Feeding

Animal Husbandry > Rabbit

Feeding

Rabbits consume common type of grains, pulses (sorghum, bengal gram, wheat etc.) and either green legumes (alfalfa, berseem etc.) or as hay. Even kitchen wastes and garden vegetables (cabbage, carrot etc.) or their leaves are also eaten. Rabbit consumes dry matter to the extent of 6-8 per cent of their body weight and out of this roughage can be up to 60 per cent. The dietary crude protein content should be 12-15 percent for dry non-lactating does and 16-20 percent for growers and lactating does with litter. Rabbits should be fed with either compounded mash mixture or pelletted feed. Rabbit pellets should be of 3 mm size. Pelletted feed reduces wastage and prevents respiratory troubles caused by dust from the conventional concentrate rations.

Composition of two Rabbit feed mixture

Bengal gram	14 parts
Wheat	30 parts
Groundnut cake/Gingelly cake	20 parts
Meat cum bone meal	10 parts
Black gram husk	24 parts
Mineral and vitamin mixtures	1.5 parts
Salt	0.5 parts
	100

Bengal gram	10 parts
Groundnut cake	20 parts
Gingelly cake	5 parts
Rice polish	35 parts
Wheat	28 parts
Mineral and vitamin mixtures	1.5 parts
Salt	0.5 parts
	100

(Source: Kerala Agricultural University)

Feeding schedule for the different categories of Rabbits

Item	Approximate body weight	Quantity to be fed per day
Item	Approximate body weight	Concentrates	Green grass
Bucks	4 - 5 kg	150 g	600 g
Does	4 - 5 kg	150 g	600 g
Lactating does	-	200 g	700 g
Weaner (6 weeks)	600 - 700 g	50 g	200 g

(Source: Kerala Agricultural University)

Leaves of Murukku, Agathi and cultivated fodder grasses like guinea, napier and para grass are palatable to rabbits apart from the leguminous fodder such as cowpea, lucerne, stylosanthes etc.

The rabbits should be supplied adequate quantity of fresh clean water (they drink approximately 10 ml/100g body weight per day and up to 90 ml/100 g body weight if lactating).

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