Establishment of a Colony of Japanese White Rabbits Free from Coccidia and Their Breeding Performance

Abstract

A colony of rabbits free from coccidia was established in 1974 by weaning young at 25 days of age from dams infected with coccidia. Until now Bordetella, Pasteurella and Psoroptes cuniculi have not been detected either, and neither diarrhea nor death has occurred in weanlings of the colony. However, the mortality of sucklings was significantly high owing to cannibalism and tread by their dams. The weaning rate was effectively improved by use of a large nursing cage (3, 100cm²) and sterilized hay on a stainless steel mesh floor of the nursing cage.