In collaboration with Kagawa University, our rabbit food 'Complete 1.0' has finally been developed. Complete 1.0 is an original food created by rabbit animal nutritionists and clinical veterinarians, united in our pursuit of the ideal nutritional balanced diets for rabbits.

The path was strewn with challenges, making the journey all the more remarkable. Let us share the background of how we started developing the food, the trials and errors during the development process, and the passion we have poured into this project.

The inspiration behind creating our original rabbit food

In 2019, we founded the 'Rabbit Environmental Enrichment Association,' a nonprofit organization, dedicated to enhancing the happiness and well-being of rabbits.

Our goal is to improve the quality of life for domesticated rabbits by protecting their physical health and hygiene, and nurturing their emotional well-being. To achieve this, our first initiative was to develop rabbit food with an ideal nutritional profile, specifically formulated to meet the dietary needs of rabbits.
We believe that the foundation of a happy life is having a healthy body and mind, both of which are built through consistent, balanced nutrition.

Shocked by the quality of rabbit food, leading to our development

To deepen our understanding or rabbit dietary habits, we first visited Dr. Kiyonori Kawasaki, an expert in rabbit nutrition at Kagawa University.
Dr. Kiyonori Kawasaki is the only Japanese member of the World Rabbit Science Association, a distinguished group of about 200 researchers worldwide who specialize in rabbit nutrition. He has published several papers on rabbit nutrition and digestive systems, making him one of Japan's leading experts in this field.

What surprised us during our discussion with Dr. Kawasaki was learning that, despite the vast accumulation of valuable research findings on rabbit nutrition, these insights have not been sufficiently applied in the development of food for domesticated rabbits.

Profoundly impacted by this realization, we resolved to take action. Driven by a desire to harness research findings from around the globe, our goal was to create the ideal food that perfectly aligns with the natural dietary habits of rabbits.

Achieving Collaboration between Nutrition Science and Veterinary Medicine

Despite the odds, when we approached Dr. Kawasaki, he graciously agreed to assist with the food development, saying, 'if my expertise can be useful.' Furthermore, Dr. Masayuki Saito, the director of Saito Animal Hospital and a board member of our association, will be providing support from a veterinary perspective. Founded by Dr. Kumiko Saito, a pioneer in rabbit healthcare, Saito Animal Hospital is renowned for its expertise in rabbit treatment.

Fueled by this profound realization and the collaboration of rabbit nutrition experts and experienced veterinarians, this project was launched.

Is hay nutritious enough for rabbits?

Some people might think that rabbits only eat hay, but surprisingly, that's not the case: hay is not the primary food for rabbits in the wild.
Wild rabbits consume leaves, roots, and tree bark of wild plants, rather than mown and dried grass like hay.

However, the food given to domesticated rabbits generally consists of hay and pellets for the sake of human's convenience. While hay is essential for rabbits, there are nutrients that hay alone cannot provide, making a balanced diet necessary.

Hay is Essential for Rabbits; Yet Hay Alone is Not Enough

Hay is rich in essential fiber for rabbits and is available year-round, making it easy to manage. As such, it is suitable as food for pet rabbits.
Curiously enough, rabbits can hardly digest hay from the perspective of their digestive system.

Rabbits separate the fiber they consume into two components: digestible small fibers and indigestible large fibers. Out of the digestible fibers, amino acids and vitamins get extracted and absorbed. In contrast, hay is rich in indigestible large fibers, which are predominantly expelled without being digested. Consequently, it is difficult for rabbits to obtain sufficient micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals from hay.

While amino acids and vitamins can be supplemented to some extent through a unique behavior of rabbits called 'cecotrophy,' where they consume special nutrient-rich feces, research finds that minerals cannot be sufficiently obtained from hay. Wild rabbits naturally obtain these nutrients by consuming mineral-rich plants and soils in their natural habitat, whereas domesticated rabbits do not have access to such an abundant environment unless provided.

As a result, it becomes absolutely crucial to provide food fortified with the essential nutrients that domesticated rabbits are likely to lack.

Focusing on the Balance of Micronutrient Content and Energy Value

In the development of our rabbit food, we not only focused on the content of micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals, but also emphasized the balance of energy value.

We believe that energy, as the essential fuel for all living beings, is the most important nutrient. In developing our rabbit food, we prioritize ensuring sufficient energy value. However, it is crucial to provide the appropriate amount of energy, as higher energy values are not always better.

