Breeding in Rabbit

PAPER OF MISCELLANEOUS LIVESTOCK BREEDING IN RABBIT INTRODUCTION Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a logomorpha ordo that clasified in herbivore non nimiancia , rabbit have very high reproductive rate compared to other livestock (Templeton,1968). They become sexually mature within a few months of birth and have realitevely short pregnancies. They produce large litters and unique in that they can be rebred immideately after kindling ( giving birth ). With an intensive bredding program a doe can be expected to have 60 weaned young a year. Such intensive breeding is not recomended, however, for the beginner and is seldom used in commercial production. Rabbit have many kind of “ breed” for example small rabbit, normaly and also big rabbit. And that breed have different potential and reproductive. In Indonesia farmer has a breeding native rabbit but also they farm other rabbit like Flemish Giant, New Zealand White, Californian, Blouwender, Rex. satin, etc. Breeding schedule When setting up a breeding system for our rabbity, at the first consideration should be our purpose for rising rabbits. If we are raising rabbits for meat , if we want to produce as many fryers as possible. If we are mostly interested in showing rabbits , we must have only a few liters each year and time them to provide stock of the proper age for showing. Rabbit breeding schedules are usually based on 7-day intervals for ease in record kepping. Many commercial rabbit producers will breed does back 14 or 21 days after kindling. A 35-day breed-back schedule is recomded. We can shorten the interval between kindling and breeding as we gain experience. However, intensive breeding programs may increase the number of does culled annually due to “burn out” No matter what breeding schedule you use, always check the condition of the rabbits before mating them. It would not be wise to remete a doe in poor condition or one nursing a large litter 21 days after kindling, as it could effect her reproductive performance. This could effect her reproductive performance. This could result in the young produced. When possible, mate several does on the same day or within a few days. Kindling will take place at about the same time ( 28 to 32 days later), which will make fostering the young easier if it becomes necessary. Does should be expected to produce seven or eight young in litter, but they may occasionally have smaller litters. A. Breeding 1. Classification Rabbit breeder can classification 3 groups: a. Foundation stock : the breeder take from groove has upper glorification value. b. Breeding stock : take from groove elaboration c. Commercial stock : take from development proccess mother breed 2. Regulation Grade Livestock breeder must appropriate with standart or minimal technical regulation,as: a) General Regulation 1) Safe and free from physical defect like eyes physical defect,paralyzed,abnormal teeth and claw and have can not difference back bone or physical defect 2) Female rabbit must free from reproduction physical defect,abnormal udder,cannibal character,sterility indication and have milk hilt amount eight minimal. 3) Male rabbit must start as male and have no physical defect in reproduction and have high libido 4) Have genealogy note b) Special Regulation Special regulation must full to some rabbit groove are: 1) Wool product (Anggora rabbit) a) Kind of Angora rabbit - English Angora:ears no have fur with weight 2,3 – 3,2 kg - French Angora: ears with fur with 3,4-4,8 kg - Giant Angora:ears with fur with > 4,9 kg - Satin angora : ears with fur 3,0 – 4,0 kg b) Fur Colour - Agouty - Broken - Pointed White - Wide band 2) Meat Product a) Flemish Giant Rabbit - Shape long body,broad ears and long - Adult weight 6 kg - Fur colour is white,black,blue,fawn,light grey,sandy,steel grey - As crossing material b) New Zeland White - Fast growth - Wean a child weight amount 1,8 kg - Adult weight 3,6 until 5,5 kg - Albino white fur colour - Red eyes 3) Fur Skin Product a) Rex rabbit - Smooth fur,thick,uniform (1,27-1,59 cm),not easy shed - White fur colour,black,blue,gold brown,gold yellow,spot white - Adult white amount 3,6 kg b) Satin Rabbit - Thick fur,long body,broad head,short broad ears and balance with body. - Strong bone,straight length,black fingernail - Black colour fur,blue,californian,white,brown,ivory color,coppe,siarnese and chinchilla - Body weight at upper eight age month for male 4,8 kg and female amount 5 kg 2. Technical breeder 1. Mantaining Raising livestock only be able to carried with intensive systems, namely nurseries rabbit with raising at stalls and requirement feed full supplied 2. Production Animal breeding in the rabbit is classified to pure-breed and crossbreeding. a. Pure breed is crossing between pure or same class each rabbit b. Cross breed is crossing between deferent class of rabbit 3. Seed Selection Rabbit seed selection carried out by appearance / performance of individual selection criteria as follows: a. rabbits parent 1) The parent must be able to produce the child on a regular basis at least once in two months; 2) number of children born of at least 6 (six); 3) the number of children of weaning must be above average. b. prospective male 1) The rabbit weaning weights above average; 2) weight gain pre and post weaning on the average; 3) high libido and sperm quality is good; 4) performance in accordance with the class. c. prospective parent 1) The rabbit weaning weights above average; 2) weight gain pre and post weaning on the average. 3) performance in accordance with the class; 4) the number of nipples at least 8 (eight) pieces. 4. Crossing Crossing must meet the technical requirements following: a. Seedling age adult females 5-6 months; b. Seedling age males 6-7 months; c. Estrus females are marked with colored vulva red and swollen, and may be induced by finger touch on female genital; d. Mating system can be done with insemination artificial (IB) or natural mating e. natural mating is done by carrying doe rabbit cage to male with comparison male and female 1: 5; f. IB using semen frozen or liquid semen from male that has been tried and tested quality and declared free from infectious animal diseases that can be transmitted through semen; g. in the implementation of natural mating or IB must made arrangements use a male or cement frozen / liquid cement to prevent mating incest (inbreeding). 5. Livestock Substitute (replacement stock) Procurement of livestock replacement (replacement stock), carried as follows: a. female seeds selected candidate best 50%; b. male candidates selected seeds 10% best. 6. Rejects Expenditure (salvage / culling), conducted as follows: a. In males, 90% of the lowest ratings on selection first; b. In females, 50% of the lowest ratings on selection first; c. The parent and male unproductive or over the age of 5 (five) years. 7. Crosses Crosses made to increase productivity, with regard to: a. must meet the standards or technical requirements minimal; b. blood composition temperate maximum of 50%. 3. Infrastructure of housing rabbit. The distance of housing rabbit should be 1000 minimum far away from the breeding of poultry, not disturb the public life and should have the permission from goverment to build house of breeding rabbit. The farmer should think about the waste from breeding rabbit so it won’t be contaminte the environment. The temperature of location of house of breeding is 18-20®C so it will make the rabbit comfort to grow up. The land to make breeding rabbit should free from microorganism which dangerous for the animal and also the farmer. To make breeding rabbit we need the available of water, energy source and access availability. The water should be enough for breeding rabbit and have good quality for breeding. The energy source should eneough for breeding operational. The most important from make breeding rabbit is should have good transportation access to fulfill the requirement of production and distribution of offspring. The facilities if we want to prepare breeding rabbit, wes should seperate each age of the rabbit. The house of breeding rabbit should have the feed storage, tool storage, and the incierator oof dead rabbit. Good for the sanitation an has the building to prepare the administration. The building if we want to make breeding rabbit should be strong and have good construction. The ventilation of house should be optimum for the aeration and the drainase and waste access should be prepare well and easy to clean up. The distance between house unless 5 meters and with the other building at least 10 meters. The condition of environment should be quiet and not noisy. The tool to prepare breeding rabbit are feeder, drinker, tool for clean up the house, lamp, pelleting machine, clippers, disc mill, etc. The breed should fulfill the standart of breeding like free from zoonosis like scabies. It can from purebred or crossbred. 4. Housing system 1. Type of house Type of house that use for breeding rabbit is : a. Postal house is used for offspring and must placed indoor; b. Battery house system for 1 rabbit with battery construction (row), tier battery (storeyed) and pyramid battery (pyramid stack); c. Square house is used for birth parent and offspring 2. The capacity matched with the type and age of the rabbit, as follows: Table 2. Cage capacity (length x width x height in cm) Type of rabbit Age of the rabbit Male rabbit parent Offspring (6-12 mgg) Dara (12-24 mmg) Amount/cage Individual Individual 5-6 rabbit/group Individual Small (<2.5 kg) 75x60x40 75x60x40 75x60x40 75x35x40 Medium (2.5-4.5 kg) 80x75x45 80x75x45 80x75x45 80x50x45 Big (>4.5 kg) 90x80x50 90x80x50 90x80x50 90x60x50 5. Breeding outcome handling Several things that must be considered and must to do is : 1. Selection of the rabbit The rabbit must meet the standart or the minimal requirement. 2. Sanitation of the rabbit The rabbit must be cleaned without water, except the dirt that hard to clean with warm water, to avoid changes in the skin, and the rabbit as soon as possible to be dried. 3. Packaging of the rabbit The pack of the rabbit must meet the animal health and animal welfare. Be equipped with the information (label, leaflet or brochure) that contain place of origin, amount, age, sex, genealogy and identification number. 4. Carriage of the rabbit The carriage must meet the animal health and animal welfare. REFERENCES Kementrian Pertanian. 2011. Good Breeding Practice. hlm 31.

