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Rabbits and Rodents: Introduction and Nutrition

Rabbits and Rodents: Introduction and Nutrition. Dr. N. Matthew Ellinwood, D.V.M., Ph.D. February 19, 2014. Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Rabbits. At least 45 breeds of rabbits Serve as: pet animals meat producers fur and hide producers

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Rabbits and Rodents: Introduction and Nutrition

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  1. Rabbits and Rodents: Introduction and Nutrition Dr. N. Matthew Ellinwood, D.V.M., Ph.D. February 19, 2014 Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

  2. Rabbits • At least 45 breeds of rabbits • Serve as: • pet animals • meat producers • fur and hide producers • research subjects • Differ from rodents in having 2 sets of upper incisors

  3. Rabbit GI Anatomy • Non-ruminant herbivores with simple (glandular) stomach • Shorter sm. intestine than most species • Enlarged cecum for enhanced forage use • Don’t digest fiber well (15-17% optimal) • Do digest starch and recycle protein • Lg. Intestine sorts food based on components & size • Fiber continues to colon for excretion • Fluids and soluble particles transferred back to cecum for further digestion

  4. Rabbit digestive tract

  5. Coprophagy/Cecotrophy • Ingestion of feces (“normal”) • Hard and soft feces produced • Soft feces ingested directly from the anus as excreted in early morning (night feces) • Not a problem if housed on wire cages • Similar to rumination due to path: cecum mouth stomach…a “recycler” • Provide vitamins B and K and increase forage use

  6. Feedstuffs • Hay • Alfalfa--high in protein and calcium • Most forages are low in phosphorus • High fiber (cellulose) will have limited digestion by cecal fermentation or coprophagy • Grass--significantly lower in protein and digestibility • Timothy--now being seen as basis of pelleted diets

  7. Feedstuffs • Garden vegetables • Good sources of vitamins • High in moisture/low in dry matter • Fibrous materials--help with digestive function • Not exceptionally good sources of protein • Enrichment

  8. Feedstuffs • Grains • Generally good sources of energy and phosphorus • Poor sources of calcium and fiber • Grain byproducts also acceptable • Prefer oats and barley to corn

  9. Feedstuffs • Protein supplements • Commercial pelleted diet ~ 15-19% CP • Plant based • Oil content increases energy • Generally only needed for max. growth

  10. Feeding Tips • Pelleting common • Reduces feed sorting/wastage • Cereal grains utilized…especially oats • Avoid moldy feeds • Often nocturnal feeders • Avoid overfeeding calories • Use higher forage/vegetable matter formula • Meal feed superior to “free choice”

  11. Feeding Tips cont’d • Atony and hairballs reduced with 22% fiber in diet • Rabbits unable to vomit • Concern: although fermentation followed by coprophagy is significant, dietary essential amino acid requirements still exist • Fat addition common for grower rabbits • Gnawing toys also good

  12. Nutrient Recommendations • Fiber • Reduces hairballs • Reduces chance of obesity • Helps w/ GI function

  13. Special Considerations • Calcium • Very efficient absorption. . . and excretion • Alfalfa higher in calcium than other grasses • Leads to: cloudy urine, urine sludge, bladder calculi • Enteritis/enterotoxemia • Major problem with high concentrate diets • Clostridial organisms flourish in presence of overconsumption of energy…especially in young rabbits • Also a concern with antibiotic administration

  14. Chinchillas • Originated in S. America • Desire for pelts nearly led to extinction • Longer life span than other pet rodents • Require dust baths for coat quality • Generally eat at night • Monogastric herbivore w/ large cecum--“hind gut” fermenters www.brandywinezoo.org/chinchilla/html

  15. Origin • Two species in the wild • Chinchilla brevicaudata • Shorter, stockier, and facing extinction • A previously extant species is already extict • Chinchilla lanigera • Chinchilla lanigera – domesticated • wild – Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile • Spanish discovered them in 16th century

  16. Crespuscular • Active – require wheels • Names after the Chincha people of the Andes: “Little Chincha” • Hunting in the 19th century • Fur trade led to rarity in the wild • Rock crevices in the wild • Can jump up to 6 feet high

  17. In the wild, groups called herds • Nonseasonally polyestrous • Gestation is 111 days • Usually two offsping • Precocial • Prey species defense • Fur release • Urine spraying

  18. Dust baths • Fine volcanic dust (pumice) • Diet • Pelleted chinchilla with timothy hay • Raisin supplement 1-2 per day • Do not over supplement on fruits and vegetables

