Abstract
Simple SummaryIn addition to hay or forage in the diet pet rabbits are commonly fed a supplementary food as a muesli (granular mix), pellets, or extruded croquettes. This study aimed to determine if form of this supplementary diet (pelleted vs. extruded) or composition (muesli) had an effect on the diets total tract digestibility and cecal fermentation patterns. Rabbits had slightly higher intake when fed extruded and pelleted diets compared to muesli. Digestibility results were inconsistent between estimation methods. The extruded diet was more digestible than pelleted according to the total collection digestibility method, but according to internal marker acid insoluble ash the pelleted diet was the most digestible. Both the extruded and pelleted diet had similar fermentation patterns, with lower cecal pH and greater proportions of butyrate. Our findings suggest that diet composition, rather than form, may have a greater impact on nutrient utilization by rabbits.Fifteen New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned to one of 3 dietary treatment groups of 5 animals each and fed pelleted, extruded, or muesli diets in a completely randomized design experiment. Rabbits were placed in individual cages with ad libitum access to water and food for 45 days acclimation followed by 30 days experimental period. Feed intake of rabbits fed pelleted and extruded diets was greater (p < 0.05) than rabbits fed the muesli diet (125.6 and 130.4 vs. 91.9 g/d), but weight change and feed efficiency were not affected by treatment. Diet digestibility among the treatments was inconsistent when comparing results obtained from total fecal collection and AIA (please define) as an internal marker. Rabbits fed extruded and pelleted diets had lower (p < 0.05) cecal pH (6.42 and 6.38 vs. 7.02, respectively), and higher (p < 0.05) production of SCFA (18.5 and 19.0 vs. 11.7 mM, respectively) than those fed muesli. The fermentation products from rabbits fed pelleted and extruded diets had a greater proportion of butyrate and less propionate than rabbits fed muesli. The results of this study indicate that the basal dietary composition had a greater impact on diet utilization and cecal fermentation than food form.
Highlights
Most domestic pet rabbits are fed a staple diet of dry forages such as long-stem grass hays (i.e., Phleum pretense (Timothy) or Dactylis (Orchard) grass hay) or loosely baled alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and a supplement based on hay and grain fortified with vitamins and minerals [1]
The pelleted and extruded diets were of similar ingredient composition and differed from the muesli diet (Table 1)
The Muesli diet was higher in Gross energy (4146 kcal/kg) than either extruded or pelleted diets
Summary
Most domestic pet rabbits are fed a staple diet of dry forages such as long-stem grass hays (i.e., Phleum pretense (Timothy) or Dactylis (Orchard) grass hay) or loosely baled alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and a supplement based on hay and grain fortified with vitamins and minerals [1]. These supplement feeds can be found in various forms. Claims regarding the value of one form over another have been made regarding digestibility, feed utilization, Animals 2017, 7, 95; doi:10.3390/ani7120095 www.mdpi.com/journal/animals. Pelleted feeds are the most common supplemental form in the United
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