What to feed rabbits: feeding at home, what to eat, what not to feed, list of feeds

Rabbits eat plant foods. They have a relatively large single-chamber stomach. Therefore, they need adequate feeding according to generally accepted standards. However, before compiling a diet, you should familiarize yourself with some of the physiological characteristics of animals.

This article describes the main features of feeding rabbits: a description of food products, examples of diets and food that should never be given to animals.

Rabbit food

Greens

Rough

Juicy

Concentrated

Vitamins and minerals

Feeding rabbits in winter

Diet structure and feeding norms

Feeding regimes in winter

What not to feed rabbits

Why is a proper diet important for pets?

Active growth and weight gain are undoubtedly directly influenced by rabbit food, optimally balanced and properly prepared at home. It also allows you to minimize financial costs.

Fulfillment of all conditions allows us to ensure that an adult rabbit can produce at least 30 rabbits per year. With proper nutrition, young animals reach marketable weight (3.5-4.5 kg) at the age of 4-5 months.

If the diet is prepared correctly, the female becomes capable of the next conception within 3-5 days after the birth of the cubs. To summarize what has been said, it should be said that rabbits need to be constantly fed, fed, and fed again.

Nutrition of decorative breeds

If rabbits are bred not for meat, but for beauty, the feeding process changes somewhat. The diet itself remains approximately the same. It should also include fresh and dried grass, various gifts from vegetable gardens and orchards, animal feed, mineral and vitamin supplements. But you can’t just build a bunker feeder for your pet. He will become fat and will not live long.

Decorative rabbits require a special approach

It is important to maintain a balance between constant chewing and daily nutrient requirements, as well as to control your pet’s body weight. To ensure a natural feeding regime, it is worth purchasing feeder toys for your fluffy, which make it difficult for the animal to access food and force the animal to get it:

To ensure a natural feeding regime, it is worth purchasing feeder toys for your fluffy, which make it difficult for the animal to access food and force the animal to get it:

balls made of metal wire for grass and pieces of vegetables (hanging and rolling on the floor);
plastic balls for granulated food;
“hedgehogs” made from twigs.

The advantage of such feeders is that the rabbit will be busy most of the day, and he will not have time for mischief.

What to feed rabbits

Optimally balanced feed allows breeders to achieve active growth of rabbits and rapid achievement of reproductive age.

Types and characteristics of feed

The table below lists rabbit food and its components.

Name	Components
Greens	all kinds of herbs
Juicy	root vegetables, fruits
Rough	varieties of hay, haylage, chaff, branches, needles
Cereals	grains of cereals and legumes
Concentrates	vitamin flour, cakes, meal, skimmed milk powder
Vitamin-containing	yeast, chalk, flour (herbal, pine, bone, fish), table salt

It makes sense to consider different types of feed separately, paying attention to their beneficial properties.

Green feed

The following plant families are green foods:

legumes (peas, alfalfa, sainfoin, etc.);
cereals (barley, oats, etc.);
umbelliferous (dill, celery, etc.).

This also includes:

tops of root crops;
weeds (dandelion, wheatgrass, etc.).

But yarrow, chicory and wormwood have a detrimental effect on the taste of milk in females, causing bitterness. Cubs often refuse such milk.

Greens have a low calorie content, but are rich in useful components. It is dried before serving.

The table lists the main properties of the various components of green food.

Type of feed	Properties
Grass from the beds	source of vitamins and minerals
Cereals from the beds	source of vegetable protein, micro- and macroelements
Root tops	well absorbed
Celery, dill	improve appetite
Dandelion, dill	increase milk secretion
Parsley	reduces milk supply
Nettle, wheatgrass, sow thistle	source of essential chemical elements and vitamins
Wormwood, chicory, yarrow	adds bitterness to milk
Henbane, hemlock, lily of the valley, ranunculus, celandine	poison for rabbits

Feeding rabbits these green herbs must be approached with special responsibility. Rodents should definitely be fed with them during the growing season.

