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.
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.
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: 5th Ed,
Oxford and IBH Publishing.
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