Forced Pellet Change

[Roberta]

OK, My Babies usually have Peters Pellets from Peters Pure Pet Food. They come highly recommended for house rabbits and are low in fat and protein but have a high level of fibre. As it is Xmas and all of the warehouses and shipping companies have been closed the retailer is out of stock. I even had to go hunting for their hay.

I a really concerned about changing their diet suddenly especially for the babies. The closest product I could get is Glen Forrest Stock Feeder Rabbit Pellets and after looking at their site I am even more concerned as the word PET does not appear, they only provide food for Farm, Lab and Zoo animals. The pet supply shop owner thinks he has the best on the market, I intend putting him straight on the matter.

In the interim I need you opinion. My current pellets have Protein 17%, Crude Fibre 15% Crude Fat 3% Salt 1% Calcium 1.1% and Phosphorus 0.5% where as the Glen Forrest pellets have Protein 16.40%, Total Fat 7.60%, Crude Fibre 19.10%, Neutral Detergent Fibre 30.50%, Acid Detergent Fibre 24.00%, Digestible Energy 11 MJ / Kg, Calcium 0.70%, Phosphorous 0.60%

Twice the fat and what the hell is Acid Detergent Fibre ?

Unfortunately it’s this or one of the fattening treaty mixes that would really mess with their tummies. Should I mix a third of this with whats left of their regular pellets and try to make it last or just hope that I can stretch what I have left until a shipment finally comes in ?

[jerseygirl]

Hi Roberta
I’ve sent a PM.

The fat content in the 2nd pellets you listed is worrying.

Acid detergent fibre is something I’ve seen a lot of when reading about feeds and hay but I don’t really understand it. This is a quote from a mill I’ve visited.  

Low ADF (acid detergent fibre). ADF refers to the portion of the plant cell wall that is made up of lignin and cellulose, which is highly digestible. A low ADF means high digestibility.   http://www.jtj.com.au

 

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Both of those pellets are too high in fat content. Check out this-http://www.oxbowaustralia.com/
Oxbow is my favorite brand, and the pellets is perfect for rabbits

[LBJ10]

Highly digestible by who? I didn’t even think rabbits could digest cellulose very well, it’s basically just fiber that passes through them.

[jerseygirl]

I agree LBJ. Mmm…. I think maybe that definition I quoted above should read ” portion of the plant cell wall that is made up of lignin and cellulose, which is highly indigestible”

EDIT TO ADD:   Ok, i found this on a rabbit site.

“A common term used to indicate
the digestibility of hay is “acid detergent fibre” (ADF). ADF is a measurement of the cell wall mass of the plant minus the hemicellulose or the
interior of the cell. Although stems contain the highest amount of ADF, or indigestible fibre, it is the physical coarseness that provides the
peristaltic stimulation commonly referred to as the scratch factor.” http://www.boingonline.com/hay_science.html

[Roberta]

Yay, Mum managed to get more Peters Pellets today. The last of them ran out this morning.
I am taking the packet of crud I bought back to Pet City unopened and letting them know why it wasn’t suitable.
I’d love to have access to the Oxbow but unfortunately Booragoon and Osborne Park is a long way away and as I work full time I could never get down there. The mobile one is a branch of the Rabbit Shop in Booragoon and are only accessible limited hours which are also outside my available time.
The owner of the pet supply store I normally go to mentioned another brand they use to use at the rescue centre, I am goingt o check that out in the interim.
Thankyou all for your help.. As big as Perth and it’s environs are sometimes we are still very limited in the availability of some products and at the mercy of local manufacturers who are more than willing to take advantage.

[KatnipCrzy]

I don’t know what bunnies you have or what amount you are feeding (since you mention babies). But for a typical adult house bunny- if I ran out of pellets and had to wait to get some, since I only feed a tablespon daily- I would stop pellets until I was able to get more of their regular pellets.

But if you are feeding pellets are more of the main diet and less than a “supplement” then that would not be possible. It sounds like the pellets you do not like are intended for use as a main part of the diet and most likely for livestock/breeding rabbits as opposed to a high quality pellet given in a small amount daily.

Most pet stores simply don’t know better and they don’t see any $$$ sense in recommending a diet low in pellets (which they sell you), greens and veggies and unlimited hay (which they could also sell you).

[Roberta]

HI KC,
I have an adult female who is feeding babies, an adult male, 3 x 8 wk old kits and 5 x 3 week old kits (Yes, Boy bunnies do have sperm up to a month after castration and the fact sheets that say 7 days is as long as you need to separate should be ignored and used to line budgy cages) Pepper mummy is on unlimited everything as are the babies, Piglet prefers his hay and certain greens. Everything is served smorgasboard in “out of hutch time” and in the morning each meal is individually prepared for the seperate hutches. The 3 big babies go this week which is a good thing as they are starting to get too big for the emergency hutch. (I had 7 but had to home them early due to the stress on Pepper who went a little psycho)

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