Juicy feed

This food consists of 70-90% water. The most favorite foods for pets are the following:

potatoes - they contain few vitamins, but a lot of quickly digested starch. This root vegetable should be boiled, and given raw only in the form of peelings, and for “future mothers” it is excluded, i.e. It is not recommended to feed them this food;
carrots are a source of healthy carotenes, vital for breeding rabbits, pregnant/lactating rabbits and growing rabbits. The daily norm for an adult animal is up to half a kilogram, for young animals - starting from 20-30 grams, increasing the portion to 100 grams;

pumpkin, like carrots, contains many carotenes. In addition, it is easy to store, which allows you to cut it into small slices and include it in your diet all year round;
fodder/sugar beets – recommended both fresh and boiled in a volume of 50 g per animal. If it is necessary to increase the portion, you should add hay and feed;
fodder cabbage – helps improve undercoat growth. Boiled, fresh, pickled will do. The daily dose for adults is up to 400 g, during lactation - up to 600 g. Young animals are not fed so plentifully. Raw cabbage should be fed with restrictions, as it causes gas formation in pets;
Jerusalem artichoke - “both tops and roots” are suitable for food. It is used as a prophylactic agent in the fight against intestinal parasites in breeding objects;
silage - legumes, tops from root crops, and meadow grasses are used for its production. A well-made silage should not have a putrid odor or mold, with a neutral acidity level. They begin to feed silage from 3 months of age (up to 50 g), increasing the portion size gradually. For individuals weighing 4 kg – up to 300 g, for “future mothers” – 200 g, during lactation – up to 400 g.
berries and fruits provoke flatulence in eared animals. Therefore, it is better to eat them yourself and give the rabbits vegetables.

The table shows the properties of succulent feed.

Name	Properties
Potato	presence of starch
Carrot	presence of carotenes
Pumpkin	presence of carotenes
Cabbage	improved undercoat growth, likelihood of bloating
Jerusalem artichoke	prevention of intestinal diseases
Silage	improvement of intestinal microflora
Fruits, berries	Causes bloating

Roughage

This type of food improves intestinal motility in rabbits. In addition, the digestion of dry plant components increases the body temperature of rodents and activates homeostasis in the body.

When a rabbit eats roughage with appetite, its incisors wear down, which is also beneficial for it. So the animals should be fed with similar products in any case.

The following feeds are considered roughage:

hay. Legume hay contains much more plant protein than grain hay, making it more nutritious. It is necessary to mow hay before flowering or at the very beginning of flowering and feed the rabbits with already dried product;
haylage This is also hay, but compressed into briquettes. In addition, it is not dried completely;

straw. Rabbits, and especially female rabbits, love straw, provided it is clean and well dried. The straw is crushed and molasses or a 1% solution of ordinary salt is poured into it;
branches. Young branches of different tree and shrub species are used. They are dried and brooms are knitted from them. The animals themselves gnaw off what they like, and the leftovers can be thrown away without regret.

The properties of some types of such food are presented in the table.

Name	Properties
Hay	Very nutritious, but inconvenient to use because it crumbles on the floor
Haylage	Helps add variety to your diet
Straw	Replenishes fiber deficiency in the body.
Branches	Help pets grind down their incisors. Increase appetite. Improves the quality of fur and meat. Used for medicinal purposes

Concentrated feed

Feeding rabbits with concentrates is usually done by large farms that may not have enough time or funds to prepare or purchase natural feed.

The following feeds are most often used (separately or mixed):

oats - contains up to 70% starch, 10.5% fiber, 8.5% protein and 4-8% fat. Can be fed whole, crushed or flattened;
corn – the calorie content exceeds oats by 1.35 times. Before serving, it is either crushed or soaked, and occasionally boiled.

Animals should not be fed corn alone.

wheat bran - contains about 60% non-nitrogenous extractive substance, 13-17% protein, 5-10% cellulose and 3-5% fat. First, the bran is slightly moistened and added to natural feed;
cakes and meals are by-products of the production of vegetable oils, rich in protein (up to 40%) and fats (10%), contain B vitamins, phosphorus and iron. Before serving, crush or steam. Sunflower, flax, soybean and hemp cakes are used. Cotton seed cake is poisonous for pets. Meals are similar to cakes, but have less fat content;
acorns are very nutritious; they are given to rabbits in small portions as part of the main food, peeled or dried and crushed;
combined - there are complete, in the form of granules, and non-complete and are produced in bulk. Complete food can provide your pet with all the necessary nutrients. When using non-complete food, he also needs other food. However, it is important to ensure that there is fresh water in the drinking bowls.

The table shows the properties of concentrated feed.

Name	Properties
Oats	Useful for proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract
Corn	Promotes quick saturation
Barley	More nutritious than oats. Well absorbed
Wheat bran	Due to the presence of microelements, they normalize metabolism
Cake and meal	High calorie content, presence of vitamins and microelements
Acorns	Useful for neutralizing feed with a laxative effect
Compound feed	Capable of fully satisfying the nutritional needs of rabbits. Allow them to administer medications if necessary.

