Biology and digestive physio of rabbits

Question 1

Comparing of hares and rabbits: hares

Answer 1

1. Above ground
2. smaller skull
3. precocial= nest leaving
4. active during the day

Question 2

Comparing of hares and rabbits: rabbits

Answer 2

live underground

have extra bone: os interparietale

altricial= nest resting

Active at night

Question 3

What are the unique characteristics of rabbits (6)

Answer 3

1. Producing rabbits have higher maint requirements compared to lab rabbits
2. High CF requirement: 12-15%
3. Ca is excreted in the urine has crystals- bloody urine is physio
4. Partuition is kindling
5. Low Water requirement: 2xDM
6. Chewing of food breaks down incisors: pellets>meal

Question 4

Anatomy and digestive physio

Answer 4

28 teeth

Among monogastrics: longest GIT and largest stomach and caecum

Question 5

pH values of the GIT (6)

Answer 5

1. Stomach: 2.1
2. Duodenum: 6.1
3. Jejunum: 7.3
4. Ileum: 7.2
5. Caecum: 5.9
6. Colon: 6.3

Question 6

Caecum (3)

Answer 6

1. They are hindgut digesters- but differ to horses because they ferment only in the caecum (horses is caecum and colon)
2. Caecum is 10x larger than the stomach
3. Ampulla ilei= enlargement that contains lymphoid tissue

Question 7

Preferred feed components (7 in order of preference)

Answer 7

1. Oat
2. Barley
3. Wheat (small%)
4. alfalfa meal
5. dried meat bulb
6. coccisiostats
7. pellet binder

Question 8

Biology

Answer 8

DMI is based on E requirement… so if you decr the E requirement of the feed you decr the DM intake

Question 9

Caecotrophy= eating own faeces (6)

Answer 9

• Enclosed by mucin- to prevent nutrient loss
• incr by incr fibre and decr protein
• Soft faeces: low DM and high CP and EE
• Hard faeces: high CF and NFE
• Produced in prox colon
• Regulated by: rectal mechanoreceptors, perception of odour of soft faeces, blood levels of metabolites and hormones

Question 10

Feedstuff degradation- what are the 4

Answer 10

1. Fibre
2. Protein
3. Lipids
4. Carbs

Question 11

Feedstuff degradation: fibre

Answer 11

Bacterial digestion produces VFA’s that are then absorbed

Question 12

Feedstuff degradation: Protein

Answer 12

Stomach: Pepsin and HCl complex

SI:

1. Trypsin and chymotrypsin produced by the pancreas
2. Aminopeptidase
3. Residue of dietary proteins and enzymes- go to the caecum to be utilized by the microbiome

Question 13

Feedstuff degradation: Lipids

Answer 13

Lipase and bile salts

Billiverdin is the main bile pigment

Question 14

Feedstuff degradation: carbs

Answer 14

Complete digestion of starch and sugar

Absorbed as: glucose, fructose and galactose