The effect of four different feeding regimes on rabbit behaviour

JL Prebble, FM Langford, DJ Shaw, AL Meredith*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)
406 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Dietary composition and presentation impacts on the behaviour of animals, and failure to provide asuitable diet can lead to reduced welfare through the development of poor health, the inability to expressnormal behaviours and the development of abnormal behaviours. This study assessed the effects of twocommonly fed pet rabbit diets (extruded nuggets with hay (EH) and muesli with hay (MH)) alongside hayonly (HO) and muesli only (MO) on the behaviour of 32 Dutch rabbits observed over 17 months. Increased time spent feeding was observed in the groups fed ad libitum hay (HO, EH, MH) compared to the MO group (P < 0.05). A corresponding high level of inactivity was observed in the MO group compared torabbits receiving hay (P < 0.05). In the groups provided with hay a preference to consume hay in a natural grazing posture was observed. The higher activity levels and absence of abnormal behaviours when hay was fed support recommendations that forage should form a significant portion of the diet for domestic rabbits.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)86 - 92
Number of pages7
JournalApplied Animal Behaviour Science
Volume169
DOIs
Publication statusPrint publication - 2015

Bibliographical note

1029896

Keywords

  • Abnormal behaviour
  • Behaviour
  • Feeding
  • Hay
  • Rabbit

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