Trinity Oaks' grain-feed mix

[Maxine]

A large portion of the population of the world is lactose intolerant, because most mammals stop drinking milk after they are weaned. They can consume it, but is it is not a necessity.

This is my families experience. Though I hear that drinking raw milk may be the answer to many people's intolerance to dairy. Mainly, because it has the bacteria that hasn't been pasteurized out of it that helps break down the lactose sugars. My husband and son can drink raw milk fine. I haven't experimented yet because to quite honest I'm fearful of having a reaction. One daughter gets a stomach ache still and my other daughter started getting eczema when she started drinking it. So back to coconut milk for them!

Anyways, thought I'd share.

I find this thread fascinating. Thank you to all for your research!

 

[WallTenter]

I see a lot of comments of what would rabbits eat in the wild. Well, a variety of grasses, barks, etc. whatever they were needing and was available. But our domesticated breeds are so far removed from their wild cousins it would take many many generations of selected breeding to get them to thrive on a "wild" diet, and they would not be nearly as large or fast growing. Think of how many hundreds (thousands) of generations these breeds have been bred in captivity with us supplying everything they need nutrition wise - it would take just as long to get them back to the wild type foods of their ancestors.

Also, wild rabbits don't have the same growth rate, tenderness of meat, etc. that domesticated rabbits do. All of these production rates we so love would be diminished. I am not saying that more forage and fresh foods would not be extremely better for our bun buns - I too want to feed a more natural diet. However the thought that wild food is the best food is not always true. Wild rabbits have nutritional problems too, remember!

I would personally not be satisfied if my rabbits had only the production of the local wild rabbits I see in the brambles sometimes!

 

[Frecs]

I see a lot of comments of what would rabbits eat in the wild. Well, a variety of grasses, barks, etc. whatever they were needing and was available. But our domesticated breeds are so far removed from their wild cousins it would take many many generations of selected breeding to get them to thrive on a "wild" diet, and they would not be nearly as large or fast growing. Think of how many hundreds (thousands) of generations these breeds have been bred in captivity with us supplying everything they need nutrition wise - it would take just as long to get them back to the wild type foods of their ancestors.

Also, wild rabbits don't have the same growth rate, tenderness of meat, etc. that domesticated rabbits do. All of these production rates we so love would be diminished. I am not saying that more forage and fresh foods would not be extremely better for our bun buns - I too want to feed a more natural diet. However the thought that wild food is the best food is not always true. Wild rabbits have nutritional problems too, remember!

I would personally not be satisfied if my rabbits had only the production of the local wild rabbits I see in the brambles sometimes!

And, yet, rabbit breeders in other countries who do not have access to pellets still manage to feed their rabbits well, get great growth rates, etc. And, in fact, most of the breeds we use today were developed long before pellets arrived on the scene. Sooo...clearly, it is possible to feed our domesticated rabbits a pelletless diet and still get good efficient meat production!

 

[WallTenter]

"most of the breeds we use today were developed long before pellets arrived on the scene" yes but they did not develop in someone's blackberry patch. And there have been several hundred generations since their development as well. And rabbits only live to be 2yrs old and a processing weight of 14weeks on a NZW needs to only be 5lbs.

Anytime you collect as much food for an animal as it can possibly eat while keeping it away from all threats of predators you are not feeding it naturally. I am not against feeding more naturally, again, I'm just saying let's not forget that there are nutritional deficiencies in most "wild" feeds.

 

[carebear]

In my area, 'easter' bunnies get 'released' into the 'wild' quite often. They take over parks, and in some cases, the city has to hold a round up. In any case, they do quite well eating wild. Granted, I live in a very temperate climate, so even in the winter there is a lot of forage.

 

[Miss M]

Malestrom -- if you return looking for your post, I split it off into its own topic. You will find it here: new-member-new-to-rabbits-t13380.html

 

[GBov]

"In addition, my rabbits get a tablespoon or two of red vinegar in their water (helps with digestion, and also reduces the odor of their urine), and pregnant/nursing does also get a teaspoon or two of calcium drench (for goats) in their water."

If your rabbits were (or are) on a watering system, how would you get the calcium drench just to your does? The vinegar is easy but the drench not so much.

Would a calcium powder supliment work as well?

 

[raliallison]

Is this grain feed mix intended for any type/size of rabbit? Say meat rabbits vs. show rabbits vs. pet rabbits?

 

[skysthelimit]

Is this grain feed mix intended for any type/size of rabbit? Say meat rabbits vs. show rabbits vs. pet rabbits?

Whoa this is an old topic

I can tell your from experience, my large meat breeds and show rabbits do not do well on the grain mix. They don't reach the weights the same time, don't carry the same flesh condition and don't grow wool like they would on pellets. It's possible, but it will take generations of selecting those who thrive.

however, litter size increased...

 

[Miss M]

Whoa this is an old topic

It is, but it's a Sticky, so we expect these to revive now and then.

 

[BirchLane]

Let me hop on the revival band wagon! Has anyone used this or a similar grain blend with success on show rabbits?

