The inclusion of ground hay, straw and paper in the diets fed to growing rabbits.

In 3 experiments growing rabbits were divided into 2 groups. In each case half received a basal ration while the other half was given this ration supplemented with a ground fibrous material: 20% hay, 10% straw or 10% paper. All the diets were fed in pelleted form. In all the experiments the rabbits fed on the diets containing the added fibrous materials gained in weight slightly more rapidly and had slightly higher food conversion ratios than did those on the control diet, but the differences in the means were not significant. A study of the small intestine and caecum weights expressed as percentages of body weight and as the weights of 1-cm lengths showed that the added fibrous materials increased these weights except in 1 instance where the results were the same. Significant changes were recorded in the case of hay in both the percentage weight and the weight of 1-cm lengths of caecum and in the straw experiment in the weight of 1-cm lengths of small intestine. There were no significant changes in the results from the paper-fed rabbits.