<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Rabbits are classified as obligate herbivores. However, under natural conditions, some members of the family Leporidae incorporate animal products into their diets. Therefore, it seems biologically justified to supplement the diets of farmed rabbits with feeds of animal origin as sources of protein, fat and minerals. The aim of this review was to describe, from a historical perspective, the use of various feeds of animal origin in rabbit nutrition. The applicability of by-products from mammal, poultry, fish and invertebrate processing for rabbit feeding was evaluated, including the future prospects for their use. A review of the available literature revealed that various animal-based feeds can be valuable protein sources in rabbit diets, but their inclusion levels should not exceed 5-10%. Studies investigating their efficacy have been conducted since the 1970s. In some regions of the world, the use of animal-derived protein in livestock feeds was prohibited due to the risk of spreading bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). However, the interest in animal by-products as protein sources in livestock diets is likely to increase since the above ban has been lifted.</p>
</abstract>

Rabbits are classified as obligate herbivores. However, under natural conditions, some members of the family Leporidae incorporate animal products into their diets. Therefore, it seems biologically justified to supplement the diets of farmed rabbits with feeds of animal origin as sources of protein, fat and minerals. The aim of this review was to describe, from a historical perspective, the use of various feeds of animal origin in rabbit nutrition. The applicability of by-products from mammal, poultry, fish and invertebrate processing for rabbit feeding was evaluated, including the future prospects for their use. A review of the available literature revealed that various animal-based feeds can be valuable protein sources in rabbit diets, but their inclusion levels should not exceed 5-10%. Studies investigating their efficacy have been conducted since the 1970s. In some regions of the world, the use of animal-derived protein in livestock feeds was prohibited due to the risk of spreading bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). However, the interest in animal by-products as protein sources in livestock diets is likely to increase since the above ban has been lifted.

Feeds of animal origin in rabbit nutrition – a review

Department of Fur-bearing Animal Breeding and Game Management, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Feeds of animal origin in rabbit nutrition \u2013 a review"}

Rabbits are classified as obligate herbivores. However, under natural conditions, some members of the family Leporidae incorporate animal products into their...

Feeds of animal origin in rabbit nutrition – a review

Published Online: Oct 29, 2022

Page range: 1411 - 1429

Received: Apr 06, 2022

Accepted: Jun 13, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2022-0049

Keywords
rabbits, nutrition, feeds of animal origin

© 2022 Andrzej Gugołek et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Feeds of animal origin in rabbit nutrition – a review

Published Online: Oct 29, 2022

Page range: 1411 - 1429

Received: Apr 06, 2022

Accepted: Jun 13, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2022-0049

Keywordsrabbits, nutrition, feeds of animal origin

© 2022 Andrzej Gugołek et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
rabbits, nutrition, feeds of animal origin