I've only just recently begun showing English Lops and I've found that a great many of the conditioning supplements that are commercially available include many of the same ingredients. After seeing 16 oz. baggies containing oats, wheat middlings, black oil sunflower seeds, and barley for sale for $12+ at the shows, I thought there HAD to be a more economical way to blend my own.

Then, because my brain likes to extrapolate data, I wondered why I couldn't simply make my own blend in bulk and begin gradually transitioning my rabbits from pellets onto a whole grain diet. Of course, the one thing that gives me pause is the fact that I've got a couple of buns who are currently well on their way to attaining Grand Champion status and I REALLY don't want to throw them out of condition just yet.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Has anyone used this or a similar grain blend with success on show rabbits?

Yes, I used to.

But as Skysthelimit mentioned, they don't grow as fast or have the same condition as pellet fed rabbits. I still supplement with a grain mix occasionally, and also offer it at shows. They eat it like candy, but if too stressed wont eat pellets.

I thought there HAD to be a more economical way to blend my own.

There is. I buy oats, barley, and BOSS in 50lb bags at Tractor Supply Company. I also add flax seed and wildbird seed (without corn) to my mix. <br /><br /> __________ Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:42 am __________ <br /><br />

Whoa this is an old topic

It is, but it's a Sticky, so we expect these to revive now and then.

I saw the link posted on FaceBook yesterday. Perhaps Raliallison and BirchLane found it that way?

 

[BirchLane]

It was being passed around in the Backyard Meat Rabbits group on FB after a user showed her homemade grain mix. Lots of people were curious about a DIY option that could meet their needs without relying on pellets as much, if at all. I don't know that a complete switch makes sense for me right now, but it's definitely a springboard for conditioning my show buns and keeping my brood does in good flesh when they're raising huge (12-14, on average) litters.

 

[alforddm]

Something you're going to have to pay attention to if feeding a grain mix is vitamin A. Rabbits have rather high vitamin A requirements and most common grains provide very little. Wheat, oat, barley, corn, and sunflowers are all deficient in vitamin A.

Infact, according to some published research many pelleted feeds provide insufficient vitamin A.

I have found very little information on vitamin A in hay. This little tidbit is very telling though...

We are not aware of any published values for vitamins in grass hays or other forges, mostly because vitamins are generally only seen in low amounts or not at all in dried forages (hays). Plants do not actually contain vitamin A, but they do contain beta-carotene which is converted into vitamin A within the horse's gastrointestinal tract. However, beta-carotene isn't stable once the forage has been harvested, so levels decrease quickly (within weeks) until the amount left is insufficient to meet a horse's nutritional needs. Consequently, vitamin A should be supplemented when horses are fed harvested forages. Vitamin A is known for its role in night vision.

From http://blog-horse-ask.extension.umn.edu ... s-hay.html

Yellow and orange pumpkins and carrots are great sources of vitamin A (beta-carotene) and some varieties store well and most rabbits love them. I'm unsure how storage of these foods effects beta-carotene levels.

 

[Zass]

Most green leafy vegetables are also good sources of vit A for spring summer or fall feeding.
Dandelions are known to be very high it:
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/veg ... cts/2441/2

 

[speakingtruth2you]

I know some of these posts are older but in reading I do like what I'm finding out. Now to find a feed store around here to carry or that does carry what I need. Appreciate everyone's input.

 

[Miss M]

I know some of these posts are older but in reading I do like what I'm finding out. Now to find a feed store around here to carry or that does carry what I need. Appreciate everyone's input.

This is a Sticky thread, meaning that it is always at the top of its forum where it can be easily located. It is expected that Sticky threads will be revived now and then.

Your other post here: post285141.html#p285141 would have been better posted as its own thread, so that members would be concentrating on your particular problem, rather than the rest of someone else's thread. That thread was over a year old; however, we did get an update on the bunny involved, since you posted in it. If not for that, I'd have split your post off into its own thread, and sent you a link to it. It's just a better way to get answers. Not that old threads are not useful -- far from it! Much knowledge can be gained from reading old threads. New problems, though, need to be posted in new threads, so they get the attention they need.

Welcome to RabbitTalk! :hi:

 

[MapleValley]

I was reading this as i want to change over from Pellets.. But the protein level is this recipe is way to low. Does any have a update recipe on this that works good?

 

[MaggieJ]

Maple Valley, would you please add your approximate location to your profile? It's a big help with answering questions like this--and many others.

I got the impression from your application that you are in Ontario, perhaps up Ottawa way. If so, there is a company called Homestead Organics that has a grain-based rabbit grower. They do rely on soybeans, but they would be non-GMO.

http://www.homesteadorganics.ca/default.aspx

A grower ration for rabbits containing wheat, oats, barley, roasted soybeans, flax
meal, peas, minerals and salt. Farmers should provide their own forage or purchase
alfalfa pellets.

I no longer have rabbits due to mobility issues, but I fed mine on a good alfalfa/grass hay, small amounts of whole grain, and as much fresh food (mostly weeds and branches from safe trees) as the season allowed. They also had a trace mineral salt block. They took a bit longer to grow to butchering size, but there was no excess fat on the carcasses and the meat tasted great. My cost was about half that of raising them on pellets. If you have some land and can gather forage, this is a great way to go and there's lots of information in the Natural Feeding for Rabbits forum.