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OJVRTM
Online Journal of Veterinary
Research©
(Including Medical and Laboratory Research)
Established 1994
ISSN 1328-925X
Volume 30 (6):
354-361, 2026.
Effect of stocking
density on rabbits .
Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine, Kafr EL-Sheikh,University, Egypt.
ABSTRACT
Mousa-Balabel TM, Effect of stocking density on rabbits, Onl J Vet Res., 30 (6):
354-361, 2026. The effect of cage versus pens and six stocking
densities on behavior and performance was evaluated in 76 New Zealand White doe
weaned rabbits. In one test, 10 does were reared in a straw bedded pen and 10
in a cage using the same floor space (2 m2 for all animals/group). In
another test six groups of 6 does each were stocked 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 16 rabbits/m2, respectively, in cages. Rabbits
were fed diet of 16.5% crude protein, 2.5% crude fat and 14% fibers at 9am and
5pm and given water ad libitum. Rabbits were acclimatized 1 week before study. Body
weight, feed intake, feed conversion, behavior, maintenance, locomotion,
agonistic, comfortable and stereotypic behavior were
recorded daily. Results suggested growing
rabbits reared in cages of 10 or more stocking reduced growth rates and induced
mortality.
Keywords: behavior, housing system, stocking density, White New Zealand
rabbit.