Wheat bran

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

I was thinking of adding one part of wheat bran in my grain mix. What do you think of that idea. ?

 

[michabo3000]

does the wheat bran give your rabbits something they are not getting from your grain mix?<br /><br />__________ Sun Jul 15, 2012 12:10 pm __________<br /><br />Im trying to figure out how to figure out a well balanced diet for the rabbits from feeding grain.Where does the B12 for the rabbits come from?

 

[SatinsRule]

Rice bran is another one you might want to consider.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

does the wheat bran give your rabbits something they are not getting from your grain mix?

__________ Sun Jul 15, 2012 12:10 pm __________

Im trying to figure out how to figure out a well balanced diet for the rabbits from feeding grain.Where does the B12 for the rabbits come from?

what is your grain mix. ?

Wheat bran is more fiber . I am always looking to add to my mix to make sure they are getting a variety and more of a complete diet in a way. They really like the beet pulp . But not to fussy on barley and i have a doe that hates alfalfa pellets. But loves her hay. Just like people . Some like and others dont.<br /><br />__________ Sun Jul 15, 2012 2:19 pm __________<br /><br />

Rice bran is another one you might want to consider.

because it is made by Rice . I think i will pass on that. But thanks .

 

[SatinsRule]

Any particular reason why?

 

[akane]

If you are feeding hay it's a completely pointless addition since it will give no nutrition besides fiber. They'll probably just eat around it if they don't need the fiber.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

Any particular reason why?

I prefer wheat over rice. MOre fiber ,less of a filler than rice is.

__________ Sun Jul 15, 2012 2:58 pm __________

besides fiber.

that is the point, Also to make sure it isnt something bad for them. I will check to see how much it is and go from there. IF it isnt expensive i am going to add it to the mix.

 

[Piper]

does the wheat bran give your rabbits something they are not getting from your grain mix?

__________ Sun Jul 15, 2012 12:10 pm __________

Im trying to figure out how to figure out a well balanced diet for the rabbits from feeding grain.Where does the B12 for the rabbits come from?

a quote is below this, but it breaks down as this
1) is produced by bacteria
2) fermented foods help - naturally fermented Vinegar (like Braggs), Kombacha, Kimchi as just some of the foods that we can make.
3) I am putting together a pin board for that, but if sites of chicken feet and other animal body parts bother you, you - be warned, I am also finding recipes to use all parts of the animal.
http://pinterest.com/laurall21/recipes-wild-ferment/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_B12
"It is the largest and most structurally complicated vitamin and can be produced industrially only through bacterial fermentation-synthesis."
"Ultimately, animals must obtain vitamin B12 directly or indirectly from bacteria, and these bacteria may inhabit a section of the gut which is distal to the section where B12 is absorbed. Thus, herbivorous animals must either obtain B12 from bacteria in their rumens, or (if fermenting plant material in the hindgut) by reingestion of cecotrope fæces.
Plants pulled from the ground and not washed scrupulously may contain remnants of B12 acquired from the bacteria present in the surrounding soil.[58] B12 is also found in lakes, before the water is sanitized.[59]
Vitamin B12 is found in foods that come from animals, including fish and shellfish, meat (especially liver), poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products.[1] Eggs are often mentioned as a good B12 source, but they also contain a factor that blocks absorption.[citation needed] However, the binding capacity of heat treated egg yolks and egg whites is markedly diminished after heat treatment.[60] Certain insects such as termites contain B12 produced by their gut bacteria, in a way analogous to ruminant animals.[61] An NIH Fact Sheet lists a variety of food sources of vitamin B12.[1]"

 

[akane]

Herbivores have all developed ways to get b12 and similar vitamins humans cannot produce and use on their own. It's one of those arguments vegans lose when they try to tell us we are designed for a herbivorous diet. You need animal products or vitamin supplements to survive. Herbivores do not. They can process things by multiple stomachs, cecum or rumen, or caecotrophy allowing them to live on plant matter alone.

Technically if you are going for a natural well balanced diet grain isn't even in the picture. It's no more something a rabbit would eat than commercial pellets. Most people don't have the time or land to collect the variety of plants a browser like a rabbit would naturally eat and such a diet is so low energy it doesn't meet the production needs of humans. So humans introduced whole grains first to their livestock to help boost production or work ability and later commercial diets. Quality hay is far closer to what rabbits would eat and would be a better addition than trying to build fiber and a complete diet out of grains. Grains should be a supplement to hay and/or fresh forage. That makes things that have no nutrition except fiber pointless.

 

[skysthelimit]

I assume you are thinking of trying the wheat brand in opposed to the hay because they waste so much?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I have fed wheat bran to my horses. The flakes are very small- I think most of it would fall through the mesh on my feeders.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

I assume you are thinking of trying the wheat brand in opposed to the hay because they waste so much?

I didnt think of that. I will never take hay away from the rabbits. Even tho i hate it. I am going to pass on the idea. Sounds like a waste of money. I think hay is giving them enough of fiber anyways. I just though more fiber for the rabbits better it is. I just didnt think it was really pointless.<br /><br />__________ Wed Jul 25, 2012 6:56 am __________<br /><br />

I assume you are thinking of trying the wheat brand in opposed to the hay because they waste so much?

Well i am rethinking what you said. I think i am going to use and take away the hay.
rabbits prefer oats over barley and wheat. YOur grain mix should be more oats than anything. Same with horses. I have no problem getting any of this stuff. I dont buy from a feed store. I have 2 more bales of hay left. After that i am not feeding anymore hay. I know they need it. But i am going about it a different way. They leaves some much of it behind as they dont like eating the stems of the hay. I have to pull hay out of there pens every day and give fresh stuff and the hay that is on the ground or in there trays is rediculous. Build hay feeders and still lots of waste. I will give the odd handful of straw now and then with the hay blocks and putting more alfalfa pellets in the grain mix and adding wheat bran for fiber.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Wow, your rabbits are wasting a ton of hay! Maybe you are giving too much at a time- goats (and some horses) will waste their hay too if given too much. They just eat the leafy parts and leave the stems. Also, certain cuttings have thicker stems, and they may not like that. The alfalfa I have right now is almost all leaf, and it was just falling through the wire, but I also have bermuda, so I have been giving that and top-dressing with a little alfalfa, and am feeding most of the alfalfa to the horses because they eat out of solid feeders with a couple holes drilled for drainage. Why don't you try not giving them any hay for a few days, except in cube or pellet form, and then give them each a handful and see if they eat it?

The last bag of cubes I got has a lot of "fines" (for lack of a better term), and I am not happy with it. I had to sift it to get the solid cubes, and ended up feeding the small stuff to the horses. I still have about a third of a bag left- maybe I will try adding the fines to the grain mix since the feeders will hold it. :hmm:

I still haven't tried adding the alfalfa pellets back in since I had the feed scratching problem. I keep intending to offer some in the morning when all or the majority of their grain is gone, but haven't gotten around to it. Maybe today? I also went back to shredded beet pulp.

Keep us posted on how you like your new formula!

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

my hay cube bag dosnt have any fines in at all. But some of the blocks are broken up . They really dont like eating them. The odd time they will but they prefer the hay over anything. The hay that i got. Was first cut. Lots of stems. big stems too. THey will not eat that. Spoiled rabbits. It really dose piss me off. They want the leaves parts and i cant get that right now. so they are stuck with the first cut.