Wallage-Drees, J.M.: Quality of the Diet Selected By Wild Rabbits (Oryctolagus Cuniculus (L.)) in Autumn and Winter

Wallage-Drees, J.M.; Deinum, B.: Quality of the Diet Selected By Wild Rabbits (Oryctolagus Cuniculus (L.)) in Autumn and Winter.
In: Netherlands Journal of Zoology, Volume 36, Number 4, 1985 , pp. 438-448(11).

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Abstract

Diet quality for a population of wild rabbits was determined by assessing the quality of the stomach contents. Two parameters were measured: digestibility (energy content) and crude protein. Digestibility of the food was analysed by comparing the contents of stomach and faeces with an internal tracer. Rabbits digest only one-third of the cell wall constituents (CWC). The total digestibility of the food was below the standard of maintenance from December till March. So winter diet may influence the survival of the rabbits. Crude protein (CP) was determined by the Kjeldahl procedure. The CP value of the stomach content remained high in all seasons. It is discussed to what extent CP in the stomach equates CP in the diet.