Feeding on Rabbit

FEEDING ON RABBIT

Compiled to Complete the Task of Miscellaneous Animal Production Science

Lecturer:

Dr. Ir. Sri Minarti, MP

Written by:

Kholifatus Sholiha                  145050100111064

Andini Nur Izza                      145050100111065

Nur Hidayah                           145050100111082

Muhammad Hilmy Hafiz        145050100111092

Priyanala Luthan                     145050100111088

Ilham Ardiansah                     145050100111110

Hanna Arum Rahmayanti       145050100111111

                                                         

FACULTY OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

BRAWIJAYA UNIVERSITY

MALANG

2015

1.    Introduction

            Feeding is one of important factor in breeding beside breed selection factor and good maintenance, so the success farm business is determined by feeding. Rabbits as
monogastric animal has a uniqueness in terms capacity, and physiologic properties of the capacity, and physiologic properties of the digestive tract. This unique of rabbit is to perform coprophagy. Coprophagy have capable of measuring itself the fulfillment of nutrients according to nutrient requirement. Coprophagy occured at night or the next morning, the feces are light green and soft, but the hard feces is not eaten by itself. Rabbit can take full advantage of bacteria in the lower digestive track, which convert proteins of bacterial into high-quality protein, vitamin B and synthesis of cellulose or fiber into useful energy.