Vitamin and mineral supplements

A fully balanced diet for rabbits should certainly include basic vitamin elements, such as:

A – has a positive effect on the functioning of the nervous and reproductive systems in patients, improves their general physical condition;
B1 – is responsible for the metabolism of carbohydrates in the body, normalizes the activity of the cardiovascular system, indirectly improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
B2 – improves the condition of the skin and fur, optimizes the general physical condition of animals;
B5 – normalizes the functioning of the digestive system;
B6 – is responsible for the absorption of proteins and simple proteins, as well as the enzymatic balance in the body;
B12 – promotes the absorption of proteins, is extremely important for the health of newborn rabbits;
C – strengthens the immune system and normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
D – necessary for the proper development of the musculoskeletal system of eared animals, promotes better absorption of minerals;
E – is responsible for the development of the muscular system of pets. Stabilizes the functioning of the heart and reproductive system;
K is an essential vitamin for rabbit breeding.

However, vitamin supplements should be used with caution. Hypervitaminosis can provoke deterioration of fur, lethargy, and inflammatory processes.

The following foods contain essential vitamins for eared animals:

A – grass feed, vegetables, fruits;
B – dairy products, wheat crops, bran, feed and brewer’s yeast, bone/fish meal;
C – carrots, rose hips, black currants;
D – fish oil, dairy products;
E – vegetable fats, corn, wheat.

If the desired effect cannot be achieved through the use of natural products, they resort to multivitamin preparations.

Calcium and phosphorus are the main elements that ensure the normal development of a pet and its ability to reproduce. The substances used are bone ash and flour, table salt and chalk.

In addition, ready-made formulations containing the necessary components are available for sale, namely:

Bio-iron;
Carli mineral block;
Chica mineral stone;
Ushastik. A complex preparation containing vitamins.

Conditionally permitted types of feed

Some products can be given to eared pets on a limited basis, offering an alternative in the form of proven food.

Vegetables

Feed with caution to animals:

cucumbers and red beets for their laxative effect;
turnips, radishes;
sweet pepper fruits.

Fruits

Juicy fruits and berries are given to pets in small quantities so as not to cause diarrhea. You can give watermelon, melon, strawberries, raspberries, currants, bananas (pulp).

Cereals

Give rye to rabbits with caution. Cereal increases acidity and causes the formation of gases. The share of rye in the feed mixture should not exceed 5%.

Legumes

Peas, lentils, beans are nutritious and easily digestible foods. But for the gentle digestion of animals, this grain is given carefully:

peas are given only in crushed or pre-soaked form;
boil red beans, drain the broth;
Rabbits are reluctant to eat Russian beans due to their large size and hardness.

Compound feed

In the absence of specialized rabbit compound feed, it is allowed to use pork compound feed for fattening animals . Bird mixtures are not given to animals due to the high content of gravel and shell rock in the product. Cow feed contains a lot of salt, so it is also not suitable for feeding rabbits.

Berries

Stone fruits (cherries, sweet cherries, plums, apricots) are given to animals with caution, removing the pit. The nucleolus contains toxic substances that are deadly to animals.

What not to feed rabbits

The table below provides a list of what you still cannot and absolutely should not feed rabbits under any circumstances:

Name	Components	Consequences
Green	Herbs: henbane, lily of the valley, buttercup, spurge, cress, celandine, etc.	Disorders of various body functions, including death
Juicy	Fresh cabbage and potatoes, large quantities of legumes	Gastrointestinal dysfunction, bloating
Rude	Branches of wild rosemary, elderberry, wolfberry, lilac, bird cherry, stone fruit trees	Disorders of various body systems, including kidney problems
Concentrated	Poor quality and expired food	The most different and unpredictable

In addition, the following foods should not be given:

any human food;
mushrooms;
lots of grain products;
lots of dairy products;
rice;
alcohol.

What do rabbits eat at home: vitamins, minerals

It is extremely important for these animals to receive sufficient amounts of vitamins, especially during cold periods. Fish oil is very important for them, which is dosed as follows:

for babies - 0.5 g per individual;
for an adult animal - 1.5 g;
for pregnant and lactating females - 3 g.

Culinary yeast and hay are rich in vitamin E, and it is also found in sprouted grains. And from ordinary chalk, an animal can get a sufficient amount of calcium.

Table salt is very important for animals, which must be given to them in the following ratio:

babies - 0.5-1 g;
adults - 1.5 g;
lactating females - 3 gr.

How to feed rabbits

Any diet for rabbits carries with it the task of ensuring the pet is healthy, gains marketable weight, has an attractive appearance and fertility.

Features of feeding and diet

Medium- and large-sized rabbit breeds require the most varied diet, including the entire range of feeds.

