Cuniculture

Abstract: A survey was carried out in order to study the Small Cuniculture Family Sector in three municipalities of the south coast of Guerrero State, Mexico. Frequent observations were also done to keep a record of the animals, the type of facilities, food, management, health, reproduction, diseases and the marketing of the product. A two step cluster sampling design and an estimated sample of 27 production units were used. Most of the food used (84.6%) in the production units consists mainly of commercial type complemented with agriculture residues, food waste and a small fraction of producers use green food only. 61.5% of this activity is for self consumption, 15.4% is commercial and the remaining is used for both activities. The management is rustic, and the different breeds are the White New Zealand, California, Chinchilla and indefinite crosses; 30.8% of the producers grow the rabbits on earth, 46.1% use cages, and 23.1% both. The animals are mainly kept in the backyards (92.3%) and the rest of them are put on the roofs of houses (7.7%). 53.8% of the producers separate the rabbits from their mothers when they turn 33 days old, and only 30.8% keep records of breeding, births and food and the use of nests is common. The main diseases in 61.5% production units are acariosis, breathing diseases and diarrhea. The productive and reproductive indicators showed an average litter size of 6 rabbits, the mortality rate is 17% and the sale is directly done to the consumer.

Abstract: The cuniculture is a growing industry in Mexico. Of the 13 species of coccidiosis affecting rabbits, Eimeria stiedae is the main causative agent of hepatic coccidiosis in rabbits. This review addresses the importance of the environment and clinical pathological issues of hepatic coccidiosis in rabbits. The available literature shows the need to approach the integrative study of the rabbit hepatic coccidiosis, and to move forward in the understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in its

Abstract: The 40th Congress of the Spanish Association of Cuniculture (ASESCU) was held in Santiago de Compostela from 28th to 29th May 2015. This is the 40th edition of the conference, held annually without interruption since 1976. Main papers focused on analysing the current rabbit sector situation in the north-western Iberian Peninsula, genetic improvement of meat rabbit and foundation of new lines. The future of meat rabbit production and the rabbit meat production value chain was discussed, with the results of the partnership between the Spanish Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) and the rabbit marketing board (INTERCUN) to support research projects. A round table was also held on coccidiosis in rabbit farms. In addition, a total of 32 communications were presented both in working sessions with oral communications and posters (pathology, nutrition, reproduction, ethology, production and products). The meeting was attended by more than 200 participants, including researchers from Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Ecuador and Egypt, among other countries. Abstracts of the contributions presented are reported below.

Abstract: Les coccidioses constituent l’une des maladies les plus meurtrieres chez les lapins. Pour mieux controler cette affection, une prophylaxie vaccinale est mise au point. La reussite d’une telle innovation passe par la perception des cuniculteurs. Ainsi, la presente etude a ete entreprise afin de determiner les facteurs favorisant l’adoption par les eleveurs de la vaccination des lapins contre les coccidioses. Les enquetes menees aupres des cuniculteurs ont revele que 100% d’entre eux ont une opinion favorable du vaccin. De meme, 83,3% des eleveurs ont affirme que le vaccin etait efficace. Par ailleurs, 80% des eleveurs ont declare connaitre la coccidiose. Parmi ceux-ci, 62,5% avait bien decrit les signes cliniques de la coccidiose. L’etude economique a montre que la vaccination engendre un benefice net de 123,2 F CFA par lapin comparativement aux lapins non vaccines. La vaccination s’avere efficace et est bien appreciee par les utilisateurs. Son adoption contribuera a ameliorer les conditions de vie des cuniculteurs. © 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Mots cles: Oryctolagus cuniculus , cuniculture, coccidies, prophylaxie, immunisation, adoption English Title: Socio-economic effects on the rabbit breeders of rabbit’s vaccination against intestinal coccidiosis in Benin English Abstract Coccidiosis is recognized as being one of the major serious diseases in rabbit breeding. For a better control of this disease, a vaccination program is set up. The perception of the rabbit breeders determines the success of this innovation. Thus, this study was undertaken in order to determine the factors which favour the adoption of the rabbit vaccination against coccidiosis by the rabbit breeders. Survey performed on rabbit breeding revealed that 100% of the breeders included in the survey thought that vaccine is useful for the control of coccidiosis. An average of 83.3% of breeders has reported that the use of vaccine was effective to control coccidiosis. Likewise among rabbit breeders included in the study, an average of 80% has been reported to know coccidiosis. Among those breeders, an average of 62.6% was reported to know well clinical symptoms of coccidiosis. Economical study carried out on rabbit breeding showed that vaccine involves a net profit of 132.2 F CFA per vaccinated rabbit compared to non vaccinated rabbits. Vaccine turns out to an effective control of coccidiosis in rabbit and was well appreciated by the breeders. Its adoption will help improving rabbit breeders’ life. © 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Keywords: Oryctolagus cuniculus , rabbit breeding, coccidia, prevention, immunization, adoption