EFSA scientific opinions on rabbit welfare rabbit welfare.pdf · different production systems including the organic production system (Scie ntific opinion 1) “Stunning methods and

EFSA scientificopinions on

rabbit welfareNikolaus Kriz

Head of Animal and Plant Health (ALPHA) Unit

16 January 2020

Background

180 million rabbits farmed for meat annuallyin the EU

66% of the total EU production kept inconventional farms: medium and largesize farms (>600 breeding does) all overEurope (about 4500 farms producing)

Public concerns: poor welfare, high stress,high mortality, no specificstunning methods

No species-specific legislation protectingthe welfare of farmed rabbits existsin the EU

Request from European Parliament

Request toEFSA toprovidescientificadviceon:

Health and welfare of rabbits farmed indifferent production systems including theorganic production system (Scientific opinion 1)

“Stunning methods and slaughter of rabbits forhuman consumption” (Scientific opinion 2)

“Killing methods for rabbits (not for humanconsumption)” (Scientific opinion 3)

EP resolution on minimum standards for theprotection of farmed rabbits

Scientific opinion 1

4

Health and welfareof rabbits farmed indifferent productionsystems including theorganic production system

Step 1: define animal categories

Animal categories

Reproducing does Kits Growing rabbits

Step 2: identify housing systems

6

Conventional productionConventional cages

Structurally enriched cages

Elevated pens

‘Niche’ productionFloor pens

Outdoor /partially outdoor systems

Organic systems

Examples of conventional rabbit housing systems

Conventionalcages


Enrichedcages


Elevated pens(Park system)

Examples of niche production systems for rabbits

Size of the farms anddistribution:Swiss farms

(about 56 farms with60 does/farm)

Floor pens


Size of the farms anddistribution:

French Label rouge(10 farms;

<200 does/farm)

Indoor/ Outdoorsystems


Organic system

Size of the farms anddistribution:

French system (50 farms;<50 does/farm)

Step 3: identify welfare consequences

WELFARE CONSEQUENCES

• Prolonged hunger• Prolonged thirst• Pododermatitis• Locomotory disorders• Skin lesions• Respiratory disorders• Gastro-intestinal disorders• Skin disorders• Reproductive disorders• Mastitis• Neonatal disorders• Heat stress• Cold stress

Health-related

• Restriction ofmovement

• Resting problem• Inability to express

maternal behaviour• Inability to express

positive socialbehaviour

• Inability to expressgnawing behaviour

• Occurrence ofabnormal behaviour

• Fear

Behaviour-related

Examples of behaviour-related welfare consequences

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RESTRICTION OFMOVEMENT

SOCIALBEHAVIOUR

GNAWINGBEHAVIOUR

ABNORMALBEHAVIOUR

Examples of health-related welfare consequences

SKINLESIONS

PODODERMATITIS

SKIN LESIONSFOR KITS

PROLONGEDHUNGER

Step 4: measuring impact

Lack of data

Expert opinionprovided estimates

• Survey: 88 respondents -separately for the threerabbit categories in one ortwo of the six housingsystems each - total =125completed surveys aboutoccurrence and duration.

• Workshop with experts:8 hearing experts invitedto discuss about severity

IMPACT ON WELFARE= OCCURRENCE x DURATION X SEVERITY

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Comparison of welfare in 6 housingsystems: reproducing does

The welfare of DOES is lower in conventional cages, but nodistinction can be made among the five other housing systems.

CONCLUSION:

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Comparison of welfare in 6 housingsystems: growing rabbits

The welfare of GROWING RABBITS is lower in conventionalcages, and higher in elevated pens.

CONCLUSION:

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Comparison of welfare in 6 housingsystems: kits

The welfare of kits is lower in outdoor systems and higher in theelevated pens.

CONCLUSION:

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Main outcomes for organic production

Main welfareconsequences(does)Restriction of movement(if limited access to outdoor)

Heat stress

Reproductive disorders

Resting Problem

Skin lesions

Reduce restriction of movement by enlargingthe sheltered part of the housing

Reduce heat and cold stress by insulatingshelters or adding shade in the outdoor area

improving management of housing hygiene,feeding strategy and daily checking of theanimals

Minimise fear in growing rabbits by use ofproper electrified fencing or net topprotection against predators)

Diversity of systems(EC Regulation

848/2018): difficultto make an overall

assessment

Welfare scoresobtained from theexperts suggest

welfare is generallygood

CONCLUSION

RECOMMENDATIONS


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Stunning methods and slaughter of rabbitsfor human consumption

