Modern agriculture cannot be imagined without the introduction of new progressive technologies, achievements of science and technology. These innovations are aimed at increasing the growth, development and productivity of animals. One of the key aspects of successful farming is the organization of proper nutrition of animals using various products, feed additives and new types of feed. An important aspect of rabbit breeding is the establishment of a complete diet, since the right food is a key factor in ensuring good health of the animals and obtaining quality products such as skins and meat. In addition, properly prepared feed for rabbits guarantees the reproduction of animals.
Types of fodder
When determining nutrition for rabbits, the following factors should be taken into account:
- Food standards.
- Productive qualities of animals.
- Nutritional value of feed.
- Breed and age of rabbits.
- Type of feeding.
- Season.
- Biological features of rabbits.
A rabbit’s diet consists of the following components:
- Roughages, which make up about 25% of the diet.
- Juicy fodder, which make up 30-40%.
- Green fodder, up to 40%.
- Concentrated feed, which can make up to 70% of all nutrition.
Rough feed
The main choice in feeding rabbits in the winter period. This type of fodder saturates animals well and satisfies their needs in the cold season.
- Hay is the basis of the winter diet. It contains vitamins, minerals and about 6% easily digestible protein. The quality of hay is determined by its color and pleasant smell. The permissible moisture content of hay should be 14-18%. For harvesting hay, it is recommended to use forages that have not yet bloomed or spiked. Dandelion, buckwheat, plantain, sorrel, thistle and nettle are recommended plants. Legume-based hay is suitable for lactating females.
- Straw is high-quality fodder – clean, light, elastic and with a shine. It is used when rabbits do not have enough fiber (up to 45-50% of hay can be replaced). Rabbits prefer pea, lentil and millet straw. Cereal straw is used as litter in the cages, not as feed.
- Branch fodder. Tree branches have similar nutritional value to straw. They contain many vitamins and minerals. Branches can make up to half of the diet. Rabbits satisfy their need for crunchy food by eating branches of willow, acacia, rowan, oak, apple, poplar, hazel, maple and raspberry.
Green fodder
Green fodder is the basis of the annual diet for rabbits. They are an important source of vitamins, proteins, minerals and easily digestible carbohydrates.
- Forest herbs have very high vitaminization and a diverse composition. Dandelion, creeping wheatgrass, safflower, clover, alfalfa and plantain are especially suitable for rabbits. It is worth remembering that large volumes of clover can negatively affect the reproductive performance of rabbits!
- Meadow plants such as sorrel, tansy, burdock, sedge, heather, gorse, sage and thistle are tasty food for rabbits with big appetites.
- Steppe grasses, including yarrow and bitter wormwood, are also good choices.
- Legumes such as pea stalks, soybeans and safflower are excellent choices for green fodder.
- Cereal grass, including green shoots of corn, oats, barley, and timothy, is very palatable to rabbits.
Experienced rabbit breeders recommend harvesting grass in the morning and airing it a little before serving. It is not recommended to give rabbits fresh grass covered with dew or after rain.
Juicy feed
Succulent fodder is an important component of a rabbit’s diet. They contain a large amount of moisture and are a source of vitamins, carbohydrates and minerals.
- Silage is fresh greens that are chopped and canned. Jerusalem artichoke tops, corn stalks, cabbage and carrot leaves can be used to make high-quality silage. The grass should be dried to a humidity of about 55%, chopped and carefully tamped in a container or pit, and hermetically covered with a film on top.
- Root vegetables such as beets, carrots and boiled potato tubers are also good choices. They contain up to 85% moisture, some proteins, fiber, fats and minerals.
- Cruciferous crops such as watermelon, squash, squash, and pumpkin are great fall staples. They contain a significant amount of carbohydrates and vitamins.
- Certain succulents, such as cabbage and rhubarb, also make excellent rabbit food. They contain carbohydrates and vitamins.
In particular, pumpkin has unique properties. It is not only an excellent food for rabbits, but also acts as an effective anthelmintic. Thus, pumpkin is not only a tasty addition to the diet, but also a useful prevention against parasites.
Concentrated fodder
Concentrated feeds are an important part of a rabbit’s diet because they contain a large amount of nutrients such as proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals.
- Grain is one of the most nutritious foods for rabbits. Oat, wheat, barley and corn grains are especially useful. You can also give peas and soy. Grain meets most of the nutritional needs of rabbits.
- Bran – it is recommended to use wheat, barley, rye and buckwheat bran. They are waste after grain processing and contain a significant amount of nutrients.
