Schwarz J, Schädler J, Albini S, Peter-Egli J, Probst S, Schüpbach-Regula G, Wiederkehr D
Hochschule für Agrar-, Forst- und Lebensmittelwissenschaften, Berner Fachhochschule.
Nationales Referenzzentrum für Geflügel- und Kaninchenkrankheiten, Institut für Lebensmittelsicherheit und -hygiene, Vetsuisse Fakultät, Universität Zürich.
Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd. 2021 Oct;164(10):623-634. doi: 10.17236/sat00317.
Husbandry conditions for rabbits in Switzerland are at a high animal welfare level in international comparison. Wire mesh flooring is prohibited and group housing is mandatory up to the age of eight weeks. Despite these animal-friendly husbandry standards, animal losses seem to be a significant problem, although reliable data on professional Swiss meat rabbit production is lacking to date. A herd survey was carried out in 52 rabbit farms to address this situation. At the same time, each new litter and each fattening group was documented with a standardized form focusing on animal death and the use of medication by the farmer over a one year period. In the case of increased mortality or new health problems, dead rabbits were sent to the National Reference Center for Poultry and Rabbit Diseases (Zurich) for pathological examination including bacteriological and parasitological diagnostics. Data from 32 farms were evaluated. The average mortality of young animals (birth to weaning) was 14.9% (1.0-30.0%) and of fattening rabbits (weaning to slaughter) 17.3% (4.3-31.8%). Intestinal diseases, mainly dysentery, intestinal coccidiosis and mucoid enteropathies, were the primary cause of death (68.2%). Eimeria spp., Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens were identified as the most frequent pathogens. Respiratory diseases were found in 18.7% of the examined rabbits, with Pasteurella multocida identified as the most common pathogen. 60.0% of the farms used antibiotics during the study period and a third (34.7%) of all the fattening animals were medicated with at least one antibiotic. The present results confirm that despite high animal welfare standards infectious diseases and mortality rates represent a considerable problem in professional Swiss meat rabbit production. Risk factors of increased morbidity and mortality should be identified to improve rabbit health, to reduce the high mortality rate and the extensive use of antibiotics in professional Swiss meat rabbit production. Practicable management improvements with specific prevention strategies should be developed.
与国际水平相比，瑞士兔子的饲养条件处于较高的动物福利水平。禁止使用金属丝网地板，八周龄前必须实行群体饲养。尽管有这些善待动物的饲养标准，但动物死亡似乎仍是一个重大问题，不过目前尚无关于瑞士专业肉兔养殖的可靠数据。为了解决这一情况，对52个养兔场进行了一次畜群调查。同时，用标准化表格记录每个新出生的兔窝和每个育肥组，重点记录一年期间的动物死亡情况以及养殖户使用药物的情况。若死亡率上升或出现新的健康问题，死亡兔子会被送往国家家禽和兔病参考中心（苏黎世）进行病理检查，包括细菌学和寄生虫学诊断。对来自32个农场的数据进行了评估。幼兔（出生至断奶）的平均死亡率为14.9%（1.0 - 30.0%），育肥兔（断奶至屠宰）的平均死亡率为17.3%（4.3 - 31.8%）。肠道疾病，主要是痢疾、肠道球虫病和黏液样肠病，是主要死因（68.2%）。艾美耳属、大肠杆菌和产气荚膜梭菌被确定为最常见的病原体。在18.7%的受检兔子中发现了呼吸道疾病，多杀性巴氏杆菌被确定为最常见的病原体。60.0%的农场在研究期间使用了抗生素，所有育肥动物中有三分之一（34.7%）至少使用了一种抗生素。目前的结果证实，尽管动物福利标准很高，但传染病和死亡率在瑞士专业肉兔生产中仍是一个相当大的问题。应确定发病率和死亡率上升的风险因素，以改善兔子健康状况，降低瑞士专业肉兔生产中的高死亡率和抗生素的大量使用情况。应制定切实可行的管理改进措施和具体的预防策略。
