More Scientific Research Tidbits

Completely unrelated, but cute :)

Fall semester has started again and I'm in an academic kind of mood...so I thought I would pull out the ole' Recent Advances in Rabbit Science and see what else I could find.  Same rule applies as last time, my friend: I will put the page number as a reference in parenthesis. Please note that the page number refers to the page of the pdf file, not the page number on the document.  They are different in some cases.

•  Scientists have done a lot of studies about rabbit housing...mostly in regards to stocking density, cage size, and group pens.  Most of this research has been done due to the public's desire for a high level of animal welfare in meat production in European countries.  The journal covers five different situations: 
• Single caged rabbits - Provide breeders with higher productivity with better disease control and mortality. It also avoids the risk for aggressive behavior. However, a lack of social contact among animals may cause stress and public perception is poor (130).
• Stocking density - Rabbits (particularly 3 to 6 week early weaned rabbits) preferred to stay clumped together in a higher density cage.  Again, duh?  BUT, even after weaning, research results show that rabbits tend to group together at a higher density instead of opting for better living conditions (131).  
• Group size in cage -  Performance in small cages (2-3 animals) and large cages (6-8 animals) were compared.  Group size was not found to affect weight gain, body weight, feed intake or mortality. As long as group size was lower than recommended, it had no affect on producivity or dress out percentage (for meat animals). The amount of peri-renal fat decreased with the increasing number of rabbits per cage (Don't know about rabbits, but peri-renal fat is an independent indicator of kidney issues in humans. Someone please chime in if you know.). However, percentage of ear lesions and serious injuries on the animals increased as group size increased (132).  
• Stocking density in pens - Had only a slight effect on the production of rabbits. Mortality rate was higher on deep litter (straw-filled) than wire floors due to disease (132).  I tried to decipher their chart on the various stocking densities, but it is beyond me today.  I'll try again later. Charts are on pages 132 and 133, if you are interested. Minimum space allowances for rabbits guidelines are on page 136.  They're metric so have fun :) 
• Cage vs. pen - When comparing performance of rabbits housed in cages or pens, floor types were discussed separately. They compared wire floors to deep litter.  There was a reduction in growth rate for penned animals that was attributed to greater physical activity and/or lower feed intake. Mortality rate was higher in pens due to contamination with excrement and consumption of soiled litter. Rabbits rested less while housed in pens which is generally said to be an expression of good welfare. However...again, frequency of ear lesions was higher in pen housed rabbits.  BUT, these aggressive incidences can be reduced by simply inserting a gnawing stick into the cage/pen. When the temperatures entered the 59 - 68 degrees Fahrenheit range, rabbits prefer staying on wire netting instead of deep litter. The decrease of production of growing rabbits is 3-4 times worse on deep litter compared to wire floors (134).

Overall, the journal recommends rearing rabbits in pens with wire floors at a moderate density (a whole litter together until sexual maturity) and using wooden sticks to reduce body lesions as an alternative housing system.

So what does all this mean to the hobby breeder?  I look to balance what these reports say with my own needs and facilities.  As I remodel or rethink my rabbit room, I take that info into consideration. Right now, I raise my kits in 30" x 60" wire floor pens. Perhaps I should put in a gnawing stick. It couldn't hurt and it might actually help wool-chewing. My rabbits are individually housed in wire cages. They are currently in a typical setup...all in a row, but eventually, I plan to clump the cages together in a square (does in one square; bucks in another...separate areas) so they can all see each other and hopefully increase social interaction without dealing with ear lesions or worse. My EAs are a laid back group, but they are rabbits. I choose this arrangement because wool chewing is dangerous to rabbit health (wool block) and it ruins their beautiful coat as well. I am super-fine that my rabbits live on wire floors.  It is best for their health and cleanliness...in my situation. Your mileage may vary.  I have resting pads in the cages, but my rabbits don't even use them. They prefer to rest on the wire itself. Like everything else, it's all about being open to new ideas/research and what works best for your situation.  I'm having fun. Do what works for you :)

Growing Up Angora

Tricky Exposure, but I love that chocolate face!