What to feed in winter

For the cold, winter period of the year, I have my own norms and portions, which are given in the table below (per animal per day, g):

Juicy	Hay	Concentrates
Rabbits in a state of physiological rest	150 — 200	120 — 150	50 — 60
In preparation for mating	150 — 200	150 — 200	90 — 100
Pregnant female	200 — 250	150 — 200	70 — 90
Female during lactation	300 — 600	200 — 250	140 — 160

What to feed in spring

The spring period is a transitional period, and long-eared animals should be gradually transferred to summer mode. Feeding standards for raised rabbits are determined individually and depend on the weather and the level of activity of the animals.

In cold weather, rodents should be fed higher-calorie foods (vegetables, legumes); in warm weather, they should be fed lighter and more quickly digestible foods.

When the animal is active, it needs to be fed abundantly and, if possible, varied.

What to feed in summer

During the warm summer period of the year, the following feeding rates are suitable (per animal per day, g):

Greens	Concentrates
Rabbits in a state of physiological rest	400-500	40-50
In preparation for mating	550-700	70-90
Pregnant female	200-250	70-90
Female during lactation	1000-1200	120-150

What to feed during the rest period

A passive and undisturbed rabbit does not need to be fed as much as in other conditions. Recommended standards and calculations are given in the tables above.

It only remains to note that excess food in a pet in a state of physiological rest can lead to a condition such as obesity and the following unpleasant consequences:

male rabbits lose interest in mating;
decreased sperm quality among producers;
Female rabbits often experience miscarriages and stillbirths.

What to feed for rapid growth and weight gain

Obviously, to achieve all this, high-calorie foods are required, which rabbits eat with pleasure.

To obtain the desired result, you need to add the following components to the main diet:

corn cobs, boiled potatoes, tomatoes and cucumbers;
vegetable tops, except tomato and potato;
wheat bran;
sunflower, flax, soybean and meal cakes.

To improve the taste of animal meat, you can additionally feed them bread, cereals, and potato peelings. It is useful to dilute crackers and cereals with milk.

You may like the article about rabbit breeds.

Fur breed nutrition

The main goal of growing such breeds is to obtain thick and warm fluff. Since obtaining fluff of proper quality requires a higher content of amino acids in the feed, all volumes are increased by 20-25%.

How many times a day should rabbits be fed?

According to experts, a rabbit is capable of eating from 30 to 80 times 7/24. At the same time, it is recommended to feed it in farms twice a day, and for home breeding - three times.

It is better to feed at certain times, for example: in summer - at 6, 15 and 19 o'clock, in winter - at 8, 12 and 17 o'clock.

How much and when to give water

Usually, for rodents, the water in the drinking bowl is changed in the morning and evening, but if the air temperature in the summer goes through the roof, then it should be topped up again - during the day.

An adult animal's water consumption ranges from 60 to 130 ml per 1 kg of weight, although a female rabbit can drink more - 250-350 ml/kg.

It must be remembered that when feeding pelleted feed, water consumption increases significantly.

Feeding rabbits in winter

Feeding rabbits in winter is aimed at increasing nutritional value, while the amount of roughage and concentrates eaten increases. During the winter cold they need energy.

It is also necessary to adhere to such subtleties of winter feeding of rodents:

Providing rabbits with constant access to food (especially at night and in the morning). A bunker feeder can help with this, as it will prevent over-consumption of feed.
There should be clean water in drinking bowls, as this is important for young animals and females. In winter, the water can be heated.
Feed rabbits food containing fiber, which will have a beneficial effect on the function of the digestive tract.
When feeding several foods at the same time, concentrates are given first and juicy foods second. Feeding rabbits in winter is completed with the distribution of hay.

Figure 8. Diet for rabbits in winter
Figure 8 shows an example of a winter diet for rabbits. It is not recommended to give food containing carbohydrates - cookies, sugar and other treats. Eating this type of food can cause obesity.

Since dispensing feed and drinking water requires the use of special equipment, we recommend that you watch a video about making a drinking bowl for rabbits with your own hands.

Diet structure and feeding norms

The daily feeding ration for rabbits should include nutrients that can meet the needs of the animals. The greatest need for nutritious feed is experienced by lactating rabbits and young animals, and rabbits need such feed least of all during physiological rest (Figure 9).

You can feed rabbits grass and hay in unlimited quantities, which will not harm the health of the animals. However, the amount of other foods in the diet should correspond to modern scientific feeding standards. It is not recommended to allow a lack or excess of nutrients.

Nutrition rules for breeding eared animals

Depending on the physiological state of the animals, both the composition of the diet and its quantity change.

