Rabbits
Rabbits of all strains are used in laboratory research, especially in studies of bacteriology, physiology, and nutrition. Researchers also use them in clinical laboratories to conduct hormone studies and to produce biologics.
Rabbits are usually obtained from an outside source in the size and number required for a particular experiment. To make sure you have a good supply of uniform animals, it is best to plan well ahead and order from one supplier. This eliminates having to introduce undesirable variations into the experiment.
Except for future breeders, rabbits should be handled as little as possible. It is easy to injure the rabbit's back unless proper support is provided. Occasionally handling the breeders will accustom them to the cage transfers required for mating. To hold them, firmly grasp the loose skin over the shoulders with one hand and support the weight by placing the other hand under the hindquarters. Rabbits usually will not resist handling by someone they trust. If they need to be restrained, wrapping them in a cloth will help prevent scratching.
The rabbit eliminated two kinds of feces. The "day" feces are hard, round and dry. The "night" feces are soft and encased in a membrane. These night feces are consumed by the rabbits as an important source of nutrients. Fasted rabbits with empty stomachs are difficult to gain because of this practice of coprophagy. The day droppings should be cleaned out regularly by the caretakers.
Newly purchased rabbits should be isolated for at least 21 days. When the rabbit is caged, it should have enough room to stretch out full length to its normal resting position. The cage also should be high enough to permit the rabbit to sit up on its haunches.
Custom Diets
Hundreds of custom diets have been formulated for rabbits; we can repeat or modify any existing diet or create new formulas for your specific research requirements.
A few examples of custom rabbit diets –
|
Commonly known as: |
Description |
Grain-Based = G or Purified = P |
TestDiet® Formula # or Product # |
|
5730-1 |
Modified Rabbit LabDiet® 5321 with 2% Cholesterol; 4% Peanut Oil |
G |
58LM |
|
5730-8 |
Modified Rabbit LabDiet® 5321 with 2% Cholesterol; 10% Peanut Oil |
G |
5TC2 |
|
5730-N |
Modified Rabbit LabDiet® 5321 with 1% Cholesterol; 6% Peanut Oil |
G |
57FL |
|
5731 T |
Modified Rabbit LabDiet® 5321 with 0.50% Cholesterol |
G |
|
|
5731-6 |
Modified Rabbit LabDiet® 5321 with 1.00% Cholesterol |
G |
|
|
5731-9 |
Modified Rabbit LabDiet® 5321 with 2.00% Cholesterol |
G |
57C1 |
|
5731-U |
Modified Rabbit LabDiet® 5321 with 0.25% Cholesterol |
G |
|
|
5734-2 |
Modified Rabbit LabDiet® 5321 with 2% Cholesterol; 6% Peanut Oil |
G |
57GK |
|
5734-3 |
Modified Rabbit LabDiet® 5321 with no added NaCl (0.05% sodium) |
G |
5734-3 |
|
5736-E |
Modified Rabbit LabDiet® HF 5326 with 0.5% Cholesterol |
G |
573E |
|
5736-F |
Modified Rabbit LabDiet® HF 5326 with 2% Cholesterol; 10% Peanut Oil |
G |
575E |
|
5736-G |
Modified Rabbit LabDiet® HF 5326 with 1% Cholesterol |
G |
573G |
|
5750-6 |
Modified Rabbit LabDiet® HF 5326 with 2% Cholesterol |
G |
57GT |
|
C30255 |
Modified Rabbit LabDiet® 5322 with 4.7% Hydrogenated Coconut Oil and 0.3% Cholesterol. |
G |
|
|
C30515 |
Modified Rabbit LabDiet® HF 5326 with 0.2% cholesterol. |
G |
|
|
C30516 |
Modified Rabbit LabDiet® HF 5326 with 0.15% cholesterol. |
G |
|
|
LD304 |
PMI Micro-Stabilized Rabbit Liquid Diet
|
P |
|
|
LD304A |
PMI Micro-Stabilized Alcohol Rabbit Liquid Diet
|
P |
|
Care and Feeding |
|
|||||
|
|
Number
of |
Number
of |
Cage Dimensions* |
|||
|
Length |
Width |
Height |
||||
|
Breeding/Lactation |
1 |
6-8 |
75 cm |
45 cm |
45 cm |
|
|
Growing |
12 |
55 cm |
50 cm |
40 cm |
||
|
Experimental |
1 |
75 cm |
90 cm |
45 cm |
||
|
|
45 cm |
23 cm |
18 cm |
|||
|
|
||||||
|
Feeding Recommendations |
Daily Feed Usage |
Water Requirement |
Begin Dry Food Consumption |
|||
|
Adult
male |
110-175
gm |
Ad libitum |
4-5 days |
|||
|
|
||||||
|
Environmental Data |
Room Temp. |
Humidity |
Light |
Litter Material |
||
|
20-25 ¡C |
45-55% |
12-14 hrs/day |
Maintain on 1.25 x 2.5 cm. wire. Good straw, shavings |
|||
|
|
or commercial bedding |
|||||
|
Biological Values |
|
|||||
|
Blood Chemical Composition |
Water |
Calcium |
Sodium |
Chloride |
Phosphorus |
Potassium |
|
93-95 gm/100ml |
7.0 mEq/L |
140 mEq/L |
105 mEq/L |
5.9 mg/100ml |
5.5-6.0 mEq/L |
|
|
Values
are for plasma, except |
Magnesium |
Cholesterol |
Glucose |
Serum Protein |
Albumin |
Globulin |
|
3.2-5.4 mg/100ml |
30-80 mg/100ml |
145 mg/100ml |
7.2 gm/100ml |
4.6 gm/100ml |
2.7 gm/100ml |
|
|
|
||||||
|
Oxygen Consumption and Body Temperature |
Observed |
Temperature |
Oxygen
Consum- |
Breathing Rate |
Heart Beat |
|
|
3700 gms |
39.4 ¡C |
- |
51/minute |
205/minute |
||
|
|
||||||
|
Hematological Values |
Whole
Blood Volume |
Clotting Time |
RBC Life Span |
RBC Diameter |
RBC
Rate of |
|
|
60 ml/kg |
60-360 sec. |
45-70 days |
7.0 microns |
2 mm/hr |
||
|
Blood pH |
RBC |
Hematocrit |
Platelets |
Hb |
||
|
7.35 |
4.5-7.0 106/mm3 |
41.5 ml/100ml |
170-1120 103/mm3 |
13.6 gm/100ml |
||
|
|
||||||
|
Total and Differential White Blood Cell Counts |
Leucocytes |
Neutros |
Eosinos |
Basos |
Lymphos |
Monos |
|
9.0 103/mm3 |
4.1 103/mm3 |
0.18 103/mm3 |
0.45 103/mm3 |
3.5 103/mm3 |
0.73 103/mm3 |
|
|
Life Cycle Information |
|
|||||
|
|
Weight |
Weight |
Weight |
Breeding
Age |
Breeding Age Female |
Estrus |
|
|
4-5.5 kg |
4.5-6.5 kg |
100 gms |
6-7
months |
5-6
months |
Polyestrus |
|
|
Gestation |
Weaning Age |
Litter Size |
Rebreed After Parturition |
Breeding Life Male |
Breeding Life Female |
|
|
30-32
days |
8 weeks |
1-8 |
14-28 days |
1-3 years |
1-3 years |
|
|
Mating Data: 1 male, 6-10 females, pair-mate usually in buck's cage |
|||||
|
* |
Refer to the "Guide for the Care and use of Laboratory Animals" - NIH Publication No. 85-23, Revised 1985. |
|
|
Prepared by the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20418 |