Cimmerian and Little Sun's kits are growing up.  They're seven weeks old now and so sweet.  I can't believe how much they've grown!

Okay, don't move...

They just got their tattoos for February's show...and I confirmed that they are both does (silly me...doubting myself).

I thought I'd try to get a few pictures before they get too much bigger since I've been slipping on my "photograph the kits each week" plan. It was a big tricky with the exposure and finding the right color background, since one was dark and one kit was light, but...like Goldilocks, eventually they came out just right...or at least better.  I was surprised at how still everyone was for their session....natural posers and very patient bunnies :) However, that meant that I ended up with about thirty pictures of what look like the same picture.  

How long do we have to sit like this?

Anyhow, I've been putting them on the grooming table so they get used to it, but they're so laid back that they just sprawl out like it's naptime...which is exactly like their mother.  What a change from the Kelly/Hershey wrestling match that goes on when I put Hershey on the grooming table!  I really have to show that bunny who's the boss, but I like her diva ways so much that I sometimes just let her run amuck. 

I really love the chocolate one's ears and typey body, but I also really like the pearl's flashy color and sweet demeanor. Both bunnies have excellent crimp, too. I'm excited to see how they develop. Decisions, decisions...

Until she gets it right...ugh. 

Waxahachie Show Roundup

Waiting for Romeo to be judged

This weekend we returned to the scene of the crime - Waxahatchie TX.  It was last year this time that my daughter and I drove two hours north to pick up Mr. Biggles, the fuzzy little guy that started all this mess lol.  Our trip to get him wrapped up almost six months of rabbit research, which did not even cover rabbit shows. Of course, this year it was quite different since we came with our own bunny to show.  We had a blast!  My hubby did not come because our youngest son had a basketball tournament.  He is normally the photographer so needless to say, I didn't get too many pictures.

I was too busy learning about rabbits with Sasha and her mother, Dana.  Dana and I talked genetics, which is a subject that we both love. Sasha, as always, was great.  She's helped me so much with grooming.  One day I hope to be as good as her is.  Her rabbits always look stellar. But, most importantly, she got out our rabbits and showed me a lot about body type.  It does really help to get your hands on them and "feel" what you're shooting for.  She also helped me practice sexing young rabbits...which apparently I am terrible at.  I immediately went home and rechecked my babies again.  I'm pretty sure the pearl is a buck...rats :(   BUT, I will have my local bunny mentor verify today.

That's what I love about shows...the opportunity to learn from others and the chance to see good friends.  I also checked around to see if my poll finished up accurately or not.

The top breed percentage-wise were Mini Rex and Netherland Dwarf at 21%. There were certainly plenty of competition there. Second place was a three way tie between Holland Lop, Satins, and English Angoras.  I did actually see most of the breeds that everyone said they were bringing, of course. I did see a lot jersey woolies, though, and I actually saw some Polish and a couple of dwarf hotots on someone's cart...before I ran in the other direction (temptation!).  I meant to network a bit during the show and let folks know that I had a poll going for shows, but before it knew it...the show was over.  Time flies when you're having fun! I did manage to get a couple of cards out so we'll see.

Well, here are show results for the Angora folks.

SHOW A

English Angora BOB - Kelly Flading  (Hershey's 2nd leg...Yippee!)

English Angora BOS - Sasha McPherson

Satin Angora BOB - Dana Farber

Satin Angora BOS - Dana Farber

SHOW B

English BOB - Sasha McPherson

English Angora BOS - Kelly Flading

Satin BOB - Dana Farber

Satin BOS - Dana Farber

I was curious to see if any of my blog friends had went and if so, how they did.   I saw a couple of other folks I knew. However, there were folks I wanted to try to find, but never found them :(

A Letter from Romeo

Our house has been full of change lately. My daughter, and show buddy, has gotten discouraged (or maybe even...bored *gasp*) at shows.  Her rabbit , Romeo, is a nice netherland dwarf. She has taken him to about five shows in the last year. He places the same every time...always a bridesmaid, never a bride.  We talked about getting another ND, but cage space is at a premium and Romeo has quite the temper. He is a bit like handling a snake, but well behaved for the judges so that's kept him around.  Don't know if I want to breed such a tempermental bunny so we've talked about Romeo as a pet (fixed) to see if that helps his grouchiness or whether she should keep showing him.

