Top Tips for Feeding Peanut Stems to Rabbits: Safe & He
1. Excessive Soil Content in Feed
One type of feed for rabbits is peanut vine powder, which is often purchased from feed suppliers. These suppliers typically collect peanut vines from rural farmers and then process and grind them. Since feed is paid for by weight, some unscrupulous suppliers skip the dusting process to maximize profits. However, peanut vine roots often carry soil and pathogenic microorganisms. In some cases, suppliers even deliberately add soil to increase weight, severely compromising the quality of the peanut vine. When rabbits consume this feed, they are prone to digestive issues and diarrhea. Therefore, it is crucial for farmers to carefully assess the quality of the peanut vine powder before purchasing. One way to do this is to take a handful of the bottom part of the powder and place it in water. Observe if there is any soil sediment and how much there is, as this is a significant indicator of the quality of the peanut vine.
2. Feed Moisture and Mold Formation
The harvest season for peanuts often coincides with periods of heavy rain. If peanut vines are harvested but not promptly dried and stored, they may mold due to moisture. If rabbits accidentally consume this moldy feed, they may suffer from diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. Eating moldy feed can easily lead to bloat disease in rabbits, characterized by severe diarrhea, bloating, and a hard cecum. Affected rabbits may show signs of depression, reduced appetite, or lack of appetite, along with grinding teeth and drooling. This disease is difficult to cure, and affected rabbits may die within a day. To prevent this, it is essential to avoid harvesting peanut vines when it's raining and to dry and store them properly after harvest. During the grinding process, carefully inspect the peanut vines and discard any moldy parts immediately.
3. Plastic Film Pollution
In some regions of our country, to facilitate early planting and increase yields, plastic film covering technology is often used during peanut cultivation. While this is a good method, it also means that during harvest, a lot of plastic film gets mixed with soil, making it difficult to handle. If the plastic film is not properly removed and ends up in the feed, it can cause mass deaths when rabbits consume it in large quantities. There have been news reports about such incidents. Therefore, at every stage of peanut vine collection, processing, and use, it is important to be vigilant to prevent similar occurrences.
These are the precautions provided by Oxygen Pet Doctor regarding the feeding of rabbits with peanut vines. If you regularly prepare peanut vine feed for rabbits or purchase it, it is essential to be extra cautious!
