An Nut 3 - Rabbits

What type of species are Rabbits?

Monogastric Herbivore

What do Lagomorphs include?

Pikas, Rabbits, and Hares

What is the Lagomorph order based on?

Digestive Physiology

What does the Lagomorph diet primarily consist of?

Forage

What is the Circadian Rhythm?

During the night, the Bacteria in their Cecum/Large Intestine make Cecotropes

What are Cecotropes?

Specialized high Protein fecal pellets, which the Rabbits consume

What improves Rabbits Protein Efficiency?

Rabbits are able to capture more Nitrogen through Cecotrophy of the Cecotropes

In order to properly practice their Cecotrophy, what must Rabbits have?

A high Fiber, low Energy Diet

Why are the Lagomorph’s Incisors a challenge?

They need constant work to maintain the Ideal Size

What are Pikas?

Rock Rabbits/Coneys/ Whistling Hare that looks like a Hamster

Called Whistling Hare due to its high pitched alarm call when diving

What must Lagomorph’s be given for their Teeth?

Real Forage Diets to chew on OR Dentistry work

What is the Jaw Structure of the Lagomorph?

• Upper and Lower Biting Incisors for chewing

• Shard broad grinding Teeth for chewing

• Large Gap for Long-Stem Forages

What does the Cecum do?

Has Anaerobic, Cellulytic Bacteria that breaks down Plant Cell walls to Cellulose then into Glucose

What is Fermented to provide Energy for Microbial Growth?

Glucose

What do VFAs do?

They are Absorbed through the Cecal Wall to provide Energy

What are Cecotropes?

Fecal pellets that consist of an Enriched Population of Microbes

What body System alters Digestive Activity?

Nervous System (it produces the Circadian Rhythm)

Microbial Motility is faster during the Night hours. True or False?

False

Microbial Motility is slower during the Night hours

How do Cecotropes differ from regular fecal matter?

They are more Concentrated in Crude Protein and lower in Fiber (most of the Fiber was Digested by the Microbes)

The Crude Protein produced by Cecotropes are waste products. True or False? Why?

False

The Rabbit will consume the Cecotropes and Digest them in the Small Intestine

What is Coprophagy?

The consumption of Fecal Material

Rabbits can survive in seasons where only Low-Protein Fibrous Plants are available. True or False? Why?

True

Rabbits consume Protein from their Cecotropes, so they will survive on Low-Protein Plants.

Cecotropes and other Food Material are processed together. True or False? Why?

False

They are processed separately to maximize the potential for utilizing the Protein within the Cecotropes

Rabbits allow their litter to suckle many times throughout the day. True or False? Why?

False

Evolutionary wise, they are Prey species. The less they suckled, the less they were seen.

What Diet do Kits eat?

• Small amounts of High-Quality Forage (preferably Green Forage)

• Small amounts of Grower Pellet

• Not too much Energy

What Diet do Weaned Kits eat?

• High-Quality Green Forage

• Small amounts of Grower Pellets (for Minerals and Vitamins)

What is the Objective of a Growth Management plan for Rabbits?

Optimal Nutrient for Optimal Growth

What is the Primary source of Nutrients?

Forage

How much Crude Fiber should be in a Growing Diet?

12-16%

How much Crude Protein should be in a Growing Diet?

16-18%

You CANNOT feed Cat/Dog Food to Rabbits. True or False. Why?

True

Cat/Dog Food would provide way too much Protein and Energy and not enough Fiber

How many Kits are produced per Litter?

4-10

How long is Rabbit Gestation?

32 days

During Gestation, when do requirements increase significantly?

At 15-20 days

What can be slowly introduced during Week 3 of Gestation? Why?

A Supplement balanced for Growth and Lactation

To ensure that proper amounts of Nutrients are in the Diet

What can Energy Requirements increase to during Gestation?

10-25% depending on Litter size

When will Nesting Behavior begin?

2-4 Days prior to Kindling

What happens 24-48 hours before Kindling?

Feed Intake decreases

What may occur to Senior Rabbits?

Loss of Teeth, resulting to reduced ability to Forage or Chew

What Diet do Senior Rabbits eat?

High-Quality Balanced Pellet (possibly damp)

What is a common Challenge associated with Aging? Why?

Obesity

The natural drive to Exercise and Gather Forage lessens

What are the Consequences of Obesity?

• Heart Disease

• Skin Problems

• Kidney Problems

What happens when Rabbits are not consuming a High Fiber, Low Energy Diet?

1. The Passage of Nutrients through the Digestive Tract is slowed.

2. Without Fiber, there is a Decrease in Saliva production (Saliva helps to move material through the Intestine)

3. Starch will build up in the Small Intestine.

4. Less Fiber will get to the Cecum.

5. Tract will be impacted with large boluses of Undigested Feed and/or Trichobezoar

How does Hair loss from Grooming pass through the Digestive Tract?

Saliva stimulated from Fiber Intake will move the Hair out

What is Gastric Stasis?

The slowing down of Intestinal Motility from consuming a Diet of too much Grain or too little Fiber

Causes Trichobezoar (Hair Balls)

Rabbits can Vomit. True or False?

False

Why are Trichobezoars a problem? How to fix it?

Rabbits cannot Vomit them out. They cause Feed and Water Intake to Decrease.

May be fixed by Rehydrating, Mineral Oil, Increase Gastric Motility, or Feeding Fiber

How can we induce normal Intestinal Motility in Rabbits?

Giving them regular Exercise

If Feed is in the Digestive Tract for a long time, is it more or less Digestible?

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