CHARACTERISATION OF THE INDOOR ENVIRONMENT AND GAS EMISSIONS IN RABBIT FARMS

There is a need to characterise gas concentrations and emissions from rabbit production. A study was conducted in order to determine ammonia, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide concentrations and emissions on 3 rabbit farms in the Spanish Mediterranean area. Gas emissions were measured for 187 d in 2 different production stages (reproductive does and fattening rabbits). Gas concentrations were measured every 2 h. Indoor temperature, relative humidity and ventilation flow were measured hourly. As a result, indoor temperature and relative humidity varied throughout the year, following a sinusoidal daily variation pattern. Maximum gas concentrations (14.3, 7041 and 5.10 mg/m(3) of NH3, CO2 and N2O, respectively) did not exceed the maximum recommended thresholds considering human health and animal welfare. Ammonia emissions were on average 55.9 and 10.2 mg/h per reproductive doe and fattening rabbit, respectively, and were affected by temperature and relative humidity. The average carbon dioxide emission was 12588 mg/h per animal for does and 3341 mg/h for fattening rabbits. Nitrous oxide emission from does was 10.3 mg/h per animal, whereas for fattening rabbits the emission was negligible. Daily variation patterns of all measured parameters were observed and characterised in this study.