I clarified the quick-look method for grading pellet ingredients and added new visuals to the Google Classroom. I also included the formulas for calculating digestible protein (DP) so you can see how the numbers work in theory — but this module is not about doing exact math. Why? Because feed labels do not give true ingredient ratios. You can’t calculate DP precisely from a bag tag. What you can do is: • read the ingredient list in order • recognize which ingredients dominate the pellet • know which ones are high vs low digestibility • and ballpark whether the pellet realistically clears ~12–14% DP That skill is far more important than crunching numbers. Module 7 is about decision-making, not formulas: spotting good vs bad formulations at a glance understanding what ingredients actually contribute usable protein and avoiding pellets that look fine on paper but underfeed rabbits in practice Once you understand ingredient quality + placement, the label tells you almost everything you need to know. If math isn’t your thing — that’s okay. This module is designed so it clicks visually first, then the numbers make sense afterward.

Claim 2: “Hay is essential for dental health.” Rebuttal: This claim is directly contradicted by peer-reviewed cranio-mandibular research. Böhmer & Böhmer (2017) demonstrated that hay is mechanically harder and stiffer than pellets, requiring higher axial bite force. This loading pattern promotes: *Retrograde tooth elongation *Apical intrusion into bone *Periodontal disease *Malocclusion “Hay… promotes retrograde tooth elongation and incursion of the apices into adjacent bone… and therefore is not the best nutrition for rabbits.” — Böhmer & Böhmer, 2017 Citation (verified): Böhmer C, Böhmer E. Veterinary Sciences. 2017;4(1):5. DOI: 10.3390/vetsci4010005 PMID: 29056664 Balanced pellets allow lateral grinding, which is the physiological chewing motion for rabbits, without excessive vertical force.

This statement is repeated so often online that it’s treated as fact—but it is not a scientific conclusion. It is an ideological assumption that does not hold up when examined against rabbit nutrition research. Domestic rabbits do not require loose hay when they are fed a complete, properly formulated pelleted diet. This has been established for decades in both research colonies and commercial rabbitries, where rabbit health, growth, reproduction, and mortality are measured objectively—not inferred from appearance or tradition. The key issue is fiber quality, fraction, and consistency, not the physical presence of loose hay. Research summarized by the World Rabbit Science Association (WRSA) and consolidated in COST 848: The Nutrition of the Rabbit (Lebas et al., INRA) shows that rabbits perform best on uniform diets with: 🐰Controlled NDF and ADF ranges 🐰Predictable digestible energy (DE) 🐰Consistent particle size 🐰Stable intake patterns Modern pellets are engineered to meet these targets by blending specific ingredients (e.g., alfalfa meal, beet pulp, grasses) to deliver both fermentable and structural fiber in the correct proportions. When these requirements are already met inside the pellet matrix, adding loose hay is nutritionally redundant and often counterproductive, pushing fiber beyond optimal ranges and diluting energy and protein intake. This is why “no hay” is not a red flag in itself. What matters is what the rabbit is actually eating, how the diet is formulated, and whether it meets physiological requirements—not whether it matches a rescue-era checklist. The idea that hay is mandatory comes from 1990s pet-rabbit advocacy, not from rabbit production or digestive physiology research. That narrative stuck, even as the science moved on. If your goal is gut stability, proper body condition, dental health, and longevity, the evidence consistently points to balanced pellets as the nutritional foundation, not loose hay by default. In this course, we’ll continue breaking down where these myths came from, why they persist, and what the data actually says—using peer-reviewed research, not blogs, rescues, or recycled talking points.

Added the intro. will be adding the next module soon as I can feel my fingers .. brrrr

This will be a discussion series since there are nearly 20 claims made by this rabbitry page that were way off base or simply completelyfalse These are all taken from multiple posts posted by an unethical backyard Holland Lop breeder who decided it was a good idea to pick a fight with the ethical show and meat breeding community. Claim 1: “If a breeder isn’t feeding hay, it’s a red flag.” Rebuttal: This is an ideological assertion, not a scientific one. Domestic rabbits do not require loose hay when they are fed a complete, balanced pelleted diet formulated with appropriate fiber fractions and particle size. This has been established in commercial and research rabbit production systems for decades. The World Rabbit Science Association and COST 848 (Lebas et al.) show that rabbits thrive on uniform diets with controlled fiber content and digestible energy. Loose hay is not biologically required for gut function when fiber is already provided in the pellet matrix. Key source: Lebas et al., The Nutrition of the Rabbit, COST 848 (INRA, 2004)