[Supplementary hay reduces fur chewing in rabbits].

We tested the hypothesis that loose grass hay as a supplement to a pelleted diet reduces fur chewing in rabbits. Weanling rabbits (n = 315) were given one of three diets ad libitum: a control, pelleted diet, the pelleted diet containing 20% (wt/wt) hay meal or the pelleted diet plus loose hay. Fur chewing was assessed indirectly by blind scoring of the extent of alopecia in live rabbits and the amount of gastric hair after slaughter. Rabbits given either loose hay or the diet pellets containing hay displayed significantly less alopecia on the back and sides than control rabbits did. Loose hay, but not the pellets containing hay, completely prevented the development of alopecia on the forehead. The provision of loose hay as supplement to the control diet pellets significantly reduced the amount of gastric hair, whereas inclusion of hay meal into the pellets had no effect. It is concluded that supplemental loose hay prevents rabbits from pulling off fur from the forehead of cage mates. This effect of hay might be related to satisfaction of a craving for nibbling.