Search for key health and welfare indicators for meat rabbit production and definition of a score method of evaluation

The aim of this study is to define parameters related to health and welfare of animals even in industrial farms with intensive husbandry. Therefore, we tried to increase the knowledge on rabbit welfare by the use of correct tools for monitoring the different aspects of rabbit industrial farming, in order to improve the efficiency of farms and the productive performances of animals. Our study is based firstly on the characterization of health, management, environmental and physiological parameters and, secondly, on the definition of protocols to assess welfare of rabbits. All the entered values are then utilized for a score system to establish health and welfare conditions in industrial farms.