Handling and rearing results in young rabbits

The effect of handling of rabbit pups and juveniles on their mortality rate and weight gains was investigated. Thirty-two litters of White New Zealand rabbit does were used for the experiment. One or two pups were chosen at random from each litter to be in the handled group (H, n=40) and the remaining pups were used as controls (C, n=72). The handling began when the pups were 10 days old and lasted 30 weeks. The H rabbits were daily taken out of their nests/cages for 10 min and petted. By a set of tests when held on experimenter's knees, the rabbits were classified into two emotional categories. Rabbits spending more time in 'freezing' behaviour were classified as 'timid' and those spending more time for 'non-freezing' were classified as 'bold'. The average mortality rate up to the age of 30 weeks was lower in the H group (17.5%) than in the C group (31.9%, P=0.055). The H rabbits were significantly heavier than the C animals in the last 4 weeks of the experiment and had higher weight gains between the 6th and 30th weeks of life. There were more 'bold' individuals in the H group than in the C group (69 and 37% respectively, P<0.01). Rabbits classified as 'bold' and 'timid' did not differ in their body weight and weight gains. It was concluded that the tender and frequent handling of young rabbits not only changes their behaviour in terms of reducing fear of humans but also positively influences the growth rate and reduces mortality rate.