- Cake and meal are dried and ground sunflower and leguminous seeds. They contain a large amount of protein and are a useful source of nutrition for rabbits.
- Obrat is skimmed milk whey. It can be added in dry form or as a fermented product in small quantities to feed mixtures as a source of calcium.
- Meat and bone meal and mulberry silkworm larvae are excellent sources of nutrients for rabbits. Meat and bone meal helps prevent bone diseases in rabbits, and silkworm larvae are rich in proteins and fats.
- Combined feed (loose or granulated) is a perfectly selected complex of combined feeds that provide rabbits with all the necessary nutrients. They can be the only source of nutrition for rabbits and contain fiber, vitamins and trace elements that contribute to rapid growth and full development.
Regardless of the age of rabbits, it is important that their diet contains a sufficient amount of protein and fat. It is also necessary to ensure control over the consumption of vitamins and minerals, since these substances are necessary for the health of animals.
Use of vitamin and mineral supplements
Useful vitamins for rabbits:
| Name | Benefit | How the defect manifests itself | Source |
| Vitamin A | Functioning of the nervous and reproductive system | Rhinitis, dry eyes, birth of dead rabbits | Fruits, vegetables (preferably orange – for example, carrots) |
| Vitamins of group B | They are responsible for digestion and assimilation of food | Decreased appetite, stunted growth, sparse coat | Yeast, bran, legumes |
| Vitamin C | Immunity | Frequent illnesses, bleeding gums, teeth may fall out | Parsley, rosehip, black currant |
| Vitamin D | Growth of the skeleton, building of bone tissue | Growth inhibition, rickets | Fish oil, abrat, bone meal |
| Vitamin E | Work of the reproductive system | Miscarriages, stillborn litters | Wheat, corn |
| Vitamin K | Responsible for hematopoietic functions in the body, prevents bleeding | Risk of bleeding (especially in case of burglary) | Nettle, needles, grain |
Useful minerals for rabbits:
| Name | Benefit | How the defect manifests itself | Source |
| Calcium, phosphorus | Necessary for healthy teeth, normal growth of bones and wool | Loss of teeth, thin fur | Bone meal, bone ash, chalk |
| Iron | Normal functioning of the hematopoietic system, metabolic processes | Risk of anemia, defects in wool coat, skin | Green fodder, wheat bran, yeast |
| Sulfur | Synthesis of B vitamins, digestion of cellulose | Loss of appetite, hair loss, dull eyes | Reverse, sour milk |
| Sodium, chlorine | Appetite increases. The assimilation of other trace elements is completed | The production of gastric juice decreases, milk production decreases, and growth rates decrease | Table salt |
At home, rabbit breeders often use premix – a self-prepared feed mixture of biologically active substances with a filler. Wheat bran, dry yeast, flour from soybean or sunflower meal, molasses and compound feed for farm animals are used in the production of such vitamin supplements.
Special preparations are also available on sale, which contain the necessary vitamin and mineral complexes that fully satisfy the needs of animals. Such complexes are convenient to use and effectively cope with the prevention and elimination of the causes of vitamin deficiency.
A popular type of feed is granulated grain-free feed (grass pellets) – a vitamin supplement to food, especially in winter. Among the manufacturers of this type of fodder, the brands “Little One” (Little Van) and “Jr Farm” (IrFarm) are well-known.
It is worth noting that recently, rabbit breeders increasingly began to use extruded (air) feed. The grain is exposed to temperature and pressure, which allows it to be sterilized. Such feed is easily digestible, completely natural and very effective for feeding pets, including rabbits. It can be purchased from a proven manufacturer or easily prepared yourself if you have a special device – an extruder.
On the modern market, there is a large selection of ready-made dry fodder mixtures of industrial production. They may be more expensive for farmers, but their benefits and efficiency are much higher. Brands that produce complete ration rabbit food differ in price, ingredients and product quality.
Dry feed mixtures for feeding rabbits
For breeding rabbits for meat and skins:
- Multigain:
Ingredients: barley, oats, bran, soybean meal, sunflower meal, fodder yeast, chalk, salt, vitamin-mineral complex, antioxidants, coccidiostat.
Advantages: increases immunity, productivity, milk yield; prevents coccidiosis in rabbits.
- Feed & Life (Feed and Life):
Composition: fiber, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, soybean meal, sunflower cake, bone or grass flour, yeast, coccidiostat, antibacterial complex.
Benefits: improves growth, ripening, increases resistance to infectious diseases.
