The species-specific feeding of rabbits as pets.

To meet nutrient demands as well as the speciesspecific requirements of an animal it is absolutely necessary to know its nutrition physiology (KAMPHUE S et al. 1999). Characteristics of the nutrition physiology of rabbits incl ude the anatomy of the intestinal tract (i.e. the teeth, the size of gut as well as the small intestine and colon), the special ingesting behaviour (s election, intensity of knewing and chewing) and digestive processes within the intestinal tract (digestion by own as well as by microbial enzymes, pro cesses of separation ( producing soft faeces) and the excretion of digested or undigested nutrients (excretion via faeces or kidneys, quality of faece s). In feeding pet rabbits it has to be recommended, that these species do not need concentrates, but ingredients with higher crude fiber contents due to their origin and their intestinal tract. Therefore these herbivorous sp ecies should be fed with hay, straw or vegetables and not with concentrates exclusively. If these components are not offered tan usual feeding practic e in rabbits kept as companion animals), other products rich in crude fibre have to be fed. The offer of a pressed diet in cube form with long fibrous ingredients would be a possibility to upgrade a ration poor in crude fibre . To meet the knewing requirement of the rabbits this cubes should be press ed intensively. Furthermore it is advisable to exchange ingredients of the mixed feed with a high energy content (i. e. sunflower seeds, nuts) for ing redients of lower energy density (i. e. oat hulls, pelleted ground hay). Fi nally calcium oversupply has to be avoided because higher calcium intake ma y result in urolithiasis (calcit stones/concrements).