Olive Paste

Rabbits

A lignocellulose fibre source that works well with enzymes

Growing rabbits need fibre for healthy digestion. In fattening trials, olive pomace with a multi-enzyme product showed synergistic benefits, and enzyme- or yeast-supplemented olive pulp improved weight gain, feed conversion and economic efficiency.

What the research shows

  • Synergistic benefit for performance and digestive function with a multi-enzyme120 New Zealand White rabbits, 10% olive pomace (Bakeer et al. 2025)
  • 5% with enzymes judged most suitable120 NZW rabbits, 5% and 10% replacing barley (Egyptian Journal of Rabbit Science)
  • Better weight, gain, feed conversion and economic efficiency168 V-Line rabbits, sieved olive pulp with enzyme and/or yeast, 8 weeks (Alderey et al. 2024)
  • Blood parameters unchanged at 10% and 20%60 rabbits, 56 days (Rupić et al. 1999)
  • Contributes lignocellulose fibre: about +3–4 points of ADF at 10%Product analysis; fibre targets in Gidenne 2015

Recommended inclusion

Before 42 days
0%
42–56 days (start)
5% for 7–10 days
56 days to slaughter, with a multi-enzyme
5–10%
Breeding does (5 months and older)
5–10%
0%10%

Solid bar: tested in a published trial. Hatched bar: practical programme.

Use a multi-enzyme product above 5%, and start at 42 days of age.

In practice

  • Ask for the certificate of analysis for each lot and formulate with its values.
  • Introduce gradually over 7–14 days.
  • Store dry, covered and cool; use the oldest stock first.
  • Compare with a group on your usual diet to document your own results.

References

  1. Bakeer M. et al. (2025). Synergistic benefits of olive pomace and multi-enzyme supplementation on fattening rabbit health and performance. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12. doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1710920
  2. Effect of using olive pulp meal on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and blood parameters of growing male rabbits. Egyptian Journal of Rabbit Science. ejrs.journals.ekb.eg/article_420080.html
  3. Alderey A. A. et al. (2024). Impacts of enzymes and probiotic in improving the utilization of sieved olive pulp meal in growing rabbit diets. Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research 11(1):161–170. doi.org/10.5455/javar.2024.k761
  4. Rupić V. et al. (1999). Effect of feeding olive by-products on blood parameters and serum enzyme activities of fattening rabbits. real.mtak.hu/49505/
  5. Gidenne T. (2015). Dietary fibres in the nutrition of the growing rabbit and recommendations to preserve digestive health. Animal 9(2):227–242. doi.org/10.1017/S1751731114002729