Assessing the Preference of Rabbit Does to Social Contact or Seclusion: Results of Different Investigations
Abstract
:Simple Summary
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Experiment 1
2.1.1. Animals, Housing, and Husbandry
- A group zone (located in the center of the cage) where the rabbits had the possibility to be in physical contact with the others;
- Four isolation areas connected with sliding doors where the rabbits had the opportunity to stay secluded.
2.1.2. Observation Method
2.2. Experiment 2
Animals, Housing, and Husbandry
2.3. Statistical Analysis
3. Results and Discussion
- Physiological state—the female does in different physiological states (nulliparous or during their reproductive functions) had a different response;
- Individual behavior—individual does had a different preference for seclusion or group;
- Presence/absence of feeders and drinkers—the presence of the feeders and drinkers in different areas of the cage could affect the use of resources;
- Video recording—the video recording system (continuous or not), the coding scheme, and the length of the recording probably had an effect on the result.
4. General Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Experiment 1 | |
Seclusion | 49.61 a |
Group | 50.39 a |
X2 | 2.10 |
Experiment 2 | |
Seclusion | 71.90 b |
Group | 28.10 a |
X2 | 10.30 |
Cycle 1 | Cycle 2 | Cycle 3 | SE | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Doe | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
Occupation time (%) | |||||||||||||
Single area | 100 b | 68.3 a | 47.8 a | 46.6 a | 50.0 a | 72.3 ab | 51.6 a | 100 b | 82.5 b | 94.4 b | 50.0 a | 100 b | 13.20 |
Group area | 0 a | 31.7 b | 52.2 b | 53.4 b | 50.0 b | 27.7 ab | 48.4 b | 0 a | 17.5 a | 5.6 a | 50.0 b | 0 a | 8.34 |
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Dal Bosco, A.; Cartoni Mancinelli, A.; Hoy, S.; Martino, M.; Mattioli, S.; Cotozzolo, E.; Castellini, C. Assessing the Preference of Rabbit Does to Social Contact or Seclusion: Results of Different Investigations. Animals 2020, 10, 286. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020286
Dal Bosco A, Cartoni Mancinelli A, Hoy S, Martino M, Mattioli S, Cotozzolo E, Castellini C. Assessing the Preference of Rabbit Does to Social Contact or Seclusion: Results of Different Investigations. Animals. 2020; 10(2):286. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020286
Chicago/Turabian StyleDal Bosco, Alessandro, Alice Cartoni Mancinelli, Steffen Hoy, Melania Martino, Simona Mattioli, Elisa Cotozzolo, and Cesare Castellini. 2020. "Assessing the Preference of Rabbit Does to Social Contact or Seclusion: Results of Different Investigations" Animals 10, no. 2: 286. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020286
APA StyleDal Bosco, A., Cartoni Mancinelli, A., Hoy, S., Martino, M., Mattioli, S., Cotozzolo, E., & Castellini, C. (2020). Assessing the Preference of Rabbit Does to Social Contact or Seclusion: Results of Different Investigations. Animals, 10(2), 286. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020286