FREE CHOICE OF GROWING RABBITS BETWEEN DEEP LITTER AND WIRE NET FLOOR IN PENS

The free choice of rabbits between deep litter and wire net floor was investigated. The floor of a 2.89 m 2 pen was divided into two parts; one part was made of wire net, while the other one was covered with deep litter. Twenty-three, 35 or 46 rabbits, weaned at the age of 5 weeks were placed into one pen (8, 12 and 16 rabbits/m 2 , resp.). A 24-hour video recording was performed every week; the number of rabbits on the deep litter or on the wire net was counted every half-hour. During the whole experimental period (between 5 and 10 weeks of age) 18, 14 and 14% of all rabbits was found on the deep litter, depending on the number of rabbits in one pen (23, 35 or 46, resp.). The feed intake was lower from the feeders placed to deep litter (28, 18 and 16% of the whole feed intake, respectively). According to the results, at normal temperature (16-18 o C)