Rabbits have the same basic nutritional needs as human. The requirement adequate amounts of water, carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamin and mineral. However, too much or too little of any of the nutrients can cause problem for rabbit. Amount of nutrients depend on age, physiological condition, maintenance purpose and growth.

2.    The Kind of Feeds

One of the benefit to take care of rabbit is easy to feed. Compare with other animal, rabbit more easy to find out of feed. But, for commonly rabbit more like few of forages or from harvesting-agriculture by product. Some area in plateau that have cold temperature, when rich of vegetable plant, rabbit can give the waste of vegetable, like leafy vegetable, mustard, carrot and cabbage. These vegetable can be given by singular or complete with combination concentrate. Feed of rabbit can classified to two category, namely:

A.    Forages

The rabbit was included to herbivore animal. Commonly, rabbit consume the forages to fulfill energy requirement for maintenance their body metabolism. Although rabbit included to herbivore, it less ability to digest of cellulose. That’s why rabbit can re-eating the feed for their soft-feces, it call “Coprophagy”. The forages that can’t digested yet, it will be eaten their feces. Some kinds of forages that can give to rabbit, namely:

a.       Grass

Grass is the most natural food for a rabbit to eat. The ideal set up would be a secure exercise pen on grass that allowed your rabbit to graze freely, but that is not always practical. If your rabbit does not have free access to grass, you can simulate natural grazing by growing grass from seed in a pot or tray. You can also cut grass for your rabbit and scatter it around their pen. If you do this, use scissors not lawn mower clippings, the cutting action of the mower crushes the grass, which causes it to begin to fermenting, and could upset your rabbit's stomach. If you've a lot of grass, you could even try making your own hay.

The grass that was often used to rabbit is, Benggala Grass (Panicum maximum), Grinting Grass (Cynodon dactylon), Alfalfa Grass, Thimoty Grass, Patikan Kebo Grass, Sintrong Grass, and etc.

b.      Legume

Legume are plants of the botanical family Leguminasae. The name is derived from the characteristics fruit pod of plans of this family. A very important characteristics of legumes is that most have nitrogen fixing bacteria associated with their roots. The bacteria, called rhizobia infect the young roots and form colonies. These develop into large visible masses called nodules. In the nodule, the bacteria take nitrogen containing compounds. The nitrogen is trapped by a hemoglobin like pigment called leghemoglobin, which is a red or pink color. Nodules that are actively fixing nitrogen are pink when cut open. The atmosphere nitrogen is converted to ammonia, and then to amino acids. These amino acids can be used by the plant to make its own protein.

Legume plants such as Pueraria phaseoloides, straw peanut (Rendeng), turi leaves, can improve the quality of feed because of its protein content is quite a lot. Rendeng is straw peanuts which contain lots of protein and calcium, as feed material should not be administered to cattle in fresh condition because it can cause bloat. Through the process of withering in advance can reduce the moisture content and removes sap or poisons in the forage that can interfere with the growth of rabbits. Rabbit breeds including pseudo -ruminant, which herbivores cannot properly digest raw fiber. Rabbits feed ferment in coecum (the first part of the large intestine), which approximately represents 50% of the total capacity of the digestive tract. Despite having a large coecum, rabbits were not able to digest the coarse fiber of forage as much as can be digested by ruminants.

c.       Tuber Crops

Example of tuber crops is remaining harvest of cassava (Manihot utilissma).  Manihot utilissma is an annual herbaceous tropical and subtropical of the tribe Euphorbiaceae. Tuber known as a staple food-producing carbohydrates and leaves as a vegetable.Shrubs, can reach 7 meters high, with branches rather rare. Taproot with a number of root branches later enlarged into an edible tuber roots. Tuber size average diameter of 2-3 cm and a length of 50-80 cm, depending on clones/cultivars. The inside of the tuber is white or yellowish. Cassava roots cannot stand even though the store is placed in the refrigerator. Symptoms of damage marked by dark blue color due to the formation of cyanide which is poison to humans.
Tuber cassava is the energy source that is rich in carbohydrates and have protein contained some amino acid like lysin, leusin, isoleusin and ect. Peel of Manihot utilissima can used feed for rabbit but not more because it is contain HCN.

