Effects of different time schedules for regrouping on socio-positive behaviors in group-housed rabbit does

Abstract

Many studies have demonstrated that group housing of does often results in aggression and sometimes lesions due to biting. However, the positive interactions among reproducing does in group housing systems is less clear. The present descriptive study used video material of a part-time group housing system to examine socio-positive behaviour of does after postpartum separation of various lengths. The existing video records were collected from does which were kept in a part-time group housing system in a commercial farm. Each pen consisted of individual cages and two common areas. Three different time schedules/treatments for regrouping were applied in the study. Eight does were grouped on either day 12, 18 or 22 post-partum after insemination on day 8 post-partum. The does were individually marked using distinctive livestock spray markings. A previously developed of ethogram of sociopositive behaviors and photos were used to identfy the behavior. Individual behavior of does, its length and location were coded from 3.00 to 6.00 am and from 15.00 to 18.00 pm for every treatment. There were significant differences for the behaviour of locomotion, sharing the same feeder and lying in the common area among the groups (P<0.05). There were no significant effects of daytime and treatment on the total number of behaviors and on the locations where any behaviour observed in the groups. As a conclusion; it was determined that the group housed rabbit does exhibit meaningful socio-positive behaviours. Lying in the common areas, running or walking were the most expressed positive behaviour by does in every treatment.