COMMERCIAL RABBIT RAISING 



25 



for mixing with grains. They will 

 settle out of the grain mixture and 

 be largely wasted. The pea-size 

 cake, the flake form, or the meals 

 made into a pellet are satisfactory 

 for use with whole grains. If their 

 protein content is the same, the 

 meals in pea-size cake, flake, or 

 pelleted form provide approxi- 

 mately the same nutritive value. 

 Make your selection on availability 

 and cost. Use fresh plant -protein 

 supplements. 



Although soj^bean seeds contain 

 approximately 36 percent protein 

 and 18 percent fat, the meal from 

 the seeds, with fat extracted, has 

 as much as 4.5 percent protein and 

 1 to 5 percent fat. If there is an 

 oil mill nearby, you may be able 

 to exchange homegrown soybeans 

 for the meal. Rabbits do not eat 

 the seeds readily — feed only about 

 1 pound of them for each 10 

 pounds of grain. Using this pro- 

 portion of soybeans in a whole- 

 grain legume hay diet will improve 

 the protein content slightly but not 

 enough for maximum growth. 



Some caution should be observed 

 in using cottonseed meal as a pro- 

 tein supplement. Untreated cot- 

 tonseed meal contains gossypol, a 

 substance which is toxic to rab- 

 bits. Therefore, only degossypol- 

 ized meal should be used. Recent 

 evidence from the U.S. Rabbit P]x- 

 periment Station indicates that 

 degossypolized cottonseed meal is 

 a suitable replacement for soybean 

 meal at levels up to 7 percent of 

 the diet. 



Miscellaneous Feeds 



Dry bread or other table and 

 kitchen waste (except meat and 

 greasy or sour foods) are accept- 

 able to most rabbits. TVlien used 

 as supplements to grain and rough- 

 age or pelleted rations, they add 

 variety to the diet. When the cost 



is not prohibitive, cow's or goat's 

 milk may be used in the diet. If 

 the milk is not sour or contami- 

 nated, it will not cause digestive 

 troubles. Dry bread mixed with 

 milk is a satisfactoiy feed for does 

 with young litters and for rabbits 

 being conditioned for shows. 



Pelleted Rations 



Many brands of pelleted rations 

 are on the market. Ingredients 

 and proportions vary but they are 

 usually made according to recom- 

 mended specifications of nutrient 

 or feed content. Follow the ad- 

 vice of the manufacturer. 



Pelleted rations require little 

 storage space and are easily fed. 

 In some localities they are the only 

 rabbit feeds available. 



There are two types of pelleted 

 diets — the all-grain pellet to be fed 

 with hay and the complete pellet 

 (green pellet). The complete pel- 

 let usually contains all the food 

 elements necessary for a balanced 

 diet. 



The choice between a home- 

 mixed feed or a pelleted feed will 

 depend on the availability and 

 relative cost, and how much time 

 you have for preparing the ration 

 and feeding the herd. 



Pellets should be. i/g- to %q- 

 inch in diameter and %- to I/4- 

 inch long. If pellets are too large, 

 small rabbits cannot get them in 

 their mouths. The rabbits bite off 

 a part of the pellet and drop the 

 rest. The discarded part is lost 

 through the wire hutch floor or is 

 left to become contaminated on 

 solid floors. 



It is usually impractical for you 

 to pellet your own rations. 



Salt 



Salt is necessary in the diet. 

 Put small blocks or salt spools in 

 the hutch so the animals can feed 