At different periods of the animal’s life cycle, the rabbit breeder must provide and organize feeding that corresponds to the physiological phase.

Tables with the relevant standards are described above.

Feeding in summer

Feeding in winter

Diet during preparation for mating

As mentioned above, animal feeding during such a crucial period must be increased. It is advisable to provide them with succulent feed/hay/concentrates - 150-200/150-200/90-100, respectively (in grams).

Feeding pregnant and lactating rabbits

Feeding a pregnant or lactating rabbit requires an even greater increase in the number of servings. Portions of succulent food are increased to 200-250 g, the same amount of hay is left, and the dose of concentrates is reduced to 70-90 g.

Diet with dairy products

Born and growing rabbits get milk from their mother. If a female rabbit dies for some reason, the rabbit breeder must select the optimal milk formula to feed the orphans.

The following are used as a rabbit milk substitute:

goat or cow's milk;
factory-produced milk formula for rabbits or kittens.

It is most convenient to feed babies with a pacifier, a large syringe or pipette, or a special feeding device from a pet store.

Milk as such is even harmful to adult animals. Firstly, the animal does not feel the need for this. Secondly, adults, like humans, are not able to digest lactose and milk protein.

Features and rules of feeding young rabbits

The life of a little rabbit consists of four stages, during which its nutritional needs gradually change.

From birth until two weeks of age, baby rabbits need mother's milk;
In the period from 2 to 3 weeks, a couple of times a week, the baby rabbits can be fed with dry mixtures from dried grass;
A month-old animal is already able to eat more solid food. Although 20% of the diet should still be milk. The remaining 80% is all kinds of mash, grass, hay;
Two-month-olds are separated from their mother and offered dry food, bran, hay, grass, and some vegetables.

Use of vitamin and mineral supplements

Vitamin preparations are usually administered in late winter, when there are not enough natural vitamins in the feed. They can be bought at a veterinary pharmacy; the range of products is quite wide, for example, the following are popular:

Chiktonik;
E-Selenium;
Prodevit et al.

Depending on the method of administration, drugs are administered by injection, vitamins are added to water or simply to food.

They give their pets fish oil, as well as oil solutions of tocopherols and calciferols, and retinol. To replenish the body of rabbits with vitamins, especially compounds from group B, they are given baker's and brewer's yeast; to replenish vitamins and animal protein - fish meal and meat and bone meal (5-10 g per individual). Tricalcium phosphate is also used, from which rabbits obtain calcium and phosphorus.

Fish oil is given to rabbits in the following volumes (per individual):

rabbits - 0.3-0.5 g;
for adult livestock – 1 g;
for female rabbits during pregnancy and feeding – 3 g.

Regular salt is given in a volume of 0.5-1 g per 1 head (young animals) and 1-1.5 g per 1 adult.

What to feed domestic rabbits

Pets, unlike their wild relatives and those who live on farms, require special care and their own feeding rules.

Diet of decorative pets

The cutest, cutest, active and playful creature is the decorative rabbit.

The table below details a varied diet for rabbits living at home.

Name	Components
Juicy food	White cabbage (a little). Zucchini. Potatoes (mixed). Carrot. Pumpkin. Beet.
Green food	Tops of root crops. Corn leaves. Sprouted oats. Grass of certain types. Green legume shoots (a little)
Roughage	Bark, branches of trees and shrubs. Corn. Herbal flour. Dried herbs, straw and hay.
Concentrated feed	Purchased at pet stores

What not to give to decorative pets

A list of most food products that are harmful and dangerous for such breeds, as well as the possible consequences of their consumption, are collected in the table.

Name	Consequences
Table scraps	Gastrointestinal disorders
Dog and cat food	Indigestion
Poisonous plants	Poisoning, death
Branches of fruit plants	Gastrointestinal tract dysfunction
Onions, garlic, mushrooms	Poisoning
Dairy products, stale food	Gastrointestinal tract dysfunction

What not to give to decorative rabbits

All rabbits are herbivores, but some owners are too keen on experiments and include unnecessary, harmful foods in their pet’s menu.

Even plant foods are carefully selected; the stomach of a small animal will not always digest the volume of fiber or hard seeds.

