Como la densidad y el tipo de suelo influyen en los rendimientos productivos y el bienestar de conejos de engorde en jaulas colectivas

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of increasing stocking density (14, 16, 18 and 20 rabbits/m2) and type of floor (wire net vs slatted floor) on productive performance, animal reactivity, carcass and meat quality of 380 rabbits weaned at 28 d of age (live weight: 640 ± 48 g) and put in collective cages by 9 or 10. Increasing stocking density at 18 and, specially, 20 animals/m2 significantly reduceddaily weight gain, feed intake and final live weight. The effect of stocking density on slaughter traits mainly depended on the differences in final live weight among groups, while carcass and meat quality was not affected. During the tonic immobility test, rabbits reared at the highest density required more attempts to induce tonic immobility and remained immobile for a longer time (P<0.01). During the open-field test, the same animals moved less (P=0.02) and run more (P<0.01). Keeping the rabbits on a slat floor increased daily weight gain (P=0.07), final live weight (P=0.07) and feed intake (P<0.01) in comparison with wire net floor, while did not modify slaughter trait and carcass and meat quality. The attempts to induce immobility were less (P<0.01) and biting during the test the open-field higher in rabbits kept on slat floor. In conclusion, increasing stocking density above 18 rabbits/m2 impaired productive performance, especially in the last two weeks of growing as a consequence of a reduced feed intake, and modified animal reactivity towards man or a new environment. The type of floor showed a weak effect on productive performance and reactivity, whereas a slatted floor was likely more comfortable for the heavier animals in the last weeks of fattening period.