Laboratory Animal Feed Formulation: Nutritionally Balanced Diets for Rodents and Rabbits

Laboratory animal feed should be nutritionally balanced, free from contaminants, and prepared under hygienic conditions. The exact formulation may vary depending on the species, age, physiological status (growth, breeding, pregnancy, lactation), and research requirements. Below are commonly used formulations for laboratory rodents and rabbits/guinea pigs.

1. Rat and Mouse Feed Formula

Ingredients (per 100 kg feed)

Nutritional Composition

• Crude Protein: 18–22%
• Crude Fat: 4–6%
• Crude Fiber: 4–7%
• Metabolizable Energy: 2800–3200 kcal/kg

Preparation Method

1. Grind all dry ingredients separately.
2. Weigh ingredients accurately.
3. Mix maize meal, wheat bran, soybean meal, and fish meal thoroughly.
4. Add mineral mixture, vitamin premix, salt, and dicalcium phosphate.
5. Add vegetable oil gradually while mixing.
6. Add sufficient water to form a dough.
7. Pelletize using a feed pellet machine (10–12 mm pellets).
8. Dry pellets at 50–60°C until moisture is below 10%.
9. Store in airtight containers in a cool, dry place.

2. Rabbit Feed Formula

Ingredients (per 100 kg feed)

Nutritional Composition

• Crude Protein: 16–18%
• Crude Fiber: 12–18%
• Crude Fat: 2–4%
• Energy: 2400–2800 kcal/kg

Preparation

1. Grind all ingredients uniformly.
2. Mix thoroughly.
3. Add molasses diluted with water.
4. Pelletize (3-4 mm pellets).
5. Dry and store properly.

3. Guinea Pig Feed Formula

Ingredients (per 100 kg feed)

Important Note

Guinea pigs cannot synthesize vitamin C and require dietary supplementation.

Nutritional Composition

• Crude Protein: 18–20%
• Crude Fiber: 10–16%
• Vitamin C: 200–300 mg/kg feed

General Quality Control Requirements

• Moisture content: <10–12%
• Free from mold, insects, and mycotoxins
• Use fresh ingredients only
• Avoid rancid oils and spoiled feed
• Sterilize or irradiate feed if required for specific research protocols
• Store feed below 25°C in a dry environment

Typical Daily Feed Consumption

For research facilities following international standards such as those of the AAALAC International or the National Research Council, it is generally recommended to use a standardized commercial laboratory animal diet whenever possible to minimize nutritional variability between studies.

                                      

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You may like to read these links: 

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3. List of All SOPs and Documents for the In-vivo Laboratory.

4. List of All SOPs and Documents for Clinical Research

5. List of Instruments and Equipment Used In Laboratory Animal Facility

6. Animal  Facility Design - Small Laboratory Animals (Rat, Mice, Rabbit, Guinea Pig)

7. List of Chemicals Needed for In-vivo Laboratory

8. List of Physiological Data for Small Laboratory Animals 

9. Leading Lab-Diet Suppliers in India and Beyond

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