Stunning methods + indicators ofconsciousness to monitor the

stunning process

Hazards and corrective measuresfor all phases of slaughter:Arrival-unloading-handling-lairage – stunning - bleeding

Arrival-unloading-handling- lairage

22Lairage zone, source: FIA

Arrival of the truck, courtesy: L. BergHandling and removing rabbits from containers,

courtesy: Credit Avipôle Formation

Selection of indicators of consciousness

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Reg (EC)1099/2009:protection of the animals atthe time of slaughter andkilling

Article 5: “Businessoperators should ensure thatpersons responsible forstunning carry out regularchecks to ensure that theanimals do not present anysigns of consciousnessbetween the end of thestunning process and death.”

Stunning methods for rabbits

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Captive bolt stunning

Head-only electrical stunning

A set of indicators (corneal reflex, breathing, tonic-clonic seizures) shouldbe used to detect the rabbits that are not properly stunned or recoverconsciousness after stunning.

If animals show signs of consciousness, intervention needs to be appliedi.e. re-stunning of the animals.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Electrical stunningmethods (+restraint)• Head-only electrical

Mechanical stunningmethods (+ restraint):• Penetrative Captive bolt• Non–penetrative captive bolt• Percussive blow to the head

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Back-up slides

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Comparison of welfare in 6 housingsystems: reproducing does

MAIN WELFARE CONSEQUENCES

Increase the size of the cages or add platforms that allow for efficient useof the cage (this means shift to enriched cages).

Plastic foot mats to be provided; cage floors and plastic mats to becleaned regularly.

Thermal stress to be minimized by appropriate ventilation. Suitable gnawing materials (e.g. wooden sticks) to be supplied

CO

NV

ENTI

ON

AL

CA

GES • Restriction of movement

• Inability to express gnawing behaviour• Resting problem• Inability to express positive social

behaviour• Heat stress

RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT CONVENTIONAL CAGES FOR DOES:

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CO

NV

ENTI

ON

AL

CA

GES

• Restriction of movement• Inability to express gnawing behaviour• Resting problem• Inability to express positive social

behaviour• Prolonged hunger

Recommendations about conventional cages for growing rabbits:

• Resting problems and restriction of movement to be prevented byreducing stocking density


30


ELEV

ATE

DP

ENS • Skin disorders

• Resting problem• Inability to express gnawing

behaviour• Fear

Recommendations about elevated pens:

• Skin disorders are avoided by proper biosecurity, climate control andpositioning of the drinkers so that wetting of the fur is prevented

• Gastrointestinal disorders minimized by balanced diet• Fear reduced by avoiding rough handling


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MAIN WELFARE CONSEQUENCESO

UTD

OO

RS

YS

TEM

S • Heat stress• Prolonged hunger• Neonatal disorders• Cold stress• Gastrointestinal disorders

• For heat stress, use supplementary heaters or fans, apply correctmanagement of the nest.

• Gastrointestinal disorders prevented by balanced diet and appropriateweaning age.

Recommendations about outdoor systems for kits

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• Provide suitable gnawing materials for kits• Fearfulness reduced by avoiding rough handling and situations leading to

aggression in does.• Correct design of the nest box to only allow kits access to the main cage

when sufficiently mature.

Recommendations about elevated pens

ELEV

ATE

DP

ENS • Inability to express gnawing behaviour

• Prolonged hunger• Neonatal disorders• Fear• Skin disorders


Selection of indicators of consciousness

33

Lack of data

• Survey: 20 respondents - separately for thetwo stunning methods (electrical andcaptive bolt) - total = 40 completed surveysabout sensitivity and specificity.

• Workshop with experts: 8 hearing expertsinvited to discuss about for easiness of use

Expert opinion provided estimates

Lack of data

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• On-farm large scale killings in case of depopulation fordisease control purposes and similar situations(environmental contamination, disaster management,etc.).

• On-farm killing of unproductive animals; for health,welfare or economic reasons• large-scale killing of unproductive rabbits (e.g. kits);• individual killing of unproductive, unhealthy or

injured rabbits.

Definition of the scenario

Scientific opinion on the killing for purposesother than slaughter: rabbits

Indicators in a toolbox

The state of consciousness of the animals should be checked at each ofthe 3 key stages - i.e. immediately after stunning, just prior to neckcutting and during bleeding - using the suggested indicators.

RECOMMENDATION

Documents

EFSA scientific opinions on rabbit welfare rabbit welfare.pdf · different production systems including the organic production system (Scie ntific opinion 1) “Stunning methods and