Manufactured Products

Since rabbits produce 10 times of their weight in a year due to their rapid growth and fast weight gain during the first days of their life. In addition to its high fertility and reproduction (7 times a year) and (8 rabbits for the litter as average). And since its feed components are all vegetarian; it does not need protein of animal source. The food conversion rate for rabbits is high, it reaches up to 35:3 kg of feed to give 1 kg of meat. At this rate rabbits reach the marketing weight (1.5-2kg) at the early age of  (8-10weeks).
 The annual nutritional requirements for each (10 mothers + 2 males + 300 young rabbit) is about 3 tons of ARASCO feed pellets without any other additions such as alfalfa, straw or other grass individually. If the nutrition is offered properly, then it would be possible to make use of its genetic capabilities for local and imported breeds ,raise the productivity of the herd and achieve high growth rates.
 ARASCO has committed itself to improve the feed and to increase the vital value to give the rabbit all its nutritional needs during the different stages of growth since the proper nutrition is the indicator that determines the success of the breeding, and the income gained by the breeder.  When the breeder is more familiar with the nutritional matters, then the breeding shall be economical and profitable and thus achieves its objectives. From this stand point ARASCO provided balanced feed pellets for (mothers and fattening rabbits), that is economic to help achieve a successful breeding.

Benefits and Advantages of ARASCO Feeds
Rabbits prefer to feed that is sweet and contain an intake of molasses. This is for feed pellets. Feed pellets of ARASCO are characterized by the high quality of pellets which contain natural materials mixed in a homogenous manner, since rabbits prefer pellet feed to powder feed when given the choice. Powder feed causes respiratory system infections, fermentation in the digestive system and loss in feed.
Feed pellets do not give the rabbit shall the freedom to select types at the expense over other types as in the case of mixtures of grains which effectively contributes to satisfy the following nutritional needs:
Protein: that is necessary for bodybuilding, growth and production and one of its sources (Soya beans).
Carbohydrates and Fibers:  The carbohydrates are the main source of energy in the feed grains (corn, barley and etc). Also, fibers are very important which is available mainly in grains to improve the digestion efficiency.
Fat: which provide the body with energy especially the mothers, during the first period of lactation as well as the periods of fattening during the final stages.
Vitamins and Mineral Premixes: vitamins are important elements that play a key role especially for the lactating mother, pregnant female rabbits and increase of fertility of males as well as regulating the vital processes of the body.  They are added if necessary in predetermined quantities, the most important vitamins are (A, D, H, K, and C). Mineral salts are (calcium, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, iodine) in addition to the sodium chloride, which is very important to increase the productive efficiency of growth and formation of bones.  They play a major role in the assimilation of feed, increase the resistance of rabbits to stress & temperature changes, & diseases and this is what ARASCO provided in each pellet of feed.
For rabbits to stay healthy and keep it high productivity, they need enough amounts of mineral salts and little amounts of vitamins. All these ingredients are available in ARASCO rabbit feed pellets, they are important for a healthy bodily functions. When rabbits decrease their consumption of these feeds, they show illness symptoms. The aim of taking these feeds is to avoid symptoms of the lack of these ingredients.
Calcium and Magnesium:
Calcium is the major component of bones, together with phosphorus in the proportion 1:2. Calcium is of the major biological factors in muscle movements in its three types; corporal, cardiac or pliable. It is also important in neurological cells and in transferring the neurological messages. It also helps the Magnesium in issuing the neurological signals. So, the balance between Calcium and Magnesium levels is very important to   maintain the efficiency of the neurological and muscle signals.
The major store for Magnesium in the body is the bones. It plays a vital role in food assimilation.. as for phosphorus, most of it (80%)can be found united with Calcium in the bones. It plays a vital role in transferring energy. Vitamin D participates in preserving the levels of Calcium and Magnesium in the body. The average of this mineral being absorbed by the intestinal canals depends on vitamin D.
The rabbits needs of Calcium and Magnesium during their growing stages are greater than those of the fully grown rabbit. The Calcium and Phosphorus are added to the bones of growing rabbits when the level of those two minerals in their blood is high enough. The needs of a lactating rabbit are even higher than those of a growing rabbit.
Nutritional needs:
Nutritional needs of rabbits depend on age, weight and the productive state of that rabbit. Therefore, when preparing a rabbit feed, the age, weight and productive state should be known:
1- Keeper needs:
These are the energy and protein needs of a rabbit in state of total rest and not performing any effort. keeper’s needs depend on their weight; for a 3kg rabbit, the protein needs are 14 gm of digested protein.
2-growth needs:
These are the energy and protein needs of a rabbit during the growth period. It increases with growth and weight increase. At the age of 3 months, for example, the rabbit weight is three times its weaning date weight. The needs for protein depend on age and the type of protein and necessary amino acids available in the feed pallets. As for fiber, it should not be less than 12%.
3-pregnancy needs:
These needs increase gradually during the period of pregnancy, so that the mother may not get fat. Pregnant rabbits are offered a high energy pellet with special protein and amino acids ingredients.
4-lactation needs:
The nutritional needs of a lactating rabbit increases gradually in its energy and protein contents to cover its special needs.
5-male needs:
Males need around 1.5-1 of a keeper need from energy and protein.
Advantages of feed pellets:

• decrease in feed loss.
• elimination of separation of a feed contents during transportation.
• more acceptable taste.
• a homogenous feed pellet does not let the animal choose ingredients.
• subjection to heat lessens the possibility of salmonella.
• easier packaging, storage and transfer.  
• high temperature destroy growth suppressants.
• less hands needed.

ARASCO standard rabbit feed pellets

Pellet number	Protein percentage	Fiber percentage
4710	17%	12%
4714	15%	12%

Special pellets with added fish powder

4711	17%	12%
4713	15%	12%

1. pregnant rabbits: (around 30-31days)
   (pellet no. 4710) feed amount around 180-200 gm/day
2. lactating rabbits:
   (pellet no. 4710) feed amount around:
   Week one = 220-250 gm/day
   Week two + three = 250gm/day
   Week four = 350-450 gm/day
3. Fattening stage one: (age 1month-2months)
   (pellet no. 4710) feed amount around 100-120 gm/day
4. Fattening stage two:( age 2months-2.5months)
   (pellet no. 4714) feed amount around 120-150 gm/day
   Feed changing method:
   Since rabbits are very sensitive to feed change, it is important to move from one type of pellet to another gradually. Sudden change is very harmful, it may lead to digestive problems and diarrhea.
   The best method is to start the new pellet in little amounts increased gradually on the expense of the old pellet, until change is complete within a week when the new pellet is introduced in full.
   The connection between heat and humidity and its effect on rabbit nutrition:
   When rabbits are subjected to high temperature, it tries to use different ways to overcome as much as possible the added temperature (like rapid breathing and laying flat on the cage floors). If it does not succeed, a chain of changes take place in the behavior and physiology of the rabbit. These include less feed consumption, low food transformation, imbalance in food assimilation in blood. When the temperature rises above 35 degrees centigrade, the rabbit cannot manage to regulate its body temperature, and a number of biological changes take place as a result of heat stress.
   The temperature of the animal environment is closely related to relative humidity. Humidity is considered more important, as the effect of heat increases with high humidity level. From all the above, it is clear now, that an animal’s biological functions are affected by heat and relative humidity, and this ultimately affects the productivity of the animal.