- Purina (Purina):
Ingredients: grain mixture, sunflower meal, grass flour, wheat bran, beet pulp, sunflower oil, chalk, amino acids, vitamin-mineral complex, probiotic, coccidiostat.
Advantages: improves digestion, does not require additional feeding of hay, improves growth and performance.
- Shuya:
Composition: grain mixture, wheat bran, sunflower cake, grass flour, chalk, salt, vitamin-mineral premix, antioxidants.
Advantages: improves growth, productivity, fully covers the animal’s energy needs.
- PROVIMI (PROVIMI):
Composition: alfalfa flour, oats, corn, wheat, sunflower and linseed oil, chamomile and calendula extract, Jerusalem artichoke, kelp, Palmaria, vitamin premix.
Advantages: improves performance, digestion, saturates with necessary vitamins and trace elements.
For decorative rabbits:
- Vitakraft Menu (Vitakraft Menu):
Ingredients: alfalfa, oats, bran, oat flakes, sunflower seeds, molasses, pea flakes, wheat, carrots, chalk, rapeseed, soy, yucca, vitamin and mineral complex.
Advantages: effectively saturates, improves digestion, normalizes intestinal microflora, strengthens immunity, has a beneficial effect on health.
- Jr Farm (IrFARM):
Ingredients: grass flour, wheat, extruded corn, hay, oats, carob, pea flakes, bran, sunflower seeds, malt inclusions, carrots.
Benefits: has a beneficial effect on development, growth, improves digestion.
- LoLo Pets (LoloPets):
Ingredients: cereal, flax meal, sunflower meal, fodder yeast, minerals.
Benefits: complete nutrition for optimal growth and development.
- Benelux Funny (Benelux Fanny):
Composition: alfalfa, carob, corn flakes, wheat flakes, corn, peas, barley, linseed oil, salt, triticale, minerals.
Benefits: provides balanced nutrition, good health, good immunity, strengthens teeth, quality of wool coat, improves digestion.
- Little One (Little Van):
Ingredients: herbal granules, soy, wheat, lupine flakes, carob, peas, corn, carrots, molasses, vitamin-mineral premix, oregano.
Advantages: optimal growth and development, prevention and treatment of coccidiosis.
- Fiory:
Ingredients: fodder, bran, grain, carob, oil fruit seeds, fodder yeast, honey, minerals, oils and fats, inulin, yucca extract.
Benefits: improves health, improves bowel function, protects the body, eliminates ammonia secretions.
- Padovan:
Composition: sunflower seeds, corn, barley, lentils, carrots, apples, carob, granules: grain, sugar and its by-products, milk additives, trace elements.
Benefits: improves the condition of the wool coat, skin, helps to strengthen the protective functions of the body.
Please note that it is important to consult your veterinarian or rabbit nutritionist before using any feed, as nutritional requirements may vary depending on factors such as the age, sex, size and physical condition of the rabbit.
How to properly feed rabbits
Proper feeding of rabbits requires following several important rules:
- Use only clean food without mold, dirt and impurities. Check the feed before feeding to ensure its quality.
- Cereal fodder should be given dry, grass should be weeded, and root crops should have no signs of rot or damage.
- Remove feed residues from feeders in a timely manner. A rabbit should eat its portion of food, if it was correctly selected. Do not leave old food in the feeder, as it can become unpleasant or even lead to diseases.
- Use only quality hay. It should be fresh, without the smell of mold or dust. Hay is an important source of fiber for rabbits and helps support healthy gastrointestinal function.
- Provide constant access to fresh water in the drinking bowl. A rabbit’s daily water requirement corresponds to the amount of dry food eaten, multiplied by 3. For example, if a rabbit eats 50 g of dry food, it should have access to 150 ml of water during the day.
It is also important to pay attention to the diet of rabbits. It should be balanced and include a variety of components such as grain, hay, grass, vegetables and fruits. If necessary, consult a veterinarian or rabbit nutritionist for recommendations on the optimal diet for your rabbit, taking into account its age, sex, size and physical condition.
How to make a diet
When making a diet for rabbits, you should be guided by a number of recommendations:
- Choose food that meets the rabbit’s natural needs, tastes good and meets nutritional requirements.
- Avoid overfeeding your animals. Overeating can lead to health problems, excess weight and other problems.
- Provide variety in nutrition. The diet should include different types of feed, such as grain, hay, grass, vegetables and fruits. This will help ensure a variety of nutrients and meet the rabbit’s natural needs.
