Recent advances in rabbit nutrition: emphasis on fibre requirements. A review.

Abstract

The rabbit meat production knew deep modifications during the ten last years, on the techniques of breeding as well as on the genetic potentialities of growth or reproduction. The techniques of feeding (adapted feed formulation etc.) also strongly progressed, in arder to obtain a better adjustment of feeds to the animals needs, e.g. according to their physiological stage. This paper summarised the recent advances and perspectives, which we consider significant in the field of the nutrition of growing rabbits and reproductive females. Particular attention will be devoted to the dietary fibre definition and requirements and to the relationship wilh digestive pathology, as mortality by diarrhoea is still a majar question in rabbit breeding.