DIETARY ITEMS.

GRASS AND HAY
Grass provides a balanced source of protein, digestible and indigestible fibre, vitamins and minerals, and ideally pet rabbits should be allowed to graze for several hours a day. However this can be impractical for house rabbits. Grass is approximately 20 - 40% crude fibre. Grass should be grazed or fed fresh cut. Lawnmower clippings should not be used as they ferment rapidly and can cause digestive disturbance.

Hay should also be considered an essential part of the pet rabbit diet and should be provided ad libitum. Hay can be used as a substitute for grass, or fed in addition. Species of grass used for haymaking in the UK are ryegrass, timothy, fescues, meadow grass, and Cocksfoot (orchard grass) and are generally referred to as meadow hay, often containing a mixture of species, including come clover. Fibre content varies from 29.8% (meadow grass) to 35.6% (orchard grass). Protein content of grass hays is generally in the range 6.3% to 16.7%. Quality will vary depending on the time of year. Cutting hay before flowering gives the best quality. Opinion varies as to the best age of hay to feed. Some rabbit keepers recommend feeding hay that is at least 4 months old as young hay may lead to diarrhoea, but others feed new hay with no problems. Prolonged storage of hay can lead to loss of nutrients, especially vitamins A and D, and especially if the temperature is warm. Good hay is sweet-smelling and with no mustiness. Lucerne (alfalfa) is used widely in the USA and other parts of the world for haymaking but is not common in the UK. It is high in protein (16.5%) and calcium and is thus very useful for growing rabbits, but can lead to obesity and urolithiasis in mature animals. Other legume hays (e.g clover) are similarly high in protein, calcium and energy and are not recommended for adult pet rabbit.

Straw is not recommended as, although eaten, is low in nutrients and will lead to deficiencies if it is a major part of the diet.The feeding of silage is generally not practical, although it has been approached in some countries.

Anecdotal reports on the use of artificially dried grass in rabbits have been received and rabbits seem to find it very palatable. Nutrient content is often superior to sun-dried hay, although vitamin D content will be lower and carotene and vitamin E content can deteriorate with time unless stored correctly.

About the Author:
http://www.thebrc.org/diet.htm