- Control the amount of vitamins and mineral supplements in food. Excess or insufficient intake of vitamins and minerals can be harmful to the rabbit’s health. It is recommended that you consult your veterinarian or rabbit nutritionist to determine the correct amount of supplements for your rabbit.
The daily ration is calculated using feed units. The nutritional content of 1 kg of oats is considered the standard of 1 feed unit.
The composition of feed for rabbits (1 feed unit) should include:
- Fat: 17-18 g
- Protein: 105-115 g
- Sugar: 100-150 g
- Carbohydrates: 18-22%
- Vitamin D: 15 thousand ME
- Carotene: 40-50 mg
- Iodine: 0.7 mg
- Iron: 80 mg
- Potassium: 7.5 g
- Calcium: 7-8 g
- Cobalt: 0.6 mg
- Lysine: 4-6 g
- Magnesium: 2 g
- Manganese: 55 mg
- Copper: 8-9 mg
- Sulphur: 2.5 g
- Phosphorus: 5-6 g
- Zinc: 56 mg
The energy value of the fodder unit is 1414 kcal.
Norms and modes of feeding
Feeding rates and regimes are important aspects of rabbit care. The correct sequence of feeding ensures efficient digestion of feed and ensuring the healthy condition of animals. Below are recommendations for the rates and regimes of feeding rabbits.
Feeding takes place in a certain sequence, taking into account the time of digestion of feed. Juicy fodder is digested in about 4 hours, concentrated – in about 7 hours, and roughage – up to 13 hours. Therefore, at first, rabbits should be given juicy fodder, then concentrated, and in the evening – rough fodder.
It is recommended to feed lactating females and rabbits up to 3 months 4 times a day. Young rabbits after weaning and adult rabbits are fed 2-3 times a day.
In winter, with three feedings, the recommended sequence is:
- At 8 o’clock: half the norm of concentrated feed and hay.
- At 12 o’clock: juicy feed.
- At 5 p.m.: half the norm of concentrated feed and half the norm of coarse feed (hay and branches).
In winter, with four feedings, the recommended sequence is:
- At 6 o’clock: 1/3 concentrated fodder and 1/4 hay.
- At 11 o’clock: 1/3 concentrated feed and 1/2 juicy feed.
- At 4:00 p.m.: half the rate of hay and half the rate of juicy fodder.
- At 7 p.m.: 1/3 of the norm of concentrated fodder and 1/4 of the norm of hay. You can give branches at night.
In the summer, with three feedings, the recommended sequence is:
- At 6 o’clock: half of the norm of concentrated feed and 1/3 of the norm of grass.
- At 3 p.m.: 1/3 of the norm of green fodder.
- At 7:00 p.m.: half the rate of concentrated fodder, 1/3 of the rate of green fodder and coarse fodder (branches).
In the summer, with four feedings, the recommended sequence is:
- At 6 o’clock: 1/3 concentrated fodder and 1/6 grass.
- At 11 o’clock: 1/3 concentrated fodder and 1/6 green fodder.
- At 4 p.m.: half the amount of grass.
- At 7 p.m.: 1/3 of the norm of concentrated fodder, 1/6 of the norm of green fodder and branches.
By following these guidelines for feeding rates and regimens, you will ensure a healthy diet for your rabbits.
Forages prohibited for rabbits
A number of food products can cause poisoning in rabbits. You should not forget the list of prohibited foods and products that should be given with caution.
Poisonous plants
- Avran apothecary
- Agrostemma
- Aconite
- Meadow wintergreen
- Kalla
- Hemlock (omega)
- Hemlock
- Dope is ordinary
- Delphinium
- Swamp puddle
- buttercup
- Milkweed
- Digitalis (digitalis)
- Meadow crossing
- Chemeritsa
- Purulent is large
Forbidden fruits:
- Mango
- Avocado
- Oranges
- Fig
Forbidden grains:
- Fig
- Rye
- Millet
- Millet
Forbidden legumes:
- Black beans
- Red beans
- Green peas
Prohibited:
- All dairy products
- Baking
- Sweets
- Combined fodder for cattle and poultry
Prohibited tree branches:
- Apricot
- barberry
- swamp
- Wolf’s face
- Elderberries
- Cheremshiny
- Celandine
Many farmers are now engaged in royal breeding. But a big mistake is made by those who improperly care for and feed animals.
A balanced diet is the basis for the health of rabbits, their harmonious growth, maturation, reproduction. Given the fact that the quality of fur and the taste of animal meat directly depends on nutrition, it is necessary to carefully approach these issues. By following certain recommendations, you can get great pleasure from breeding, as well as make a profit.