We felt our daughter needed bunny encouragement and offered for her to help with the new EA babies.  She has been very helpful and we appreciate it. Inspired by my blog comment to Lindsey at 4 Kings rabbitry, my youngest daughter thought that her rabbit, Romeo, had something to get off of his chest.

This is what I received in The Kelfla Project e-mailbox one day this week...

Dear Kelfla's EA's,

 This Romeo, Doodle Buns Rabbitry 1st rabbit. You know me, I live with you. All I want is to say I don't like you very much. Especially Lil' Sun and Samarian (Cimmerian). Ever since ya'll had those babies I've been left in the dust. She don't care about me no more. I know half the reason is because of my behavior. I'm just being a normal boy. And I don't think that's fair that I have to get neutered. Maybe I want some lil' babies. I'll try and be good. But, the one thing I don't get is that she likes [the new baby bunnies] better than me. I mean they'll only be that small for a week or two. I'll be that small all my life. I feel so left out. That's why I'm so mean, I want attention. Whatever, you all are probably laughing at me right now.  Bye.

-- Doodle Buns Rabbitry - Romeo

Well....my rabbits had to reply...

Dear Romeo of Doodle Buns,

We are so sorry.  We had no idea that you felt this way.  This explains a lot.  We always wondered why  you ran at our cages when you were out and tried to bite our noses off.  We were always glad that we had a lot of fluff and all you got was a mouth full of wool.  

We want to apologize to you.  It must be weird to be the only one in a herd of fluffy bunnies.  Charlee has volunteered to shear himself so you will not feel left out.  He is that kind of guy.  

Maybe your Mom will decide to keep showing you when you get into your new house.  We know she loves you.  You are just hard to handle sometimes.  If your Mom became interested in showing and caring for rabbits again, her parents might get you a girlfriend sometime.  Or, you can live your life as a pampered pet...which doesn't sound too bad either :)

Anyhow, we love you Romeo.  You are a member of our herd and a herd(family) is important. If you do get neutered, that will not make you any less of a man bunny.  

Sincerely,

Kelfla's EAs       

Bad Hair Day

That flashy shirt isn't just for looks lol. 

I originally started this post with an attempt to find more science stuff to share, but I'm sidetracked today by sweet Hershey.  Her wool is coming out in big chunks that would make any spinner drool...which, of course, is not what you want to happen right before a show. I'm not exactly drooling. :(

Wool doesn't stick to polyester.  

That's a tricky thing with Angoras (for me anyhow)... timing the senior's coat to the show schedule. Hershey and I are definitely not on the same schedule. She is her own woman and sets her molt without regard to when I shear her coat or previous molt patterns.  I have to admire such stubborness...only to be matched to my tedious removal of each strand of luscious wool in an effort to save her coat.  This might be why, nationally, a lot of Angora folks show their rabbits in their first coat only.  It's so much easier to control/plan when you breed for a certain show.  However, you do not see a lot of Angoras at most of our shows so it's very difficult to get legs...or sometimes even see another exhibitor.  It is common practice to show second, third, fourth coats and so on.  Our rabbits, like a lot of uncommon breeds, have to see that judge's table a lot...if they want results. Hershey has one leg. We had to drive to Kansas to get it. 

Anyhow, I am glad to see from my little unscientific poll (look to the right) that at least two other folks are planning on bringing EAs so I will still show up with Hershey and Cimmerian even though they are definitely not at their peak. That way at least we'll hopefully have enough rabbits, and enough exhibitors, to make it worth it for someone.   Also, I see from the poll that no one has said they are bringing Dwarf Hotots or Thriantas. I might be safe from a spontaneous bunny purchase for another day. ;)

NOTE: There are still a few days left to answer the Blacklands Prairie RBA Show poll question.  I got a lot more responses than I anticipated so THANK YOU if you took the time to answer. :)  I hope to continue with more polls for future shows as a fun way to see what folks are planning on bringing to upcoming shows.