This is method to lose HCN in the peel of Manihot utilissima

1.      Clean peel of Manihot utilissima

2.      Steam in temperature 100⁰ C

3.      Drying in the oven with temperature 100⁰ C

4.      Steam peel Manihot utilissima and dry in the sunlight until 12 hours

d.      Bushes

Example of bushes is Tridax procumbens, Euphorbia, dan Aspilla. Tridax procumbens called Gletang (local name) is a kind of plant, found mostly wild as weeds, Asteraceae tribe members. Originating from tropical America, Tridax procumbens is common in places that are dry, bright sun. Other names, including: katumpang, gletangan, cemondelan, gobesan, londotan, people-aring, prepes, propsky, sidawala, srunen (Java.); tar-sentaran, taroto (Md.). As well as coat buttons, Tridax daisy (Ingg.); cadillo chisaca (Spain), and herbe Caille. Terna chronic, with roots spear, early fall and then ascending, up to 0.8 m, branching since at the base. Round rod, often purple, long hair. Leaves opposite, sessile; leaf blade circular elongated eggs, 2.5 to 6 × 2 to 4.5 cm, coarsely toothed until pinnate curvy, thick juicy (succulent), hair. Compound interest in a terminal head or as if in the armpit, 2 × 1 cm, long-stemmed. Bell-shaped dressings. 5-6 edge flower bud, females, with a wide oval shape of the tongue, white or pale yellow. Multiple disc flowers, densely-crowded, androgynous-2, with a crown of bright yellow and yellow stamen tube. Hard fruit (achene) faceted, lk. 2 mm, dark brown or black, hairy meeting; crowned by 15-20 brush hair (pappus) are like feathers, strong and pointed. Tridax procumbens can be used for animal feed, usually mixed with grasses. Tridax procumbens flowers visited by many species of butterflies. And suitable to rabbit feed because have smooth stem and smooth leaf so suitable to digested by rabbit

e.       Vegetable

Example of vegetables is carrot, cabbage, mustard, leafy vegetable, kale, etc. Rabbit in grow period need Digesbility Energy like Carrot and Kale and Another vegetable.Carrot and Kale needed for fullfill feed nutrition and reproduction for rabbit.Carrot have vitamine A very hight as 12.000 SI,42 kal,Protein 1,2 g,fat 0,3 g,hidrat 9,3,calcium 35 mg, more higer given carrot leaf so more higer feed consumption in rabbit ,in this case mean that carrot leaf is good consumption for rabbit  because weight gain more higer than another grass. Kale have good nutrition like Vitamine A,B,C and mineral especially Fe can used body grow and kale can used to cure constipasi disease so kale is very good for rabbit consumption but not more because kale contain hight water if given rabbit more can cause diarhea disease if you want give kale you have wited earlier to lose water contens.

B.     Concentrate

Concentrate is a source of protein feed materials with coarse low fiber easily to digested and serves to improve the nutritional value other feed ingredients that low nutritional content. Concentrates are feeds containing less than 18% crude fiber on dry matter bassis. Exception of high fiber concentrates are cotton seed, sunflower seed and their whole seed cakes/meals.

1.      Energy Sources

Example include cereal gains (corn, wheat, barley, milo and hay) other non-cereal seed as amaranthus grain and buck wheat grain milling by products (wheat bran, rice bran, wheat mill run, wheat middlings, etc.) beet, pulp, cirus pulp, molasses, fats and oils, brewers and distillers grain, and tuber (e.g. potatoes and cassava)

2.      Protein Sources

These are concentrates that contain over 20% crude protein. Examples include soybean meal, cotton seed meal, rapessed meal and dried milk by products.

In the intensive rabbit farm, forages given about 60-80% and the remaining 20-40% in the form of concentrates, but there also provide 60% of the concentrates, and the remaining forage feed. Concentrate works to improve the nutritional value of feed and as feed amplifier. Concentrate as a component of the ration given as feed amplifier, increase the body weight of rabbit, so concentrate can be function as energy source, ififthe principal forage feed. Concentrate feed rabbits can be a pellet (artificial feed mill), bran, coconut cake, peanut meal, pulp, pulp tapioca, or cassava.

This additive feed is important to make nutrient quality on the rabbit body, Balai Informasi Pertanian Medan give ration formation, like:

Smooth Rice-bran	40-60%
Copra	15%
Corn	10%
Joy bean	10%
Peanut by product	0-20%
Mineral	5%

3.    Nutrient Requirements of Rabbit

A.    Water

Water is the most important nutrients for rabbits. A rabbit must always have access to fresh, clean water. If a rabbit does not get enough water, it will not eat. Rabbit can consumed water approximately 4 liters/day. There are different ways to hold water: a water bottle, a crock, or a bowl.

a.       A water bottle highly recommended because it keeps the cage clean and cannot easily be tipped over by the rabbit.

b.      A crock or bowl can also be use. Make sure they are secured down so they cannot spill.

c.       Clean and disinfectan the crock or bowl occasionally to avoid bacterial problems.

