A27. Practical Feeding and Nutrition of Rabbit

Question 1

Arrangement of rabbits on farms for meat production

Answer 1

1. Adult nonproducing (buck, non-pregnant doe, culling breeding animals) – maintenance
2. Pregnant. (+lab rabbits)
3. Growing /Fattening(1 month until slaughtering at 2.5 months)
4. Pregnant + lactating (simultaneously)
5. Fattening

Question 2

Types of diets

Answer 2

Meat production; Pellet only
Ad libitum
- They eat 34 – 40 x/day and drink 30 – 35 x/day

Feeding with 4 phases
o	Pregnant and lactating doe
o	Growing rabbits (week 3 – 10)
o	Fattening, finishing: last 2 weeks of fattening
o	Non – pregnant doe

Question 3

Dietary protein, energy, and fibre densities, compounds,

Answer 3

Energy: 10 – 13 MJ DE/kg air dry feed (= approx. 90% DM)

Require essential fatty acids (linoleic, linolenic, arachidonic): 3 – 4 %
Protein: 15 – 23% CP
Crude fiber: 12 – 15 % (2/3 indigestible)

Question 4

Physical form of diets, feeding method and technology

Answer 4

Natural or pellets, but NEVER in meal form

• Growing: 5 – 15 dkg (or 50-150g)
• Pregnant: 10 – 20 dkg (or 100-200g)
• Lactating – 30 dkg (or 300 g)
• Pregnant + lactating: up to 45 dkg (or up to 450g)

Question 5

Length of fattening, slaughter weight, feed efficiency

life cycle for meat production

Answer 5

• Birth: 60 g BW
• Solid feed: 3 weeks old
• Weaning: 35 days old
• Slaughter:
  o Age: 12 weeks
  o Weight: 2.5 kg

Question 6

Life cycle: breeding animals, does –>5 kindlings/year

Answer 6

Insemination: 4 – 5 months of age
Gestation period: 30 days -->kindling
ins after 10 days after gestation 
Double work: 12 MJ DE/kg
Not for fattening but for muscle building

Question 7

Specialties of rabbits kept for hobby.

Answer 7

Angora
Angora rabbit: „wool”,
Once a week only hay, fasting day → anti-hair ball