Nurturing Mother Rabbits: Essential Nutritional Needs

What Nutrients Should Be Supplemented in Lactating Female Rabbits?

Lactating female rabbits require a substantial amount of milk production to nourish their kits, and coupled with the energy needed to maintain their own bodily functions, they deplete a considerable amount of nutrients daily. As a result, their nutritional demands are particularly high, especially for energy and protein. Since their nutritional intake comes from the feed they consume, it is crucial for owners to carefully balance their daily rations to ensure a comprehensive and balanced nutrient profile. The diet of lactating rabbits should be rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, with a minimum of 18% crude protein. Moreover, due to the increased digestible energy required by lactating rabbits, which can affect their normal digestive physiology, the digestible energy in their diet should be maintained between 10.88 to 11.3 megajoules per kilogram. Additionally, while ensuring the rabbits have access to freechoice pelleted feed, it is important to supplement them with a moderate amount of fresh, green, and juicy forage, and to enhance the palatability of their diet to avoid any potential loss of appetite.

Ensuring a wellbalanced and sufficient nutrient intake for lactating female rabbits is key to enhancing milk production and the survival rate of the kits. With that in mind, how can we determine the appropriate amount of nutrition to provide?

The nutritional requirements of lactating female rabbits are determined based on their body weight, the number of kits, milk production, milk composition, and milk synthesis efficiency. The intake of food should gradually increase as the kits grow and develop, and it is essential to provide them with ample water to meet their hydration needs. During the process of caring for lactating rabbits, owners should pay attention to the阶段性, completeness, and continuity of their nutritional needs, adjusting their diet and supplementing as necessary.

Inadequate food intake in lactating rabbits can lead to nutrient deficiencies, resulting in gradual weight loss. This not only affects the health of the mother rabbit but also severely impacts the growth and development of the kits and can significantly hinder the next pregnancy.

The above content is a summary by Oxygen Pet Doctor of the nutritional needs of lactating female rabbits. We hope this information can be of assistance to you!