Improvement of gastrointestinal resilience in meat rabbits: a literature review

Gastrointestinal disease is common in rabbits and is a major reason for treatment with antibiotics. The rabbit sector aims to reduce the use of antibiotics, and therefore prevention of gastrointestinal disease is of great importance. In this literature study, an overview of the normal functioning of the healthy gut of growing rabbits is provided, and different interventions for the prevention of gastrointestinal disease are discussed. Three main categories of preventative approaches are discussed: 1) feed, 2) management, and 3) animal factors. In terms of feed, an improved resistance to gastrointestinal disease may come from high fibre diets, low crude protein diets, the use of specific feed additives, and restricted feed provisioning (in time or quantity). In terms of management, weaning-, environment-, housing-, and sanitation-related factors appear to have potential for reducing the occurrence of gastro-intestinal disease, including for example weaning age, group sizes, flooring types, and cleaning. In terms of animal factors, there appears to be potential for genetic selection for improved resistance to gastrointestinal disease. Overall, it appears that a range of approaches can be implemented, potentially in combination, to reduce the prevalence of gastrointestinal disease in rabbits, and the use of antibiotics in the rabbit sector.