Physical Injuries and Hair Corticosterone Concentration in Rabbit Kits from Single- and Group-Housed Does Kept on a Commercial Farm

SIMPLE SUMMARY: On commercial farms, adult female rabbits (does) are usually kept in single cages without direct contact with conspecifics other than their kits. However, wild rabbits live together in groups with several adults and their kits, and single housing of adult domestic rabbits may affect both, their own welfare and the welfare of their kits. In this study, we focused on the welfare of kits and compared three different housing systems for does and their kits: single housing of does with their respective kits; pairs of does with their kits; and groups of three does with their kits. The kits’ health and stress level were analyzed. The number of kits with skin lesions increased with increasing group size. However, when does were pair-housed, kits seemed to have fewer disease symptoms compared to the other treatments. With regard to the stress level, there was no clear result; however, kits in groups of three does did tend to have higher stress hormones in hair. We conclude that pair housing for does could be an alternative to single housing when considering the welfare of their kits. Further studies are needed to evaluate both, the effects of pair housing on kits and does. ABSTRACT: In intense breeding programs, rabbits are exposed to numerous stress factors which could affect their welfare and health. It has been suggested that group housing is more comfortable for does and similar to the living conditions of European wild rabbits. In this study, we compared three different housing systems—single housing; housing in pairs; and housing in groups of three does—to test whether there is a measurable impact on skin lesions, health, and hair corticosterone concentration (HCC) of their kits. The number of kits with lesions increased with the number of does kept together. The probability of kits getting injured was higher in groups of three does than in pens of single-housed does (p = 0.041). When does were pair-housed, kits seemed to have fewer disease symptoms compared to the other treatments. Concerning HCC of kits, there was no significant difference between the housing systems (p > 0.05). The mean HCC of kits was 2.94 pg/mg, while pair housing had the lowest HCC (2.59 pg/mg). This study focused on the welfare of kits from group-housed does. From this perspective, pair housing of does may be appropriate to allow social interaction between does without unduly affecting the welfare of their kits.