[Brief review of nutrition in rabbits (author's transl)].

A practitioner should be aware of the most important items regarding feed and water supply that may by a factor in assessing problems on large commercial units or in fancy breeding. A breif introduction on the function of the digestive tract precedes a discussion of the main causes of nutritional disorders which are frequently lethal. The specific mechanism of recirculation (caecotrophy) causing increased vulnerability to variations in the texture of feeds is stressed. Severe intestinal malfunction is readily induced by contaminated and spoiled feed and/or drinking water. These effects are probably underestimated in comparison with specific diseases. Data on nutritional requirements are also presented to the extent to which they are relevant in this context.