B.     Carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are used for energy. There are some carbohydrates that are essential to a rabbit’s diet, but too much of some carbohydrates can make a rabbit sick. Sources include: grains, pellet and fruit.

C.    Protein

Protein is nutrient that important required by rabbit, because it allows the rabbit to maintain muscle, bone, hair, and eye health. Within utilizing, rabbit more efficient compare with broiler chicken. Commonly, protein content around 12-13 percent. The study was explain about giving feed with 8-10 protein content can affect growth level and rate production. For example, on 13 % protein content, its easily a rabbit mother can produce 35-40 new baby rabbit per year. Whereas giving 8-10 % protein content, resulting 12-15 new baby per year. One of kinds the rabbit is New Zealand White, on growth phase, protein necessary around 15%. The rabbit that have age 3-6 week around 18%, lactation mother around 17%. Proteins: Having enough protein is important because it allows the rabbit to maintain muscle, bone, hair, and eye health. However, too much protein can cause kidney damage, and not enough protein will make a rabbit sick. Sources include:

a.       Grass hay               : 8   to 15% protein

b.      Alfalfa hay                        : 17 to 23% protein

c.       Pellets                    : 13 to 20% protein

d.      Grains                    : 10 to 18% protein

e.       Cecotropes                        : 25 to 38% protein

D.    Fat

Commonly, requirement of fat around between 2-3%, U.S Rabbit Experiment Station was recommended between 2-5.5%, on the other research was found if any plants that containing 10-25% fat, will give and will be increase the body weight that better or compare with plants that containing 5%. The dry mater digested level, ether-extract and crude protein it’s possibly can not affect because high level of fat. Fats provide energy for rabbits and help with absorption of certain vitamins. However, an excess of fat can lead to obesity and heart disease in older rabbits. Sources of fat include: grains, nuts, pellets and oils (flax seed oils and vegetable oils).

E.     Mineral

Minerals are essential to a rabbit’s proper bodily function, too. Since plants usually have very high concentrations of minerals, rabbits that are fed adequate amounts of vegetables will not develop deficiencies. Pellets are another good source of minerals. When consumed in excess, most minerals are harmless. An exception is calcium. If consumed in excess, calcium can give a rabbit a condition called “bladder sludge.” On the other hand, too little calcium may lead to bone loss and may affect bone strength. Rabbit meat is poor in sodium, rich in potassium and phosphorus when compared to meat from other domestic species. Compared with that from other mammals, rabbit milk is high in ash, especially in calcium, phosphorous, sodium. This  is  not  surprising  since  the  bones  of  the  newborn  kits  are  immature  at  birth  and  need  extensive mineralization.

a.       Calcium (Ca)

Calcium is the main component of the skeleton. Over 98% of the total body calcium is present in bones and teeth.  In  addition,  calcium  plays  a  key  role  in  heart  function,  muscle  contraction,  blood  coagulation  and electrolyte equilibrium in serum. Furthermore, the doe milk is rich in calcium. Therefore, the dietary requirements for calcium are accepted to be greater for fast-growing young animals and rabbit does in late gestation or at the peak of milk production. When compared to other domestic species, the metabolism of calcium in rabbit presents important differences it is absorbed in direct proportion to its concentration in the diet, regardless of metabolic need and, therefore, blood levels of calcium rise with increasing intake, urine is the main route used by the rabbit to eliminate any excess. High  milk-producing  does  might  suffer  a  syndrome  similar  to  that  of  milk  fever  in  dairy  cows.  During late gestation and early lactation, does may show a drop in calcium and other mineral levels in plasma that result in loss of appetite.

b.      Phosphorous (P)

Phosphorus is a major constituent of the bones. It also plays an important role in energy metabolism. A  major  factor  influencing  phosphorous  availability  from  plant  materials  in  non-ruminant  animals  is  the presence of phytates complex. In the rabbit, phytase phosphorous is well utilized because of phytase production by the microorganisms of the caecum.  Most  of  the  phosphorous  is  recycled  through  soft  faeces  followed  by caecotrophy and, therefore, should results in an almost complete utilization of phytate phosphorous. There  is  growing  interest  in  controlling  the  excretion  of  phosphorous  through  feed  manipulation  to  reduce environmental pollution.

c.       Magnesium (Mg)

Magnesium is a major component of the bones (70% of total body magnesium is in the skeleton) and also acts as a cofactor in many metabolism reactions. Deficiency produces poor growth, poor fur texture and fur chewing.

d.      Potassium (K)

Potassium plays a key role in the regulation of the acid-base balance in organisms and is a cofactor in numerous enzymes. Symptoms of deficiency include muscle weakness, paralysis and respiratory distress. Potassium ion (K+) deficiency in rabbits might appear when diarrhea is present. Ingredients used in rabbit diet are rich in K+ (e.g. soybean meal, lucerne, molasses).

e.       Sodium (Na)

Sodium is involved in the regulation of pH and osmotic pressure. Sodium is essential for the absorption of luminal nutrients such as glucose and amino acid.

f.       Chloride (Cl)

Chloride is also involved in acid-base regulation. The  relationship  between  Na+,  K+  and  Cl-  (the  electrolyte  balance)  affects  animal  production, influencing resistance to thermal stress, leg score, kidneys function and incidence of milk fever.

g.      Trace minerals

Trace minerals are defined as those elements required in mg per day and needs are expressed in mg/kg or ppm of the diet. The definition includes iron, copper, manganese, zinc, selenium, iodine, cobalt etc.

