Roughage refers to a type of feed that has a large volume and contains 18% or more crude fiber in its dry matter. In rabbit feeding, roughage mainly includes two main categories: hay and straw. Common examples include dried grasses, vines, bean stalks, and corn stalks. When selecting these roughages, it's important to consider both the processing method and their nutritional value.
For hay, artificial high-temperature drying is preferable for better preservation, but if cost is a concern, naturally dried hay is the most economical option. Legume hays, such as alfalfa, generally have higher nutritional value than grass hays and should be prioritized. However, it’s important to note that artificially dried hay may lose a significant amount of vitamins. Therefore, when using such hay, it's advisable to supplement the diet with additional vitamins or a vitamin complex to ensure balanced nutrition.
In terms of herbaceous plants, wheat grass tends to be coarse and hard, with high silicon content and sharp leaf edges, making it less digestible. Barley grass is slightly better, with spring barley being superior to winter barley. Oat grass, on the other hand, is softer, smoother, and free from sharp edges, making it the best option among the three. Straw, however, has a high lignin content and low feed value, so it should be used sparingly.
In general, hay is more beneficial for rabbits compared to other roughages. It can make up 20%-30% of compound feeds, while straw should not exceed 20%. Roughage should typically be crushed and mixed with concentrates—either in pellet form or wetted. High-quality hay should not be ground too finely, as overly fine particles can hinder digestion and excretion in rabbits. The texture should be suitable for mixing with other ingredients, as rabbits tend to prefer this consistency.
It's also worth noting that "Tongluo," a commonly used roughage in rural areas, is considered low quality. Many farmers mix it with bran to feed rabbits. However, it is not suitable for weaned rabbits, and adult rabbits should not consume more than 15% of their diet in Tongluo.
Because green feed and roughage are low in energy and protein, they alone cannot meet the nutritional needs of high-yield rabbits, especially improved breeds. Feeding only green roughage can lead to slow growth, weakened immunity, reduced fertility in females, lower milk production, and poor meat quality. To address this, concentrates must be included in the diet.
Concentrates are feeds with low crude fiber content, high energy, or protein levels, designed to balance the diet and meet the specific needs of rabbits during growth, reproduction, lactation, and fattening. Common examples include grains like wheat, corn, and cereals, as well as by-products such as rice bran, wheat bran, oil cakes, and soybean meal. Concentrates can be further divided into energy and protein sources.
As monogastric herbivores, rabbits can eat grass, but feeding them only concentrates can cause digestive issues, including diarrhea and even death. Therefore, it's essential to combine concentrates with roughage. While concentrated feeds offer high nutritional value and good palatability, they are more expensive. To reduce costs, it's wise to incorporate green roughage into the diet in a balanced way.
Among seed feeds, wheat and barley are the most suitable for rabbits. Corn, often called the "king of feed," is high in starch and low in fiber, so its use should be limited. In modern rabbit farming, a combination of concentrates, green materials, and coarse grains is commonly used. Corn should not make up more than 35% of the concentrate mix. Additionally, all seeds, by-products, and animal or plant-based protein feeds should be properly crushed, mixed according to scientific ratios (including roughage), and fed to the rabbits. Moldy concentrates and raw beans should be avoided; instead, beans should be cooked before feeding.
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