Feed Intake during the Reproductive Resting Period in Adult Cage-bred Wild Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus)

Abstract

This study was aimed at estimation of voluntary feed intake of wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus) during reproductive resting period in context to their intensive breeding in game farms. To this end, 20 adult outdoors cage-bred wild rabbits were fed ad libitum with a commercial feed for domestic rabbits containing 16.5% crude protein, 16.5% crude fiber and 2,340 kcal digestible energy/kg dry matter. The average feed intake was 65.3±12.1 g/day, without differences between sexes (P>0.05). The dry matter consumed relative to live weight was 6.0±0.9% without differences between sexes (P>0.05), but being higher (P<0.05) to that described for adult domestic rabbits. Average daily feed intake was higher (P<0.01) in heavier wild rabbits, but the proportion of dry matter consumed relative to live weight did not change (P>0.05) with the animals’ live weight, suggesting that this value is constant throughout maturity. This information is useful for feed formulation and supply in the game farming of wild rabbits of the O. c. algirus subspecies. © 2013 Friends Science Publishers