Requirement of mineral on rabbit actually same with other animal require. Some mineral that required by rabbit like Manganese, Potassium, Phosphor, Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium, etc. Manganese require on adult rabbit per tail per day around 0.3 mg, on growth phase 1.0 mg, whereas potassium commonly required 0.6 mg per tail per day.

F.     Vitamin

Vitamins are defined as a group of complex organic compounds that are present in minute amount in natural feeds and are essential for nutrient metabolism and life. Except  for  choline,  vitamins  are  required  in  minute  amounts  and  requirements  are  expressed  a  UI,  mg/kg  or ppm. All vitamins have essential functions in the organism: most act as metabolic catalysis of organic process. Vitamins are classified on basis of their solubility:

a.       Vitamin A, D, E and K soluble in fat

b.      All the others (B complex, vitamin C) are soluble in water

Fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed with dietary lipids. In general, they are store in the body (predominantly in the liver and fat tissues) in appreciable amounts. Water-soluble vitamins are not stored but rapidly excreted, the exception being vitamin B 12. Both groups differ in their excretion pattern: fat-soluble vitamins are excreted primarily in faeces via the bile, water-soluble vitamins are excreted mainly through the urine. A continuous supply is more important for water- those fat-soluble vitamins. Rabbits require all vitamins except vitamin C. An extreme excess of vitamin C can cause kidney damage. An excess of vitamin D can cause calcium deposits to form in tissues. Excess vitamin A can cause neurological and skin damage.

Fat-soluble vitamins

a.       Vitamin A

Vitamin  A  is  only  found  in  ingredients  of  animal  origin  or  synthetic  supplement.  Plants  contain  a  series  of precursors,  the  carotenoids,  with  variable  vitamin  A  activity.  In the rabbit ß-carotene,  the  most  important precursor of vitamin  A found in vegetables, is converted into vitamin  A in the intestinal  mucosa. Vitamin A participates in numerous metabolic reactions and is involved in vision, bone development, reproduction and the immunological response. In practice, feeding levels of 6000 IU for growing -fattening rabbits and 10,000 IU for breeders appear to be sufficient under commercial conditions. The liver can store large quantities of vitamin A. In  contrast  to  cattle,  horses  and  poultry,  rabbits  are  “white  fat‟  animals  and  they  are  not  capable  of  storing carotenoids. Based on the lack of agreement among authors on the influence of ß-carotene on reproduction and the cost of supplementation, caution is needed.

b.      Vitamin D

Vitamin  D  is  synthesized  by  the  animal  when  exposed  to  sunlight.  The two major natural sources are cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3 of animal origin) and ergocalciferol (vitamin D2 of plan origin). Vitamin  D,  after  dihydroxylation  in  the  liver  and  kidney,  acts  as  a  hormone  and  plays  a  central  role  in  the metabolism  of  calcium  and  phosphorus,  influencing  bone  mineralization  and  mobilization. The classic symptoms of deficiency are rickets in growing animals and osteomalacid in adults. Excess vitamin D, rather than deficiency is more likely to be problem under practical condition. The recommended level of vitamin D3 for rabbits is low and should not exceed 1000-1300 IU.

c.       Vitamin E

Vitamin E activity is found in a series of eight compounds of plan origin (tocopherols and tocotrienols → d -α tocopherol the most active). Major functions of vitamin E are synthesis of prostaglandins, blood clotting, and stability of membrane structure and modulation of the immune response. The  main  signs  of  vitamin  E  deficiency  are  muscular  dystrophy  in  growing  rabbits  and  poor  reproductive performance with increased abortion rate and stillbirths in pregnant does. The recommendations are 15 and 50 mg vitamin E/kg for fatteners and does, resp. The recommendations might depend on the amount and fatty acid profile of the fat source used. The inclusion of 200 mg vitamin E/kg in diets supplemented with unsaturated sources has been found to reduce oxidative damage of muscle tissues of rabbits.

Water-soluble vitamins

a.       B vitamins

Appreciable amount of water-soluble vitamins are supplied to rabbit through caecotrophy. In fact, caecotrophy meets rabbit requirements for maintenance and average level of production.  However, fast -growing fatteners and high-producing does may respond to additional supplementation of B vitamins: thiamine (B1); riboflavin (B2); pyridoxine (B6); niacin (B3).

