The importance of fibre in rabbit health

Rabbits are anatomically and physiologically developed for a high fibre diet. Their teeth are designed for continuous wear from prolonged chewing, and their digestive process is perfectly suited for maximum nutrient absorption from low-nutrient vegetation. While it is possible for the rabbit to meet some nutritional needs with low fibre foods, the rabbit’s anatomy and physiology is such that longterm low dietary fibre levels can have detrimental effect on the rabbit’s health and wellbeing. As such, it is important that pet rabbits, and rabbits in a clinical environment are supported with adequate fibre levels and ample opportunities to chew.

Rabbits are crepuscular animals, being more active during dawn and dusk and they feed primarily during these hours. Rabbits are well adapted to living in environmrnts with sparse nutritional resources so they are attuned to choosing the most nutritious and succulent part of a plant on which to feed. Like most herbivores, rabbits must consume a large quantity of vegetation in order to meet their nutritional demands, but compared with other monogastric herbivores, rabbits ingest a significantly larger volume of vegeta relative to their size. Part of the reason for their large appetite is their high surface to bodyweight ratio which subsequently requires a greater relative supply of energy. To meet energy needs, a rabbit eating a diet with a dry matter energy density of around 2300 kcal/ kg must eat at least 5–8% of its total bodyweight in feed each day (Jenkins, 1999).