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Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1
Feed Requirements of Rabbits............................................................................................................... 1
Nutrition Requirements for Growth ...................................................................................................... 1
Nutrition Requirement at Weaning ....................................................................................................... 1
Requirement of Diets at Gestation/Lactation ....................................................................................... 2
Lactation Diets in Rabbits ...................................................................................................................... 2
Complementary Diets ............................................................................................................................ 2
Feeding Schedule.................................................................................................................................... 2
Feed Consumption .............................................................................................................................. 2
Feeding of Rabbits............................................................................................................................... 3
Time of Feeding................................................................................................................................... 3
Some Consideration on Feeding ......................................................................................................... 3
Utensils for Feeding................................................................................................................................ 4
Composition of Two Rabbit Feed Mixture .......................................................................................... 4
Feeding Schedule for the Different Categories of Rabbits ................................................................. 4

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Introduction
Feed Requirements of Rabbits
The nutritional requirement of rabbits, as is the case in other mammals, varies
according to age and productive performance. To obtain effective feeding efficiency,
diets should be formulated to meet the needs of animals of a particular age or stage
of production. Most rabbit farms are not large enough to justify the use of several
different feeds, so it is a common practice to use just one diet for the entire herd.
Since rabbit farming is becoming more intensive, it is suggested that rabbit
producers should use at least two diets, a grower diet for fryers and a lactation diet
for does.
(a) Nutrient Requirements for Growth
Creep diets. Creep diets are those diet which are fed to babies since requirements
for growth are highest in them. This is decreased with increase of age. The baby
rabbit is capable of a much greater growth rate as is commonly observed with this
diet. In view of the high cost of creep diet, creep feeding does not appear to be an
economically sound practice in rabbit production nowadays.
Composition of a 22% Crude Protein Creep Diet

Ingredients Composition %
Oats (ground) 19.0
Wheat (ground) 10.0
Barley (ground) 10.0
Wheat bran 6.4
Soybean meal 12.0
Rapeseed meal 2.5
Fish meal 3.2
Dehydrated alfalfa meal 23.7
Dried brewers yeast 3.0
Dried distillers solubles 4.0
Dried whey 4.0
Molasses 1.0
Salt, iodized 0.5
Vitamin, mineral premix 0.775
DL-methionine 0.07
Feed flavour 0.05

(b) Nutrition Requirement at Weaning

It is the period when an animal’s diet changes from milk to solid feeds. It is
suggested that at weaning, a high-fibre, low-starch diet would be beneficial, followed
by a switch two weeks later to a high-starch diet; at which time the capacity of the
animal to digest starch would be higher. For maximum production efficiency, a
feeding system using a highly palatable, high-fibre diet at weaning with a switch to a
high carbohydrate fattening ratio would be beneficial.

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(c) Requirement of Diets at Gestation/Lactation
Lactating does have a higher requirement for protein, energy, calcium and
phosphorus than do fryers. For maximum production at least 18% CP is required.
Since, does in commercial leads are simultaneously pregnant and lactating, the
same diet can be used for both gestation and lactation. During periods when does
are not with litters, restricted feeding should be practiced to avoid obesity. Peak
lactation in rabbits occur 21 days post kidding. In does bred 24 - 48 hours
postpartum, milk production declines rapidly after 21 days of lactation, and the
mammary glands prepare for the initiation of a new lactation period.
(d) Lactation Diets in Rabbits

Ingredient Composition %
Alfalfa meal 40.0
Ground barley 20.25
Wheat mill run 20.0
Soybean meal 14.0
Molasses 3.0
Fat 1.5
Dicalcium
0.75
phosphate
Salt (trace, mineral) 0.5
Alfalfa meal 30.0
Ground oats 26.5
Ground barley 23.0
Soybean meal 16.0
Molasses 3.0
Dicalcium
1.0
phosphate
Salt (trace,
0.5
mineralized)

(e) Complementary Diets

In certain situations, particularly in small-scale rabbit production, it would be
desirable to free feed hay or greens and supplement this diet with a restricted
quantity of high energy, high protein concentrate.
Feeding Schedule
A pregnant doe may consume 200 to 250g of balanced pelleted feed combined with
good green grasses. Grass can be provided at 100g/day.
1. Feed Consumption
Daily feed consumption is about 5% of body weight. Daily water consumption is
about 10% of body weight. Lactating does will require more water and food. A rabbit
keeper should make the diet schedule accordingly. Clean fresh water should be
made available at all times.

