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Day 6

The document discusses different breeds of rabbits including the Dutch, New Zealand White, Chinchilla, and California breeds. It then covers the importance of rabbit farming, equipment used including cages, feeders, and drinkers, as well as management practices and nutritional requirements.

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Asemota Oghogho
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44 views

Day 6

The document discusses different breeds of rabbits including the Dutch, New Zealand White, Chinchilla, and California breeds. It then covers the importance of rabbit farming, equipment used including cages, feeders, and drinkers, as well as management practices and nutritional requirements.

Uploaded by

Asemota Oghogho
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BREEDS OF RABBIT

1. Dutch

This is a small breed of rabbit. It has a white band of fur around its body at the shoulder as well
as white stripe down middle of its face.

It has a mature live weight of 2.5 - 3.5 kg on average

2. New Zealand white

It's used most widely around the world for meat production. It's all white in colour and can
weigh 3-5kg at maturity.

3. Chinchilla

This breed is blue- grey in colour with white belly. It has a thick fold of skin around the chest
which is very obvious when the rabbit is in good condition, sitting in a resting position. It has a
mature live weight of 3- 4.5 kg on average

4. California breed

This is second most popular breed in term of meat production. The colour is all white but with
black tipping on the nose, ear, feet and tail. The mature live weight is 3- 4.5 kg.

IMPORTANCE OF RABBIT FARMING

 It require minimal capital


 The space requirement is also minimal
 Rabbits can be easily tended by women, children unlike bigger animals that need force
 It has a short gestation period of 28-32 days
 It's a prolific animal
 It produces rich manure for farming
 The meat is called white meat, high in protein and low in fat, cholesterol compared to
other common meats like pork, poultry, beef etc.
 Feeding of rabbit is very cheap, grasses, kitchen offal, garden leaves can be fed to them
with supplementation of commercial feed.
 It can easily be managed, kept near school building because it's not a noisy animal.

EQUIPMENT USED IN RABBIT PRODUCTION

 Cage

Use of all- wire cages are usually recommended for easy cleaning but cages with wooden parts
and wire at the sides can also be used.

30 × 36 × 18 cage can be used for fryers and doe till 8 weeks , if let together. But, if fryers are
removed at 4 weeks from the doe and raised separately, The cage will support 7- 8 fryers to
market.

30 × 30× 18 wire cage is also large enough for a doe and litter. This size cage can be used for
each buck to enable adequate exercise.

There should be extra cages for isolation. 1-2 are required for each working 25 does. This is
called sick bay and it's meant for isolation of sick rabbits and for new breeding stock.

 Feeders

Plastic/ Rubber/ metal feeders can be used. But, metal feeders are recommended because they
can be easily kept clean.They should be attached to the cage. The feeders should be kept clean.
Before serving new feed, always remove stale/ moldy feed.

 Drinkers

Automatic nipple drinker is the best. It is very sanitary. The nipple drinker should be located
near the middle of the Cage and about 8 inches above the floor of the cage.

 Nest Boxes
There are several types of nest boxes, An open top ply wood box works very well. The bottom
should be removable for easy cleaning

Wire bottoms aren't practical because does burrows to the bottom to kindle. Wire bottom
doesn't provide warm and also expose kits to cold.

MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

1. Cage management

Clean loose/ matted hair from the cages each day because wastes accumulation and hair invites
diseases. A long- handled bristle brush will make it easy.

Burn the cage wire occasionally with hand torch/ propane burner. This will help to singe off
hair. Cleaned wires reduce the number of sore hocks.

2. Nest management

Place the nest box in the cage on the 28th day of pregnancy. Fill it 2/3 full with clean hay/
straw.

Do not make any attempt to move the nest box after placing it where you want it.

Add clean fur from other does if does has not pulled fur soon after kindling especially in cold
weather.

3. Feeding

Rabbits should be fed well under good lighting condition. However, overfeeding should be
avoided. Fat animals are poor breeders.

4. Water

There should be provision of good clean water. Dirty or contaminated water should not be
used.

NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
 Carbohydrates and fat

They provide energy. Rabbits need energy for contraction of muscles which enable the rabbits
to move. It's also used to join substances together and build up rabbit's body and make
products such as milk, hair. The general recommendation of energy requirement for breeding
rabbits is 2,600 - 2,700 kcal

 Protein

The protein level of the feed is very important for efficient production. In rabbits farming. 4
different diets are needed;

1. Feed for normal growth ( does / buck) ---8 weeks to adult


2. Maintenance feed( does/ bucks)
3. Pregnant does feed
4. Nursing/ Lactating does & Growing kits feed
 Mineral

Rabbits need calcium for strong bones and strength.

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