Application of radio frequency identification techniques on the evaluation of breeder rabbit management

　　The purpose of this research was to evaluate the practicability of rabbit identification using Radio Frequency Identification techniques with commercial portable chip reader. Twenty four New Zealand rabbits were selected and randomly divided into two groups. One was the control group and the other was chip implanted group. The weaned rabbits were implanted chip and fed for 4 weeks. The growth performance and displacement were recorded. The results indicated that growth performance in the control group and treatment group had no significant difference. That at 4 weeks of age were 721±26 g and 704±35 g, respectively and at 8 weeks of age were 1,484±119 g and 1,429±185 g, respectively. Also, no significant displacement was found. We concluded that chip implantation did not affect rabbit growth performance and behavior. It can be used in individual feeding and management of rabbit breeders.

(M. Y. Tsai, and C. H. Hsieh )