Nutrition of farmed rabbits

Current status of rabbit production world-wideThe rabbit is now recognized as one of the world's major livestock species, with an estimated global yield of one million tonnedyear of rabbit carcass (Lebas et al. 1986).Europe remains the centre of world meat-rabbit production with the USSR, France, Italy and Spain supplying approximately two-thirds of this estimated world production.In the UK the industry has failed to grow significantly over the past 10 years, and it is currently estimated that UK production is around 6OOO tonnedyear, with consumption values of 0.2 kg/head per year (1988; Commercial Rabbit Association, personal communication).The major consumers in Europe are France, Italy and Spain at 3-3.5 kghead per year.Interest in the production of wool from the Angora rabbit has also seen a resurgence over the past 10 years.Currently world production is estimated at 6OOO tonnedyear, with China (5000 tonnes), Chile (450 tonnes) and Argentina (300 tonnes) established as major producers and Italy, Hong Kong and Japan as the principal importers of Angora wool for the fashion and medical garment trade (1987; F. McClure, personal communication). The rabbit's biological potentialThe ability of the rabbit to utilize predominantly forage-based diets, and so not compete with man, is seen as its major attribute in developing countries with chronic protein deficiencies (Owen et al. 1977;Schlolaut, 1985).Its relatively small size is advantageous, as it is effectively a 'biological refrigerator', obviating the need for carcass storage in hot or humid environments, or both.Rabbit meat itself is also subject to few religious taboos (Lebas et al. 1986).In societies where there is concern over the possible detrimental effects of excessive consumption of animal fats the rabbit's inherently low-fat carcass is a marketing bonus (80 g fatkg saleable carcass on conventional diets).The rabbit's potentially high reproductive rate per unit body size also results in the energetic efficiency of rabbit production being considerably -higher than that of sheep, cattle or pigs (Dickerson, 1978). Definition of nutrient requirementsConsiderable advances have been made over the last 20 years in our understanding of the rabbit's nutrient requirements in both intensive and extensive production systems.The present paper attempts to draw together information obtained from a number of studies, principally over the last 5-10 years, and is intended to complement rather than reiterate information given in the reviews of Davidson & Spreadbury (1975), Lang (1981) and Lebas et al. (1986).Emphasis has been given to advances in our knowledge of the protein and energy requirements for growth, pregnancy and lactation.Information on vitamin and mineral needs is given in the publications of the National Research Council (1977) and Lang (1981).The digestive physiology of the rabbit Detailed descriptions of the gross anatomy of the rabbit are given elsewhere (Lang, 1981;Lebas et al. 1986).The practice of caecotrophy is a physiological-behavioural