Dietary  ingredients  used  in  rabbit  diets,  such  as  lucerne  meal,  wheat  middlings, soybean  meal,  are  excellent source of most B vitamins. Choline is essential for building and maintenance of cell structure as a component of phospholipids, fat metabolism in the liver, preventing abnormal lipid accumulation, formation of acetylcholine, which allows the transformation of nerve impulses, donation of labile methyl groups for the formation methionine, betaine and other metabolites. Choline is synthesized in the liver. Supplementation of 200 mg/kg diet should suffice for most situations.

Folic acid (vitamin B9) is important for biosynthesis of nucleic acids and for cell division. 0.1 and 1.5 mg/kg are recommended for growing-fattening and does, resp. Biotin  (vitamin  H)  is  involved  in  many  metabolic  reactions,  including  the  interconversion  of  protein  to carbohydrate and carbohydrate to fat. It plays a role in maintaining normal blood glucose when carbohydrate intake is low. 0.01 and 0.08 mg/kg are recommended for fatteners  and does, resp.

Thiamine  (vitamin  B1)  is  a  coenzyme  of  certain  reactions  of  the  citric  acid  cycle.  The  classic  symptoms  of deficiency  are  neurological  disorders,  cardiovascular  damage  and  lack  of  appetite.  It is recommended to supplement the diets of fatteners and does with 0.8 and 1.0 mg thiamine/kg, resp.

Riboflavin  (vitamin  B2)  is  required  as  a  coenzyme  in  many  metabolic  processes.  Most  flavoproteins  contain vitamin  B2  and,  therefore,  this  vitamin  is  involved  to  release  of  food  energy  and  assimilation  of  nutrients. Typical symptoms of deficiency involve the eyes, skin and nervous system. Milk is rich in roboflavin. 3 and 5 mg/kg is recommended for fatteners and does, resp.

Niacin is involved in many metabolic reactions such as electron transport, which yields energy to the animal. It plays  a  role  in  tissue  integrity,  especially  of  skin,  gastrointestinal  tract  and  nervous  systems.  Deficiency is characterized by hair loss, dermatitis, diarrhoea and lack of appetite. In the rabbit, substantial amounts of niacin are synthesized by the hindgut microorganisms.

Pyridoxine  (vitamin  B6)  plays  a  role  in  the  krebs  cycle  and  in  amino  acid,  carbohydrate  and  fatty  acid metabolism.  Synthesis  of  niacin  from  tryptophan,  conversion  of  linoleic  to  arachidonic  acid,  formation  of advenalin from phenylalenine and tyroseine, incorporation of iron into haemoglobin and antibody formation are some  of  the  reaction  in  which  pyridoxine  is  involved. Pyridoxine deficiency produces retarded scaly skin, diarrhoea and fatty liver. In the rabbit, pyridoxine deficiency causes inflammation around the eyes and nose, scaly thickening of the skin around the ears, alopecia in the forelegs and skin desquamation. 0.5 and 1.5 mg/kg are recommended for fatteners and does, resp.

Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) is a consistent of coenzyme A and acyl carrier proteins, key metabolites in tissue metabolism. Pantothenic acid deficiency reduces growth and produces symptoms such as skin lesions, nervous disorders, gastrointestinal disturbances, impairment of adrenal function and decreased resistance to infection. No symptoms have ever been described in the rabbit. 10 and 13 mg/kg are recommended for growers and does, resp.

Vitamin  B12  is  synthesized  in  the  nature  only  by  microorganisms  and  is  not  found  in  feeds  of  plan origin. Vitamin B12 is metabolically related to choline, methionine and folacin. Symptoms of deficiency include anaemia,  loss  of  appetite,  rough  skin,  diarrhoea  and  reduced  litter  size. Rabbits  are  capable  of  producing substantial  amounts  of  vitamin  B12  trough  caecotrophy,  provided  that  cobalt  is  available.  No deficiency symptoms have ever been described when commercial diets are used. 0.010 to 0.012 mg/kg is recommended for growers and does.

G.    Fiber

Fiber is crucial in a rabbit’s diet. If a rabbit does not eat enough fiber, it can have many digestive problems. Too little fiber can eventually cause serious illness or even death. Sources of fiber include: indigestible parts of plants; hay, straw, and branches; fruits and vegetables (but because their water content is so high, hay is a better source of fiber); and pellets.

Much like humans, rabbits come in many different types. They vary in breed, age, size, and gender, and each type of rabbit has different nutrient requirements.

