Deliverable D2.2 A feeding device allowing individual feed intake recording in group-housed rabbits

Objectives

The objective of this document is to provide a description of the feeding device (feeding device) for the control of individual feed intake of rabbits raised in collective cages. This description aims to provide details on all the components involved in the feeding device as well as to show how the developed software computes individual feed intake of rabbits raised in groups.

Rationale

Given the relative low genetic correlation between feed efficiency measurements and growth performance in rabbits, it is highly desirable to have direct measurements of feed intake to more effectively genetically act on the feed efficiency. In this context, recording feed intake in animals raised in groups would be highly valuable since these are the conditions in which the animals perform in commercial farms. Until now, individual feed intake in rabbits has been measured by housing the animals individually. This procedure ignores the unperfected genetic correlation that might exist between performance of rabbits housed in a group and those housed in individual cages. With a device like the one we have developed, it is possible not only to assess this correlation, but also to provide selection methods using the individual information generated in the selection nucleus and experimental farms.
Although our initial aim was to develop a device to be used for selection processes, other research activities requiring individual control of feed intake in group-housed rabbits, like for example in nutrition, could take advance of the device we have designed and manufactured.