Overlooked Issues with Binders Used in Rabbit Food

Food typically contains binders used for shaping, which often include carbohydrates like starch. Consequently, to provide the necessary amount of trace nutrients—such as vitamins and minerals—that can only be obtained from food, the carbohydrate content becomes high, leading to increased energy values. This, in turn, can potentially cause health issues like obesity.

Additionally, excessive intake of starch is not ideal considering the natural diet of rabbits. It can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria, leading to digestive issues and potentially causing gastrointestinal stasis.

Each manufacturer has its own approach to food production, so it's not fair to say that all binders are inherently bad. However, in our pursuit of what is best for rabbits, we have decided to create food with minimal use of binders whenever possible.

Craftsmanship in Manufacturing Methods to Preserve Vitamins

Another key aspect we focused on to achieve ideal nutrients is adopting manufacturing methods that preserve vitamins. This is not commonly practiced in many rabbit foods currently available on the market.

General rabbit food is typically made by finely grinding the ingredients and mixing them uniformly. The mixture is then extruded into shapes, similar to making piped cookies, and finally heat is applied to dry them.

While this method is suitable for mass production, it has several drawbacks, including the excessive use of binders for molding and the destruction of vitamins during the heat treatment process.

Implemeting the Best Methods with a 'Rabbit-First' Approach"

On the other hand, our manufacturing method allows for molding even with chunky ingredients, making binders unnecessary. Additionally, since no heat treatment is applied, the loss of vitamins is also prevented.

Although it is somewhat lacking in terms of effort, cost, and efficiency, this method is the best when considering the well-being of the rabbits.

We repeatedly tested our rabbit food by feeding it to the rabbits to see how well they could digest the nutrients and to ensure they would actually eat it.

Developping Rabbit Food Through Day and Night, Trial and Error

To develop our rabbit food, we first designed the blend ratios on paper by analyzing various ingredients, aiming to achieve the target nutrient values. Once the composition was determined, we produced the first sample by blending eight different types of hay as the main ingredients.

Unexpectedly, both the protein content and energy values were higher than our initial calculations indicated, showing that things don't always go as planned.

Even if the nutrient values meet the target, it won't be effective if the rabbits cannot properly digest and absorb the necessary amounts. Therefore, we fed the samples to the rabbits for approximately seven days, followed by about five days of collecting their feces. We then conducted an analysis of the feces to calculate the digestion rates of each nutrient.

Each time we encountered deviations from our blueprint, we adjusted the blend ratios and remade the food. We then fed the revised food to the rabbits, collected their feces, and conducted a detailed analysis. This meticulous process was repeated multiple times.

Even if the nutrient values and digestion rates are ideal, the food must still be appealing for the rabbits to eat.
While the exact substances influencing a rabbit's preferences are not fully understood, we believe that scent likely plays a significant role. Having that in mind, we aimed to create the ideal pellet food for rabbits by incorporating ingredients like oat hay, which is popular among rabbits for its sweet aroma.
And finally, after all the hard work and countless trials, we succeeded in creating the ultimate rabbit food.

Balance All-in-One Rabbit Diet: The Supreme Rabbit Food 'Complete 1.0'

After countless trials and errors, we are proud to present the ideal rabbit food, perfected at last.
Aiming to create a 'Full Nutrition Diet' for rabbits, we named our product 'Complete 1.0.'

The name 'Complete' might seem contradictory when paired with '1.0'. However, this reflects our commitment to continuously enhance our understanding of rabbit biology and nutrition, fields that are still evolving. By naming it '1.0', we emphasize our dedication to ongoing feeding trials, data collection, verification, and continuous improvement.

Our First Step

The Japan Rabbit Environmental Enrichment Association has taken a significant first step in developing the ideal food for rabbits. This milestone underscores our dedication to enhancing the well-being and nutrition of rabbits.

Our journey has just begun. We are also grateful to have supporters who share our vision. During our research and development phase, we received an offer of collaboration from a rabbit food manufacturer. Although we could not proceed with the partnership, we firmly believe that our efforts will bring a fresh perspective to the entire pet food industry.

We warmly invite you to continue walking this path with us and share your valuable opinions.
Together, let us strive to create a society where rabbits living with humans can enjoy vibrant and happy lives.

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