The success of rabbit farming depends on housing and feed management techniques that support animal comfort and production efficiency in addition to nutrition. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the behavioural responses of rabbits housed in wooden and metallic hutch types with floor-based and suspended feeder placements in rabbit husbandry in Benin City, Nigeria. Four treatment groups were established: wooden hutch with earthen feeder at floor level (WHEF, control), wooden hutch with suspended aluminum feeder (WHSF), metallic hutch with aluminum feeder at floor level (MHFF), and metallic hutch with suspended aluminum feeder (MHSF). Behavioural metrics such as ease of entering feeders (EOREF), scratching and removal of feeder, injury incidence, ease of feeding (EOFD), leftover feed (LOF), urination and defecation in feeders, and rodent presence were monitored. Results revealed that rabbits housed in metallic hutches with suspended aluminum feeders (MHSF) demonstrated the most favourable behavioural profile, characterized by minimal contamination, low injury risk, efficient feeding, and absence of rodent activity. In contrast, the control group (WHEF) demonstrated high frequencies of undesirable behaviours, including feeder contamination, injuries, and feed wastage. The WHSF group showed moderate improvement, while MHFF showed notable improvements over the control. These findings highlight the importance of both hutch material and feeder placement in enhancing rabbit welfare and productivity. The metallic hutch with suspended feeder is recommended for rabbit farming operations, offering advantages in hygiene, feed conservation, and animal comfort.
Agbonghae et al. (Tue,) studied this question.
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