Acknowledgements Book of abstracts - Publicaties - Vlaanderen.be
Acknowledgements Book of abstracts - Publicaties - Vlaanderen.be
Acknowledgements Book of abstracts - Publicaties - Vlaanderen.be
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Paul Koene presents Poster 64 during the poster sessions in the Aula.<br />
Session theme 6: Free topics<br />
136<br />
Poster 64<br />
PET RABBIT HOUSING AND WELFARE IN THE NETHERLANDS<br />
P. Koene, B. Beerda, F. Schepers<br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands<br />
There is no research investigating the <strong>be</strong>haviour and welfare <strong>of</strong> the one million pet rabbits in the<br />
Netherlands. The aim <strong>of</strong> this study was to initiate such research in relation to <strong>be</strong>haviour and welfare<br />
<strong>of</strong> pet rabbits in relation to housing conditions in Dutch households.<br />
In an internet-survey housing systems, general care given to and <strong>be</strong>haviour <strong>of</strong> pet rabbits was<br />
investigated. The answers <strong>of</strong> 919 respondents were analyzed. Observations <strong>of</strong> 90 rabbits were done<br />
at 90 people’s homes. The rabbits were observed during a contact test (contacts made by the rabbit<br />
with the observer’s hand) and a handling test (resistance against the observer lifting the rabbit).<br />
After these tests rabbits were observed for an hour in their home cage.<br />
The survey revealed that the average lifespan <strong>of</strong> the rabbits is three years (maximal lifespan is eight<br />
to twelve years). About half <strong>of</strong> the respondents housed their rabbit(s) solitary, while the majority<br />
housed them in a small cage.<br />
Solitary housed rabbits made more contacts (9.8 per hour) than rabbits housed together (2.1; M-W,<br />
p
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