Rabbit Nutrition

In addition to Rabbit Foods, you will need to provide plenty of fresh, clean water, good management, and proper housing. Because each of our rabbit foods are formulated to meet the nutritional needs of rabbits at various levels of production, an understanding of the rabbit's nutritional requirements can be helpful.

The rabbit's digestive process is highly effective in utilizing available food sources. The upper part of the rabbit's digestive tract is similar to other single-stomach (monogastric) animals. The rabbit's digestive tract, however, includes a large cecum: a portion of the large intestine which can hold up to one-third of the digestive tract's volume. Within this cecum are located bacteria which help the rabbit utilize undigested food ingredients.

Rabbits produce two types of feces: one is a hard, dry pellet commonly seen under the cage, and the other is a soft, high-moisture form which is not ordinarily seen because the rabbit  "reingests" it during the night. This practice of consuming the "soft'" or "night "feces is referred to as "coprophagy," and is a vital source of nutrients to the rabbit.


PROTEIN  Protein is made up of amino acids which form building blocks for muscle, blood and fur. Protein is very important in all stages of growth. Factors such as litter size, weight gain and hair coat appearance are directly affected by the quality of protein consumed. For this reason, a higher protein ration, such as Professional 18% or Professional 16%, is recommended when more litters per year are desired or when rabbits are being conditioned for show.

The rabbit's opportunity to utilize its protein sources is increased because of coprophagy. The bacteria in the rabbit's cecum produce proteins which are of high nutritional value to the rabbit. In fact, about 25 percent of the adult rabbit's daily protein intake (DPI) comes as a result of this process. Although the rabbit makes very efficient use of protein sources it receives, the protein must be of high quality to start with. This means that it must provide the essential amino acids for the rabbit. Having these essential amino acids in the diet assures that young, growing rabbits and high-producing does will receive proper nutrient fortification for rapid growth, development and lactation.


CHANGING FEEDING PROGRAMS  Rabbits should always be changed slowly from one feeding program to another (over a five to seven day period), mixing new food gradually with old food. This allows the rabbit to adjust to new food.

NEVER add oats, straw, barley or other food stuffs to your rabbit feeding program unless properly advised by a competent nutritionist. This will dilute the intake of nutrients in Rabbit Foods and could depress rabbit performance.

ADM Alliance Nutrition, Inc. , a wholly owned subsidiary of the Archer Daniels Midland Company