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Feed and Ration Schedule for Laboratory Animals
Proper feeding and ration management are essential for maintaining the health, growth, reproduction, and overall well-being of laboratory animals. Nutritional requirements vary among species and physiological stages, making it important to provide appropriately balanced diets.
This article outlines the nutritional requirements, feed composition, and recommended feeding schedules for commonly used laboratory animals, including rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, rats, and hamsters.
Different laboratory animals have their own feed rations with specific compositions of feed ingredients. Currently, composite pellet feeds are commercially available.
Nutritional Requirements for Rabbits and Guinea Pigs
| Stage of Animal | DCP (%) | TDN (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Normal growth | 14 | 45 |
| During pregnancy | 14 | 55 |
| During lactation | 20 | 72 |
Ration for Rabbits and Guinea Pigs
| Feed Ingredients | Composition |
|---|---|
| Ground yellow corn/barley | 30 parts |
| Groundnut cake | 33 parts |
| Wheat bran | 35 parts |
| Mineral mixture (micro + macro) | 2 parts |
| Vitamins A + B2 + D3 | 10 g/100 kg |
| Vitamin C | 4 mg/day/adult (for guinea pigs only) |
| Vitamin E | 0.3 mg/rabbit; 0.15 mg/guinea pig |
Quantity of Feed to Be Fed to Rabbits and Guinea Pigs
| Stage of Animal | Concentrate (g) | Roughage (g) |
|---|---|---|
| Growing rabbit | 40–60 | 200–300 |
| Maintenance diet for rabbit | 60 | 200–300 |
| Pregnant rabbit | 60 | 200–300 |
| Lactating rabbit | 160 | 200–300 |
| Guinea pig at all stages | 20–30 | 200–300 |
Composition of Ingredients for Mice, Rats, and Hamsters
| Ingredients | Composition (g) |
|---|---|
| Crushed wheat | 500 |
| Skim milk powder/milk | 100 g/700 mL |
| Cod liver oil | 6 |
| Sodium chloride | 6 |
| Dried yeast | 6 |
The above ration is sufficient for 100 mice per day, while rats and hamsters are fed 15 g per animal per day. In addition to the above, green fodder must be provided at 15 g per rat or hamster and 5 g per mouse daily.
A supplement of goat liver should be fed once a week at 4 g/rat and 1 g/mouse. Instead of milk or milk powder, 0.5 g of fish meal or 2 g of cooked meat or egg per rat per day may be provided.