Not allowed for use:

milk, cottage cheese, butter, kefir and other dairy products (rabbits do not need animal protein even in small quantities);
meat, poultry, fish;
young or green potatoes, eggplants, red cabbage, radishes, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, beets;
citrus and exotic fruits (grapefruits, mangoes, papaya, oranges, pineapples, avocados and others; apples and pears are best);
rice, rye, millet, millet;
legumes (except dry yellow peas);
unfamiliar and poisonous herbs: dope, lily of the valley, hemlock, spurge, buttercup, larkspur, hellebore, foxglove, crow's eye, henbane, poisonous weed, celandine, nightshade, lumbago, poppy;
sugar, chocolate, baked goods (cakes, bread, crackers, ice cream, chips).

For furry babies, plants that are mowed near the road, factory, or near the supermarket building will be dangerous. The collected food is thoroughly washed and dried. For treats, it is better to use ready-made ones, which are sold in pet stores.

How to prepare food

It is better to prepare some types of food for rabbits in advance so that the necessary food or its components are at hand at the right time.

How to make mash

Mash is a treat for rodents. The most popular recipe includes the following ingredients:

boiled potatoes in their jackets – 1 kg;
carrots – 1 kg;
oats – 500 g;
sprouted wheat – 500 g;
table salt – 2 teaspoons;
bran – 300 g;
chopped hay - 2 handfuls.

Prepared using a blender or other chopper. Animals eat mash better not in the form of porridge, but in the form of cutlets.

How to make silage at home

The best silage is made from melons (without tops), cabbage, corn, young sunflower stalks, potato and tomato tops, soybeans, vetch, root vegetables with tops and various herbs, except nettles.

The technology for making silage for rabbits yourself is as follows.

The ingredients are crushed to fragments no more than 1 cm in length. The resulting mass is placed in a barrel, preferably immediately.

The capacity of the barrel depends on how many rabbits will consume the silage during the time during which it will retain its beneficial properties. If there are not very many rabbits, a 100 liter barrel will do. The maximum capacity of the barrel is 300 liters.

It is recommended to cover the mass with a 5 cm thick layer of sawdust from non-resinous wood. Then it is necessary to seal it. The barrel is covered with clay.

During the ripening process, the silage is monitored to see if any cracks have appeared. If they occur, covering with clay is necessary.

In addition to classical silage, fermentation is used. The finely chopped green mass is placed in a barrel, sprinkling each layer with table salt.

The resulting substrate is compacted until the juice appears and pressed down with a wooden circle, on which a load is placed on top.

During the silage maturation process, the barrels are stored in a moderately warm place and then removed to a cool room.

Profitability of raising rabbits for meat

First you need to determine for what purpose you are getting rabbits. If you are just starting to breed them, then it is more profitable to take well-known local breeds.

The profitability of raising rabbits is determined by several factors (Figure 6):

You need to purchase healthy, active individuals, with a well-fed, well-built body, clean eyes and shiny fur. Animals with elongated heads, floppy ears, sagging backs and bellies, and balding hair are considered unsuitable. You need to take care of the housing for the livestock in advance. For outdoor keeping, cages with two compartments are equipped. Feeders and drinkers are fixed inside. Indoors in winter, cages with double ceilings and thick walls are insulated. Cages can be made of different materials, but there should be no drafts in them

It is important to ensure a constant flow of fresh air and optimal daylight. The cells are arranged in several tiers with a passage between them and moderate lighting. When raising rabbits for meat, the light intensity is reduced for the fattening period.

Then choose a maintenance method that will suit your conditions. If there is not enough space on the site, but there is a basement or cellar, then you can keep animals using the pit method.

Rabbit meat is a quickly digestible, high-quality product containing a lot of protein. It is recommended for children, athletes, women during pregnancy and lactation.

Figure 6. Calculation of the profitability of rabbit breeding

When raising rabbits for meat, profit will be brought by meat breeds with rapid growth, weight gain, good quality products, as well as representatives of the meat-skin direction of productivity.

All carcasses must comply with approved GOSTs and quality standards. After slaughter, carcasses are cleaned of all internal organs except kidneys. The head is separated at the first cervical vertebra, the hind limbs at the hock joint, and the forelimbs at the carpal joint (Figure 7).

Rabbit carcasses are usually divided as follows:

Cooled - temperature no more than 25 degrees;
Chilled - from 0 to 4 degrees;
Ice cream - no more than 8 degrees below zero.

To sell rabbit meat, it must be frozen or refrigerated. It is not allowed to sell carcasses to retail chains if they have the following defects:

Bone fractures;
Back fat takes up more than a third of the total length of the carcass;
Cleaning up bruises or bruises;
Carcasses that were frozen more than once, after which the color changed (became flesh-colored).

During marking, each carcass is marked with a mark on the outer side of the drumstick: carcasses of the first category are given a round mark, carcasses of the second category are given a square mark, and broiler carcasses have an oval mark. If the carcass does not meet the requirements, a triangular mark is placed on the back. From the video you will learn basic recommendations for fattening rabbits for further sale for meat.

