Jp. Morisse et R. Maurice, WELFARE AND THE INTENSIVE PRODUCTION OF RABBITS, Revue scientifique et technique - Office international des epizooties, 13(1), 1994, pp. 143-152
Rabbit production in Europe is concentrated largely in the ''Latin'' c
ountries of Italy, France and Spain, in which animal protectionist att
itudes are considered moderate. However, in the case of rabbits, the i
ntensification of husbandry necessitates strict observance of physiolo
gical, behavioural and health requirements, in view of the very specia
l needs of the, species and the sensitivity of rabbits to environmenta
l conditions. Rabbits are described as anxious, timid and emotional, w
ith unusual arrangements for reproduction (induced ovulation) and dige
stion (caecotrophy). Therefore, these animals could not be reared inte
nsively until the completion of extensive research, which has been con
ducted over the past twenty years, into the environmental and nutritio
nal needs of rabbits, and the selection of lines having a calm tempera
ment and maternal aptitude. This research was required to meet the wel
fare needs of this species. These concepts are perfectly integrated in
to the current operation of intensive units, and should not be brought
into question on the basis of fragmentary observations by some resear
chers who would wish to see a return to rearing on litter. A discussio
n of rabbit welfare conducted in 1992 by specialists of the German bra
nch of the World Rabbit Science Association approved modern methods of
keeping rabbits on wire grids, provided that some changes were made t
o current procedures.