Vol. 13, No. 5 
Page 4 
Rabbits maintained in outdoor pens during May 1970 consumed an average of 116 
grams of rabbit chow per day, which, with an assimilation efficiency of 63 percent 
represents an energy assimilation of 292 kilogram calories (kcal) per day. This 
is greater than the 1 87 kcal per day assimilated by rabbits kept in outdoor cages 
and probably reflects the greater activity of the animals in the pens. 
The energy assimilation of the caged animals in May is less than that for late 
February and early March (210 kcal per day) or April (206 kcal per day), while the 
energy assimilation of the penned animals in May is greater than that for late 
February and early March (260 kcal per day) or April (241 kcal per day). Thus, no 
seasonal trend in energy assimilation can yet be discerned from the data. 
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