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2. Feeding of Rabbits
Milk is the only food for the baby rabbit up to the age of 15 to 21 days. Those that
suckle survive and non-suckers may die. The rabbit keeper should ensure milk
production in does by providing plenty of water and food. The young rabbit will start
to eat solid foods (grass, concentrate) along with mother’s milk from 15 to 21 days.
After 21 days or so they eat more solids and suckle less. From weaning time
onwards, the rabbits should be provided with more green food, vegetables and
concentrates.
3. Time of Feeding
It will be a wise proposition if the food is offered at a particular time of the day. All
concentrate rations should be provided at 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Fresh bulky feeds
should be offered in the evening since the rabbit is more active during that time.
Food should be fresh, clean and free from dirt.

Figure 1. Feeding Rabbit

4. Some Consideration on Feeding
 Fresh grasses or legumes should be included in the ration to a level of
70%.
 50% legumes plus 50% grasses may afford minimum dietary requirement
for resting does and bucks.
 Dustiness of mash should be avoided by adding water to moisten the feed
slightly.
 Prevent feed from becoming sour, since sour feed is not liked by rabbit.
 Clean and fresh water should be made available at all times.
 Does should not be fed with heavy diet right after kidding.
 Feed of does should be increased after 5 - 7 days after kidding.
 Abrupt change in the quality or quantity of feed should be avoided.

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  Molasses at the rate of 5% should be added to the diet to increase
acceptability of the diet.
 A small quantity of hay/straw should be fed in addition to the compound
feed to prevent boredom and to provide bulk.
 Rapeseed oil meal should be heated before inclusion in the diet. It should
be fed below 15% levels in diet.
 High calcium diet may interfere with the acceptance of does to the
offspring and thus may affect the growth of the litters, therefore diet should
not contain excess calcium.
 Dry does, bucks and replacement stock should be fed once a day at the
rate of 100 - 120gm of pellet feeds.
 Young rabbits in growing stages and lactating does should be free fed by
keeping grain/pellets in the feeder at all times.
 Good quality legumes should be kept before the rabbits in addition to
pellet ration.
 Carrots, Green grass, Spinach, Turnip, Lucerne, barseem etc. should be
provided as is a good succulent feed for rabbits.
 Other feed stuffs such as kitchen wastes, spoilt milk, damaged fruits may
be fed by small-holder farmers, but they should be fed with caution
considering their deleterious effects.
5. Utensils for feeding
A good number of watering utensils and feeders are used in the rabbit cages. The
feeders should be attached to the rabbit cages so that feed can be put from outside.
The feeder should be kept at a height of 5 - 8cm, so as to minimize contamination of
feed by faeces, urine or water. Open food and water bowls are less hygienic than
hoppers and water bottles. Earthen and aluminium bowls could be used since they
are cheaper from an economic stand point. Hoppers should be made in such a way
that food cannot spill out. The water bottles if used should be cleaned properly.
Filling and cleaning of water bottles on a large-scale farm may require considerable
time, therefore, automatic watering systems are gaining importance on big
Rabbitries. The feeder, whatever the nature should be cleaned properly each day
before use. There are various types of feeders, hoppers, water bottles and hay racks
available.
Source: Namakkal KVK, Rabbit Farming
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

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 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

Feeding Schedule for the Different Categories of Rabbits

Quantity to be fed per day

Approximate
Item Green
body weight Concentrates
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
600 - 700 g 50 g 200 g
weeks)

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 10ml/100g body weight per day and up to 90ml/100g body weight if
lactating).

Reference

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