Influencing Factors on Neonatal Rabbit Survival Rates:

Factors Affecting the Survival Rate of Young Rabbits

1. The transition from nursing to independence is a critical period for young rabbits. This involves a significant change in their living environment, such as shifting from mother's milk to solid feed and starting to live independently. These changes require both the digestive and psychological systems of the young rabbits to adjust, which can be challenging. Given that their digestive organs are not yet fully developed, adapting to these changes is inherently difficult. Furthermore, factors like sudden weather changes or an inappropriate feed formula can easily lead to illness and death in these young rabbits.

Moreover, before weaning, young rabbits live with their mothers, but after weaning, they must separate and live independently. This change in environment can often make the rabbits feel lonely and anxious, leading to a loss of appetite, poor digestion, and slow growth. In severe cases, these stress responses can even result in the death of the young rabbits.

2. An imbalanced diet can also be fatal for young rabbits. Their digestive systems are not fully matured, yet they grow rapidly and require a variety of nutrients. Some farmers, in an effort to accelerate growth, provide highenergy, highprotein, and lowfiber diets in large quantities. However, this can overload their digestive systems, disrupt the gut microbiota, and cause diarrhea, which can be lifethreatening in severe cases. Additionally, if the quality of the rabbit feed does not meet standards, it may not fulfill the nutritional needs of the growing rabbits, leading to malnutrition, weakness, and increased susceptibility to illness. In such situations, environmental changes can further exacerbate the risk of death.

3. After weaning, young rabbits have a rapid growth rate, which leads to a sharp increase in their nutritional requirements. Consequently, they tend to overeat. If the rabbit owner does not pay attention to feeding them at regular intervals and in appropriate amounts, overfeeding can lead to stomach inflammation and even death. Furthermore, coccidiosis is a common disease among young rabbits, and once infected, weak rabbits can die. Neglecting proper cleaning and disinfection of the rabbit shed, inadequate ventilation, and failing to take preventive measures can lead to the spread of coccidiosis and subsequent deaths among the young rabbits.

These are the factors analyzed by Oxygen Pet Doctor that affect the survival rate of young rabbits. We hope rabbit owners will pay close attention to these issues and take steps to prevent them, thereby improving the survival rate of young rabbits.