Vergleichende Untersuchungen zur Tiergesundheit von Mastkaninchen in Bodenhaltung und einem Kombisystem unter Praxisbedingungen

Schoerwerth, Andrea; Rottler, Sarah; Lee, Hye-Won; Schmidt, Paul; Erhard, Michael H. und Bergmann, Shana (2019): Vergleichende Untersuchungen zur Tiergesundheit von Mastkaninchen in Bodenhaltung und einem Kombisystem unter Praxisbedingungen. In: Berliner und Munchener Tierarztliche Wochenschrift, Bd. 132, Nr. 11-12: S. 532-549

Abstract

Fattening rabbits in Germany were usually reared in litter-free cages without any enrichment until having been included to the Animal protection regulation for production animal husbandry (German designation: Tierschutz-Nutztier-haltungsverordnung, TierSchNutztV). The innovations introduced in 2014 within the TierSchNutztV as statutory minimum requirements do not always ensure sufficient animal welfare in food production. As an animal-friendly classified alternative to pure caging there already exists pen husbandry of rabbits. There are also other so-called dual purpose cage systems that are still new to Germany. In the present study one of these was compared to a pen husbandry system regarding animal health aspects on the same farm. Within the study a total of 972 animals - 52 animals (12.7 animals/m(2)) in the dual purpose system and 56 animals (12.1 animals/m(2)) in the pen husbandry each of three compartments - were clinically examined from age 37 to 77 days of life. The results of three fattening cycles per housing system were compared with each other: nasal discharge was observed significantly more frequently in pen husbandry (OR: 0.653;95CI [0.537;0.787]) and staining of the anogenital area was predominant in the dual purpose cage system. However no overall significant difference between both systems could be attributed to this effect (OR: 0.816 <1).The qualitative and quantitative proof of coccidia in rabbit feces confirmed the assumption of an increased parasitic load in the pen husbandry system. In summary, injuries were seen 45 % (significantly) more frequently in the dual purpose system compared to pen husbandry (OR: 1.452;95CI [1.149;1.814]). Pododermatitis did not occur in the examined groups within this age. Overall, apart from injuries, no significant differences were found between the husbandry systems regarding animal health. Pen husbandry is however at present the preferable alternative husbandry system, as the animals experience a higher level of animal welfare (e. g. due to higher space availability and the opportunity to express species-specific behavior) that cannot exclusively be defined by animal health.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Tiermedizin
• Themengebiete: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften > 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
• ISSN: 0005-9366
• Sprache: Deutsch