The effect of partial replacement of starch by pectin or pectin and inulin in diet of early-weaned rabbits was evaluated. It was concluded that 1. the growth of rabbits was not significantly affected by dietary pectin and inulin, 2. the partial replacement of starch by pectin did not improve the health of rabbits, 3. diets with high pectin increased viscosity of the small intestinal content and decreased digestibility of crude protein, non-nitrogen cellular content and starch, 4. inulin positively affected some physiological variables of the caecum and decreased mortality.