Table 1. Nutrient Require for Rabbit (Banerjee, 1982)

Nutrient	Rabbit
	Main life	Growth	Lactating Mother	Pregnant Cattle
	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
Digest Energy (DE)	2100	2500	2500	2500
TDN (%)	55	65	58	70
Crude Fiber (%)	14	10-12	10-12	10-12
Fat (%)	2	2	2	2
Crude Protein (%)	12	16	15	17
Calcium (%)	-	0.40	0.45	0.75
Phosphorus (%)	-	0.22	0.75	0.50

Table 2. Dry matter requirement of rabbit

Physiological condition		Body weight (kg)	DM requirement (% BW)	(gram/day)
Young	1,8-3,2		5,4-6,2	112-173
Adult	2,3-6,8		3,0-4,0	92-204
Pregnancy	2,3-6,8		3,7-5,0	115-251
Lactating (7 childs)	4,5		11,5	520

4.      Feed Formulations

Breeding does and their kits are able to wean >60 kits, produce ten times their body in milk per year, the fast growth rate allows multiplication of their birth weight by 40-50 at the age of 60-70 days.

A.    Level of fibre

Rabbits are capable of achieving a good growth performance on high-fibre diets as a result of their particular digestive physiology.  Maximum  growth  rates  are  reached  with  diet  containing  about  18-21%  ADF,  with corresponds to 9.7-10.3 MJ/kg DE. Experimental results indicated that dietary levels of neutral detergent fibre (NDF), ADF and starch of around 32, 17  and  18%,  resp.,  where  optimal  for  maximal  reproductive  performance,  growth  of  young  r abbits  and  feed efficiency.

a.       Type of fibre

Lucerne hay is the most widely used fibre source in rabbit diets, accounting for around 25-40% of commercial pellet. Lucerne hay is highly palatable and provides both long and digestible fibre, which allows an adequate transit time of the digesta and balanced growth of the caecal flora. Dietary inclusion of fibrous by-products at a level of 10-15% has little effect on rabbit performance. The inclusion of moderate levels of soluble fibre (12% soluble NDF) in post-weaning diets has been shown to improve the immune response and reduce the deterioration of mucosa after weaning, pathogen proliferation in the gut and fattening mortality.

B.     Fat Supplementation

Fat inclusion (3%) had a positive effect on energy digestibility (5%) and feed efficiency (7%) but not on growth rate, as feed intake decreased by 6%. The beneficial effect of fat inclusion were more pronounced for does than for growing rabbits. The inclusion of 3.5% fat in doe diets increased DE intake by 14.5%, which promoted an increase in milk yield and litter weight at weaning by 8.5%. Neither the body weights of does nor fertility or prolificacy were affected by the type of diet, but kit mortality decreased. Results  have  shown  that  diets  enriched  in  n-3  PUFAs  decrease  mortality  during  lactation  and  improve  the reproductive efficiency of does.

C.    Level and Source of Protein

It  is  advisable  to  express  total  protein  requirement  as  a  ratio  between  DP  and  DE.  Maximal DE  intake  and average daily weight gain were obtained for diets with a DP:DE ratio of 10 g DP/MJ DE.

D.    Amino Acid Requirements

Several authors determined the lysine, sulphur and threonine requirements, expressed in digestible instead of crude units. Recommended nutrient concentration diet. The nutrient requirements of intensively reared rabbits are given for the three types of diets more commonly used in practice: breeding does, fattening rabbits, a mixed feed for all animals. Energy  concentrations  have  been  determined  from  estimates  based  on  the  optimal  proposed  levels  of carbohydrates and fat.Increasing dietary and amino acid content by 10% for the first 2 weeks after weaning are proposed for fattening rabbits.

5.      Technical Feeding for Rabbit

1.      At 7 – 8 a. m we must open the house (badengan) for rabbit to get breakfast

2.      After 8 a. m the rabbit must go out from badengan and then we close it again

3.      Around at 12 p. m the rabbit given feed additive such as blanding rice brand and kale has been cut in small size. Ginger can also given once until twice in a week for natural supplement

4.      Badengan is open again at 4-5 p.m.

5.      Rice brand can be given at 9 p. m as the dinner for rabbit

6.      Actually the treatment that must be done it’s not complicated. For rabbit treatment does need special treatment, we just need bath them, cleaning their ear and fur. In another treatment is do through by feeding control. Otherwise at housing maintenance we just need to keep clean the house. The purpose of that activity is to prevent the rabbit get disease.

Regularity in feeding is more important than the frequency of administration of each day. The mother who are breastfeeding should be given feed two times a day with the whole or straw, each time given.or  can also straw in the morning then grain and straw in the afternoon. Rabbit  were only given food once a day administration should do during the afternoon because the rabbit will eat, especially at night.

References:

Abun, Denny R, dan Deny S. 2008. Kaji Tindak Pembuatan Complete Feed dalam Upaya Budidaya Kelinci di Desa Panaragan Kecamatan Cikoneng Kabupaten Ciamis. Bandung: Laporan PKPKM Universitas Padjajaran.

Blakely, J and Bade, H. D. 1991. Ilmu Peternakan. Yogyakarta: Gadjah Mada University Press.

Banerjee, C. 1982. A Textbook of Animal Husbandry. New Delhi: 5^th Ed, Oxford and IBH Publishing.