B.M. Cross, and A.A. McWilliam, eds. (1993). VI.
Social and behavioural requirements of experimental animals: G. Rodents
and rabbits. In: Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental
Animals (2nd ed.) Canadian Council on Animal Care: Ottawa, Ontario.
1:70-88.
NAL call number: SF406 G85 1993
Descriptors: social behavior, enrichment devices, caging and bedding, environmental control.
Paatashvili, K.A., N. Ya. Kravchenko, and B.S. Babayants (1978). Battery system for laboratory rabbits. Veterinariya (No. 9):100-101.
Descriptors: cages, housing, husbandry.
Podberscek, A.L., J.K. Blackshaw, and A.W. Beattie (1991). The behavior of group penned and individually caged laboratory rabbits. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 28(4):353-364.
NAL call number: QL750 A6
Descriptors: genetics, maintenance behavior, locomotion, comfort, investigatory behavior, stereotypes.
Podberscek, A.L., J.K. Blackshaw, and A.W. Beattie (1991). The effects of repeated handling by familiar and unfamiliar people on rabbits in individual cages and group pens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 28(4):365-374.
NAL call number: QL750 A6
Descriptors: rabbit-human interaction, fear, habituation, housing, handling, familiarity.
Rabillard, J.L. (1985). The behavior of rabbits during breeding and experimentation. Stal Sciences et Techniques de l'Animal de Laboratoire 10(3):209-212.
Descriptors: Aggressive behavior, litters, stress, human interaction, breeding, experimentation.
Rothfritz, P., K. Loeffler, and B. Drescher (October 1992). The effects of different housing systems on the structure of cancellous bones of Chinchilla and New Zealand White rabbits. Tierärztliche Umschau 47(10):758.
NAL call number: 41.8 T445
Descriptors: movement, vertebrae, hypoplasia, cages, housing, cancellous bone.
Rothfritz, P., K. Loeffler, and B. Drescher (1992). Effect of
housing and exercise on the structure of spongy bone of the ribs, thoracic
vertebrae and lumbar vertebrae of laboratory and broiler rabbits. IV.
[Einfluss unterschiedlicher haltungsverfahren und bewegungsmoglichkeiten
auf die spongiosastruktur der rippen sowie brust und lendenwirbel von
versuchs und fleischkaninchen. 4. Mittelung.]
Tierärztliche Umschau 47(10):758-768.
NAL call number: 41.8 T445
Descriptors: cage size, hypoplasia, husbandry, welfare, housing, exercise, spongy bone.
Sandford, J.C. (1986). The Domestic Rabbit. Collins Professional and Technical: London, UK, 272 p.
NAL call number: SF453 S33 1986
Descriptors: housing, breeding, equipment, industry, genetics.
Scholtyssek, S. and K. Eissele (1986). Keeping rabbits at different housing densities. [Die haltung von kaninchen in unterschiedlicher besatzdichte.] Zuchtungskunde 58(2):142-147.
NAL call number: 49 Z8
Descriptors: housing, food consumption, crowding, weight gain, density.
Stauffacher, M. (1992). Group housing and enrichment cages for breeding, fattening, and laboratory rabbits. Animal Welfare 1:105-125.
NAL call number: HV4701.A557
Descriptors: legislation, welfare, breeding, single cages, paired housing, near-to-nature conditions, pup area, nesting area, commercial housing, social groups, spatial conditions.
Stauffacher, M. (1992). Rabbit breeding and animal welfare: New housing concepts for laboratory and fattening rabbits. DTW (Deutsche Tieraerztliche Wochenschrift) 99(1):9-15.
NAL call number: 41.8 D482
Descriptors: breeding groups, caging, legislation, behavior, welfare, housing, floor area, stereotypies, sexual behavior, breeding.
Stavy, M., A. Goldblatt, and J. Terkel (March 1985). Home odor preferences in young hares (Lepus capensis syriacus): Effects of age and role of maternal presence. Developmental Psychobiology 18(2):125-139.
NAL call number: QP351 D4
Descriptors: home cage odor, strange cage odor, preference testing, avoidance, age, social relationships, maternal presence.
Vastrade, F.M. (1987). Spacing behavior of free-ranging domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 18(2):185-196.
NAL call number: QL750 A6
Descriptors: social relationships, colony management, distance, husbandry, behavior, free-range, spacing behavior.
Whary, M., R. Peper, G. Borkowski, W. Lawrence, and F. Ferguson (March 1993). The effects of group housing on the research use of the laboratory rabbit. Laboratory Animals 27:330-341.
NAL call number: QL55 A1L3
Descriptors: exercise, social contact, group housing, single housing, environmental enrichment, behavior.
Wyly, M.V., V.H. Denenberg, D. DeSantis, J. K. Burns, and M.X. Zarrow (March 1975). Handling rabbits in infancy: In search of a critical period. Developmental Psychobiology 8(2):179-186.
NAL call number: QP351 D4
Descriptors: psychology, social activity, exploratory activity, open-field test, handling, infancy.
The following links access other chapters in Environmental Enrichment Information Resources for Laboratory Animals:
The Animal Welfare Information Center
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
National Agricultural Library
10301 Baltimore Ave.
Beltsville, MD 20705-2351
Phone: (301) 504-6212
FAX: (301) 504-7125
E-mail: awic@nal.usda.gov
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