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Size and Basal Metabolism of the Adult Rabbit

Two Figures

Nutrition Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Boston, Massachusetts

There is no known method of equalizing differences in the sizes of rabbits, which have a sevenfold range in adult weights, whereby a single value will accurately express the average basal metabolism of all rabbits. Within the rabbit species the relationship between basal metabolism and size is best expressed by referring the total heat production to the weight. For each kilogram increase in weight above 1 kg. up to 7 kg., the total heat production increases at a constant rate and can be predicted by the equation h_total=40W + 20, in which h_total represents kilogram-calories per 24 hours and W, the weight in kilograms. Other simple linear relationships between metabolism and size are found when the heat production is expressed per square meter of surface area and per Wⁿ for values of n between 0.61 and 0.73, inclusive. The total heat production of the rabbit is slightly below the average metabolism of other warm-blooded animals of like weight, with the exception of the marmot. At 5 kg., its average heat production per square meter of surface area agrees with the general average for other warm-blooded animals, but at the lower weights it is below the general average.