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[EN] The aim of this research was to study the effects of group size and environmental enrichment on behaviour and growth of 108 hybrid growing rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). We compared the behaviour (time budget and reactions to specific behavioural tests: "tonic immobility" and "emergence test") and live weight of growing rabbits housed in cages with a different number of rabbits per cage (2, 3 and 4; same density:14 rabbits/m2). Half of the cages were enriched with a wooden stick (Robinia Pseudoacacia, length: 20 cm ¿ diameter: 6 cm, cylindrical) hanging from the ceiling of the cage. The stick and number of animals per cage had no effect on weight gain or on behavioural tests responses. Interaction with the stick was significantly higher at the beginning of the growing period. Principal component analysis performed on the data for the whole period showed significant differences according to the treatments: increasing the number of rabbits per cage and introducing a wooden stick seemed to affect locomotor activity frequency and social interactions. Rabbits housed 3 and 4 per cage showed less lying behaviour and higher locomotor activity and sitting. The larger functional space allowance enabled rabbits to perform more natural behaviours compared to smaller cages (2 rabbits/cage). Environmental enrichment seems to be related to higher allogrooming behaviour frequency, which could indicate a social behaviour related to pheromonal olfactory stimulation and mutual recognition.

[EN] The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of regular daily handling on weight gain and on the fear reaction towards a new environment and human beings in domestic kits (Tonic Immobility test: TI, Emergence test: ET). Two groups in the same environment and fed the same diet were analysed: handled group and control (17 litters, 9 kits/litter per group). No differences in weight gain were recorded. During ET at 33 days of age, handled kits took less time to enter the arena than control group kits. TI duration was shorter in handled kits, which required more inductions than the control group. It was found that minimal human contact imposed before nursing reduced the fear of humans in rabbit kits. Our handling method requires minimal contact and can be used to reduce fear and improve welfare in rabbits. Moreover, the short length of the handling procedure allows stockpersons to produce tamer rabbits, reducing stress levels.

Organic rearing systems for poultry meat production, are greatly improving due to the increasing consumers interest for healthier and more natural food. The poor adaptability of commercial hybrids selected for intensive production systems lead to develop researches dealing with breed suitability for alternative productions. The aim of this study was to compare three Italian poultry breeds under the productive and the behavioural point of view in order to evaluate birds’ characteristics to predict adaptability in typical organic system rearing conditions. 76 pullets of 3 Italian breeds (Bianca Saluzzo BS, Bionda Piemontese BP e Valdarnese Bianca VB) were reared (pen, litter floor, by breeds) from hatching to 48 days. Every 2 days individual body weight and pen feed consumption were collected in order to evaluate daily weight gain and F.C. Emergency Test and Tonic Immobility test were performed on 20 animals per breed (day 35, day 47) in order to evaluate adaptation level and fearfulness. The data were analysed using GLM procedure (production), Anova Wilcoxon Test (behaviour). Under a productive point of view some breed differences have been recorded in weekly weight gains: significant weight differences have been shown in week 1, 4, 6 of age (P < 0.01; P<0.05). VB breed has shown a significant lighter weight gain. These results may indicate that this breed is a low growing breed and slaughtering age is high as requested by organic production. The BS and BP breeds are genetically closer and their growing curve faster. TI duration was significantly higher in VB birds (P<0.05). Breed differences may be related to a genetic effect, being every environmental variable the same for the three breeds. In particular VB seems to maintain a stronger anti-predator response. Emergency Test results seem to confirm this interpretation: VB showed a lower time in exiting the box. This result may be due to a high degree of fear of this breed that induces it to escape from a new and pot