Feeding and breeding of laboratory animals

Abstract

1. Breeding records are given of fourteen female Dutch rabbits reared and maintained without green food, and of twelve of their female offspring.2. Fertility, average litter size at birth, and the percentage of young weaned, were good for the breed.3. No difference in growth rate was found between the first and second generations of young.4. With the dry pelleted diet, supplemented by drinking water, fresh green food is unnecessary for breeding rabbits, as it has already been shown to be unnecessary for growing animals (Bruce & Parkes, 1946).I should like to thank Dr A. S. Parkes, F.R.S., for his help in the preparation of the manuscript.