In rabbit farming, coccidiosis and fibre deficient diets (especially lignins) can increase the risk of digestive disorders. Sainfoin is a legume rich in lignins, and contains polyphenols and tannins with anti-parasitic properties. Sainfoin also contained a high level of digestible protein (79g/kg) and energy (8.84 MJ/kg). Here, we studied the effects of a high level (26%) incorporation of dehydrated sainfoin (Perly cultivar, first cut, ‘DSp’) in rabbit feeding on the performances and health of reproductive doe and growing rabbits were analysed in a sub-optimal (with coccidiosis for the two previous batches) professional breeding environment and over two non-consecutive reproductive cycles (2 replicates). Performances and health of does and growing rabbits were compared for 2 groups of 194 does and associated litters, when fed iso-nutritive feeds containing either 0 or 26% DSp. Dietary DSp incorporation had no effect on doe live weight (4,675 g), fertility rate (88.4%), mortality (6.9%), culling rate (0.8%) and doe coccidia excretions levels (P>0.05). In replicate 1, kits growth before weaning was similar (24.8 g/d) among the two groups, but was 12% lower for the DSp26 group in the 2nd replicate (significant interaction). The post-weaning growth rate was improved by 4% (37.9 vs 39.3 g/d, P=0.02) for DSp26 group. Before weaning, a higher mortality was observed for DSp26 (3.3 vs 1.8%) in replicate 1, while in replicate 2 it was lower (2.1 vs 4.4%). After weaning, the mortality rate decreased (4.5 vs 7.1%, P<0.001) for DSp26 group (mean of two replicates). Coccidia excretions of growing rabbits were not affected neither by dietary sainfoin nor by replicates. Thus, a high incorporation of dehydrated sainfoin in the feed can be recommended to improve the health and performance of growing rabbits, without affecting does performances. Sainfoin is thus a good alternative to the alfalfa meal in the rabbit feeding.