  19. Chinchillas • Normally coprophagic • Susceptible to constipation • Prevented by having adequate crude fiber • Susceptible to dietary changes (diarrhea) • Make changes slowly • Absolute requirements not known • Most commercial diets are higher in fiber and lower in protein than conventional rodent diets • Enjoy veggies, fruits, and grains as treats (limit to one to two raisins per day)

  20. Research Importance • Hearing • Range and anatomy • Chagas disease • Parasitic diseae causing American trypanosomiasis • Gastrointestinal disease • Listeriosis

  21. Guinea Pigs • Domesticated in S. America; some wild cavies still found there today • Produce large amount of feces • Females must be bred before 7 mo. of age

  22. Origin • Cavia porcellus – domesticated • Cavia aperia – wild • wild – Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay • also known as Cavies • domesticated 16th century – England

  23. Varieties of Guinea Pigs • Traditional • American or English – short hair • Abyssinian – whorls of short rough hair • Peruvian – long hair

  24. Varieties of Guinea Pigs • New varieties • Silky – medium length soft hair • Teddy – short, coarse hair • American Crested – short hair with contrasting whorl on forehead • Rex – very short, soft hair • Hairless

  25. Traditional varieties of guinea pigs

  26. American – short hair

  27. Abyssinian – whorls (rosettes of short hair

  28. Peruvian – long hair

  29. New varieties of guinea pigs

  30. Silky – soft, medium hair

  31. Teddy – short, coarse hair

  32. American crested – contrasting whorl on head

  33. Rex – very short, soft hair

  34. Hairless – (well, almost)

  35. Basic Guinea Pig • compact stocky body • tailless • diurnal – actually • short naps night and day • sebaceous marking glands - rump • open rooted teeth

  36. Additional characteristics • vocalize – at least 11 sounds • good swimmers • seldom jump • rarely intentionally bite or scratch • need frequent handling • lifespan – 5 yr average, ~8 yr max.

  37. Uses of Guinea Pigs • Pets • Scientific research • Food

  38. Home Sweet Home • Temperature: 70, 65 – 79 • Space • < 350 gm 60 sq. in. • > 350 gm 101 sq. in. • max size 1.2 x 3.8 cm mesh or solid

  39. Home Sweet Home • Bedding • wood shavings – not cedar, pine • shredded paper • not dusty • timothy hay overlay optional • clean weekly

  40. Home Sweet Home • Humidity 50%; 40 – 70 • Light cycle 12:12 • Air changes 10 – 15 per hour

  41. Digestive System • Strict herbivores • Hind gut fermenters – cecum • Lactobacilli sp. • primary fatty acid – propionic acid

  42. NUTRITION • require vitamin C • have higher folic acid requirement • sensitive to excess Ca, Vit. A, Vit. D • leads to metastatic calcification • mineralization of soft tissues

  43. Nutrition Continued • Food preferences established early • Normally coprophagic • Provide free-choice timothy hay • Green veggies make great snacks and supplement Vit C requirements • Like rabbits, subject to antibiotic induced enterotoximia

  44. Guineas & Vitamin C • Must have diet formulated for Guinea pigs or otherwise supplemented with Vit C • Most diets fortified with Vit C (ascorbic acid) • Approx half of initial amt. of Vit C is oxidized within 90 days of mixing • 15-25mg / day required • Clinical signs (joint bleeds) can occur as soon as 2 weeks on Vit C deficient diet • Scurvy caused by Vit C deficiency is leading cause of death in guineas

  45. Feeding • Additional Requirements • ~ 6 gm feed/100 gm body weight • 18-20 % protein • 10-16 % crude fiber • Use guinea pig feed!!! • NOT RABBIT FEED • no vit. C and high in vit. D

  46. Feeding Management • Messy feeders • Use J-feeders not bowl

  47. Water Management • Glass/clear bottles preferred • Like to play with waterers • will empty water bottle and/or • stop up the opening • check frequently • Change & Clean water bottle daily • Automatic waterers • check daily; acidify water at source • reduces pseudomonas

  48. Gerbils • Mongolian gerbil • Meriones unguiculatus

  49. Gerbils • More active than hamsters • If escape cages, often return to them • Excessive burrowing and tunneling • Prone to stress induced epileptic seizures http://br.geocities.com/gerson_cs/gerbil.html

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