Examples of grass hays are timothy, brome, orchard, and oat grass. Legumes contain more protein and calcium than grass. Examples of legume hays are alfalfa and clover. As hay matures, the amount of protein decreases while the fiber increases. However, both types of fiber serve a purpose in the digestive system of a rabbit.
Many animals require fiber in their diet to stay healthy.
Without adequate amounts of fiber, illnesses such as gut stasis and enteritis can occur. Rabbits need more fiber than other animals because of their unique digestive systems. Their wild ancestors were sources of prey for many animals, so they had to be able to run quickly from predators. If there stomachs were full of food, they could not run as fast and survival depended on speed. Rabbits are grazers, eating small meals continually throughout the day.