Business plan "rabbit farm"

To benefit from rabbit breeding, a business plan is drawn up that considers the main aspects of rabbit farming. A farmer needs to become an individual entrepreneur, since this form of ownership reduces taxes and makes accounting easier.

Figure 7. Cutting a rabbit carcass

The profitability of raising rabbits for meat is average, since this product is not considered the most popular on the market. Fattening animals for meat as a business includes several preparatory stages.

First of all, you need to select a plot of land. A profitable option would be a plot with a minimum rent. The next step is purchasing cells. By building them yourself, you can save your money. At the third stage, you should purchase rabbits. And also hire an employee who will take care of the animals.

The organization of sales must be thought out before starting the organization of the economy. Clients can be meat markets, supermarkets, and individuals. The skins can be sold to fur studios and private fashion designers.

Benefits of feeding with compound feed

The completely balanced composition eliminates the need for the farmer to purchase additional vitamin supplements for the normal development of animals. For example, feeding oats or other grains often involves soaking, otherwise the nutrients will not be fully absorbed. Rabbits eat compound feed without any additional processing. Also, the main advantages of including ready-made nutritional mixtures in the diet include:

perfect balance of all nutrients;
easy calculation of the daily feeding rate for each animal;
rapid fattening of meat breeds;
reduction of labor costs for farm maintenance;
easy transportation and storage;
reducing the risk of developing gastrointestinal disorders and a number of infectious diseases;
maintaining normal immunity throughout life.

In addition, compound feeds can be targeted at specific types of animals - for young animals, adults, pregnant rabbits and females, downy or meat breeds.

Feeding downy rabbits

Rabbit down is used in the production of velor and valuable knitwear. An adult rabbit produces up to 400 g of fluff per calendar year, and from downy breeds - from 700 g or more. Young animals usually produce 50-60 g of fluff (over six months of life).

The down production of rabbits depends on properly selected nutrition.

Adults raised for down are fed according to the scheme intended for meat and skin breed lines, increasing the daily standards by 20-25%. This is due to the fact that to produce high-quality fluff, animals require more energy expenditure and the presence of sulfur-containing amino acids in the menu is mandatory. Therefore, the daily diet for downy rabbits includes the following:

bone meal (or bone ash) – 3 g;
table salt – 11.5 g each;
cobalt chloride during the period of fluff collection – 16.5 mg;
cobalt nitrate – 0.1 mg each.

How much water do rabbits need?

Rabbits should have plenty of fresh water daily. Its consumption depends on the ambient temperature and the water content of the feed. If you feed your rabbits a lot of green food and beets, you can skip the water if necessary. For a small number of animals, it is enough if the container is filled once daily at the rate of 0.5 liters of water per adult rabbit. For larger flocks in closed rabbitries, a nipple drinking system and connection to the water supply is recommended. This system greatly facilitates daily work, but must be kept clean.

Use of veterinary drugs

Both for those who are learning for the first time what to feed a domestic rabbit, and for experienced rabbit breeders, it is useful to know that:

Timely prevention of coccidiosis helps prevent the development of inflammation and destruction of the intestinal mucosa, which helps to avoid growth retardation in young animals.
The use of the drug “vetom” improves the functioning of the digestive system and improves immunity.
To improve the ratio of calcium and phosphorus, stimulate metabolic processes and improve liver function, “catozal” is used. It can be used either in injection form (which is more effective) or given orally (with water or food).
To increase weight gain, significantly improve the quality of skin and coat, for show animals, the use of the drug “nucleopeptide” is very effective.

A high-quality and balanced diet is the basis for the health of the animal, as well as the peace and well-being of its owner.

Advantages of feed for rabbits

Manufactured according to recipes recommended by the VNIIKP Research Institute, they meet and exceed GOST standards.
They are distinguished by their natural composition: they contain high-quality natural components of plant origin, mineral raw materials, as well as vitamins and microelements.
Stimulate the active appearance of appetite, ensure rapid growth and development of animals.
Reduce mortality of rabbits.
They have low consumption and reduce mechanical losses during transportation and distribution into feeders.
They do not contain pathogenic microorganisms, antibiotics, or growth stimulants.

Green food for rabbits

In the spring, when the grass just begins to turn green and the first shoots appear, green food is vital for animals. Various types of herbs are very useful at this time, and vegetable tops and cabbage also go well in the diet.

