This review is focused on the most studied and developed substances which are commonly known as alternatives to dietary antibiotics, particularly as far as rabbit feeds are concerned. After a reminder of the reason to be and success of antibiotic growth promoters, and why they lately came to be banned in the European Union, we successively deal with probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes and organic acids. Data on rabbits are, as expected, quite scarce when compared to species such as pigs and poultry. Nevertheless, the available performance results are discussed together with the possible mechanisms of action. Special mention is made of the effects of these substances on digestibility and caecal activity.

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