Practical feeding and nutrition of rabbit Flashcards
Management on farms of rabbits used for meat (5)
- Adult: non-reproducing does
- Bucks
- Pregnant doe
- Pregnant and lactating doe
- Fattening rabbits
Dietary requirements and supplements: 9 to mention
- E: DE
- Protein: CP
- CF
- Ca
- P
- Na
- Vit K
- Coccidiostats
- Nutriceuticals
E
DE!!
10-12 MJ/kg DM
Protein
CP
12-18%
CF
12-15%
Ca
Regulated at level of excretion
Na
relatively higher level than other monogastrics
Vit K
For pregnant and lactating
To prevent placenta haem
Example of a nutriceutical
Thyme
DM intake in g for the different stages
Growing: 50-150
Pregnant: 100-200
Suckling: 300
Suckling and gestant: around 450
Components and physical forms of the feeds (7)
- Natural or pelleted-
- NEVER MEAL
- Hay: alflafa or meadow hay
- Oat, barley, wheat
- Grain legumes
- Extracted sunflower meal
- Corn- small amnts because decr amylase activity
Feeding methods and technology (4)
- Feed is regulated by E conc MJ DE per kg DM, therfore if feed is E dense then the mass consumed is less
- Eat 35-40 x per day
- Ad lib
- No additional hay
Length of fattening of rabbits and weights
- Day 0: 60g
- 3wks: solid feed
- 35 days: weaning
- 12wks: 2.5kg– SLAUGHTER
BW at birth
60g
Slaughter weight and age
12wks
2.5kg
Length of gestation
30 days
Requirements of lactating does
- E: MJ/DE kg: 10-12
- CP%: 12-18
- CF%: 12-15
**exact same as the normal requirements?
Feed efficiency
If high grain: 2-2.3
If high forage: 3-3.8
Special considerations for rabbits kept for hobby- the 5 points
- Goal
- Feeding
- If feeding pellets
- Angora
- Orphaned babies
Special considerations for rabbits kept for hobby: goal
Healthy and long lifespan
prevent obesity
Special considerations for rabbits kept for hobby- feeding
- Ad lib of good quality hay: meadow hay or timothy NOT alfalfa
- Ad lib water
- Small amounts of leafy veg
Special considerations for rabbits kept for hobbyL if giving pellets
- not ad lib
- Made from hay NOT cereal grains
- High CF
Angora rabbits
Hay only once a week
Fasting day to prevent hairballs
Orphaned baby rabbits
Milk replacers 2-3x a day
Introduce solid food from day 12-14