For green fodder and food for rabbits, grass is harvested that grows in fields and meadows, but you can grow seeded grass species such as legumes and cereals yourself in a suitable area. The minerals and vitamins they contain are very beneficial for animals, as well as the protein in which these plants are very rich. But for better health, rabbits are given mixtures of these herbs; when eating legumes alone, flatulence occurs.

Juicy types of food

You can feed vegetables in the village.
Their consumption increases in the fall, when green food runs out. They differ in that they contain a lot of water (70-80%). These include root crops, silage, and melons. They contain little fiber, a significant amount of easily digestible carbohydrates, improve digestion, help increase milk production in nursing rabbits, increasing the fertility of males.

The most common root vegetable is carrots. It serves as the main source of vitamin A for rabbits during the winter. Give them raw carrots, you can feed them whole or cut them into pieces 3-4 cm long. Rabbit breeders grow this root crop on their own.

Rabbit Breeder's Advice

Potatoes are also used as food. It contains few vitamins and minerals, but is rich in starch (its content is up to 20%). The digestive tract digests the root vegetable quite easily. Serve it boiled, and before cooking, the tubers must be thoroughly washed, removing any sprouts that have appeared on them. Give your rabbits potato peelings.

Zucchini is another type of succulent food. Contains a lot of moisture, so it is excellent for making silage. As a rule, this vegetable is not stored until spring, so give it away in the summer without waiting for full ripeness. Adding zucchini to the diet of rabbits makes other foods easier to digest.

Kale and regular cabbage are another delicacy. It contains useful vitamins (especially vitamin E). It promotes the formation of undercoat and good quality rabbit skins. But cabbage should be introduced into the diet gradually, as there is a danger of bloating and indigestion. One of the varieties of cabbage is kohlrabi; it is distinguished from regular cabbage by its higher moisture content and vitamin C.

Sugar and fodder beets are a beneficial ingredient for animals that help improve blood composition, metabolism, and strengthen the immune system. It is enough for rabbits to carry up to 200 g of the vegetable per day in its raw form, and for adults 200-300 g. But beets should be introduced into the diet with caution, it has a negative effect on the digestive system and causes diarrhea. Beet tops are suitable for nutrition; serve them fresh or add them when making silage. Table beets are not suitable for feeding.

In summer, kuzik is very useful for fluffies

Kuusika is a hybrid of fodder cabbage and rutabaga. The leaves and roots of this plant are used to feed rabbits. By mid-summer, succulent leaves grow, they are given whole, or added to feed. Root vegetables ripen in the fall and are stored well in a cellar or cellar until spring. Adults should be fed raw root vegetables, having washed them well and cut them into pieces, but for baby rabbits it is necessary to grate the tubers and add them to the mash.

In the southern regions, melons are widely used for feeding: pumpkin, watermelon. They contain water and therefore have low nutritional value.

Silage is a very important element in the diet. Promotes faster growth of baby rabbits and increased milk production in nursing rabbits. The process of ensiling, a special method of preserving food, consists of carefully compacting the mass, isolating it from the action of oxygen and the subsequent formation of lactic acid.

To make silage, the following crops are taken: melons, tops of root crops, clover, cabbage leaves, corn, peas. The ensiling process lasts 1.5-2 months, only after this time can such food be given to rabbits. Ready-made silage smells like sauerkraut or fresh bread.

Features of fattening

When breeding for meat, the necessary adjustments are made 30 days before slaughter. This time is divided into three phases, 10 days each:

Preparatory.
Home.
Final.

Preparatory phase

In order for pets to gain weight, the volume of roughage is reduced and the amount of concentrates is increased. Since rabbits actively feed in the evening and morning (in poor lighting), the windows in the room need to be darkened.

What is the best way to feed rabbits at this time: good hay, forbs and grasses of the legume family, corn and barley grain, wheat bran, cake, cabbage, carrots.

Main phase

Feeding is aimed at fat deposition. They give corn and peas, boiled potatoes and bran (the rest of the vegetables are removed, instead of bran you can give compound feed), they give a little hay, and include a variety of greens in the diet.

Final phase

The main task is to support appetite and continue weight gain. Taste stimulants are introduced: dill herb, basil, caraway and others. Hay is removed (can be given only in case of indigestion) and succulent food.

They give potatoes with mixed feed or bran, cereal-legume mixtures of herbs, summer twig food, grains, dill or caraway seeds. You can add rutabaga or soy.

When animals become lethargic, inactive and begin to lose appetite, fattening is over.

It is important to know that industrial breeding without using a sufficient amount (up to 60%) of concentrates is very problematic. And if there are enough of them, fattening can be completed once the animals reach three months of age.