RFCO RABBIT HAND BOOK 2018
Rabbit fact 1: A doe on a good diet can be rebred 24 hours after she litters
Why breed rabbits?
Rabbits are one of the most prolific domestic livestock animal there is.
Rabbits can produce 3kg of meat on the same feed and water as the cow will produce 0.5kg of meat on the same feed and water; the gestation period of rabbits is relatively short at about 30 days. A single female rabbit can litter 5 to 9 times per year. A single doe can produce up to 40 surviving kits in a year, amounting to about 80kgs of quality white meat.
Rabbits can breed all year round if well managed. Rabbits could be the most profitable livestock to raise due to the ability of their off springs to also grow fast and reach either market or breeding weight more quickly than any other livestock. They do not require as much space to rear
compared to other farm animals. They are generally quiet, clean, and they do not produce offensive odour.
Rabbit business is lucrative, easy to manage and can be ventured into without huge capital to start up. You can use whatever space around your apartment is available. Every part of the rabbit is valuable and can be converted to money; the droppings and their urine are the best organic manure and home-made pesticide, the processed flesh for meat. Live rabbits are sought after for breeding stocks for rabbitries, pets for pet lovers, research work or for demonstration farms by schools, institutes and laboratories, bones for the production of livestock and dog feed, the skin is used for leather shoes, bags, clothing, decorations and ornaments, While the industry is not yet very organized in Nigeria and other African countries, the rabbit market is still very large and untapped
Practical hands on training in profitable Rabbit rearing is necessary and available at RFCO, without which one can easily turn this
profitable venture into a gamble by losing above the standard industry mortality average of 18%, recording slow growth rate and low kindling rate.
Rabbit fact 2 : Exposure to wind and water predisposes rabbits to pneumonia
Rabbit breeds are from the species Oryctolagus cuniculus
Cuniculture is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising domestic rabbits as livestock for their meat, fur or wool.
Meat Rabbit Breeds
Californians or New Zealands are highly recommended for meat rabbits breeders. They grow fast; have large litters and overall make excellent
“meat rabbits”. Other breeds for meat include; American Chinchilla, Beveren, Blanc D’Hotot, Champagne D’Argents, Crème D’Argents, Flemish Giants (has lower meat to bone dress out ratio), Florida White, French Lops, Palomino, Satin, Silver Fox
One of the most popular hybrid rabbit meat breeds is the Altex (Although not recognized by ARBA). The Altex was developed from a cross of the Flemish Giant, Champagne D’ Argent and Californian. At adult size these cross bred rabbits weigh between 5 and 10kg.
Another popular breed is the HYLA rabbits developed by Eurolap in France are acclaimed of reaching 2.5kg in 70 days
49 rabbit breeds are currently recognized in the United States by the American Rabbit Breeders Association but the HYLA and the Altex are not among them.
Fur Rabbit Breeds
The most recommended breed for fur production is the Angora Rabbit.
Others include; American Fuzzy Lop, English Angora, French Angora, Giant Angora, Jersey Wooly, Satin Angora.
Pet Rabbit Breeds
In Nigeria, rabbits are quickly becoming one of the most common pets. In choosing a pet rabbit, the small or medium breeds are usually tamer than the larger breeds such as the Californian and will be easier for young children to handle, the best production rabbits are not always the best pets. Some pet rabbits include; Belgian Hare, Cinnamon, Dutch, Dwarf Hotot, English Spot, Flemish Giant, Harlequin, Himalayan, Lionhead, Lops, Mini Rex, Mini Satin, Netherland Dwarf, Rex, Tan, Thrianta.
Rabbit fact 3: Rabbits love good ventilation and low temperature because of their thick fur
Lionhead
Its fur is a mix of wool, and it is recognized in all four tortoise colors and ruby-eyed white. The breed originated in Europe, perhaps Belgium. Its maximum weight is 1.8kg
Holland Lop
This popular breed offers one of the largest varieties of colors. It weighs in at 2kg maximum and was developed in the Netherlands. It has a compact body type with rollback fur. It offers more than 25 colors in 8 groups, including chinchilla, lynx, opal, squirrel, broken, black, blue, chocolate, lilac, blue-eyed white, ruby-eyed white, sable point, tortoise, otter, fawn, orange.
Rabbit fact 4: Most Oral antibiotics are not suitable for rabbits
Mini Rex
The Mini Rex is one of the most popular breeds at American Rabbit Breeders Association shows. It weighs in at 2.25kg maximum, has a compact body type and the famous rex fur that stands up. Only the Rex also has this fur. It’s available in more than a dozen colors, including broken, castor, black, blue, blue-eyed white, chinchilla, chocolate, Himalayan, red, tortoise and white.
Dutch
It is a very popular breed. It has a compact body type, flyback fur and weighs 2.75kg maximum. Recognized colors are black, blue, chinchilla, chocolate, gray, steel and tortoise. All colors should have a white
“saddle” and a wedge-shaped blaze on the nose.
Rabbit fact 5: Coccidiosis and bloat are the leading disease of rabbits
Harlequin
Developed in France, this breed has a commercial body type and flyback fur. It can weigh up to 4.75kg. There are two groups in this breed,
Japanese and Magpie. Each has four color varieties: black, blue, chocolate and lilac. It was originally called the Japanese.
Californian
It has a commercial build and flyback fur. It can weigh up to 5.25kg.
There is only one recognized color: White with dark markings on the nose, ears, feet and tail.
Rabbit fact 6: You can know whether a doe is pregnant by palpating her 14 days after mating
French Angora
One of the four Angora wool breeds, this one weighs up to 5.25kg and was developed in France. It has a commercial body type and comes in more than 30 recognized colors, including pointed white, blue-eyed
white, ruby-eyed white, chinchilla, broken, squirrel, chestnut, opal, black, blue, chocolate, lilac, pearl, sable, seal, smoke pearl, tortoiseshell, steel, cream, fawn, red.
American Chinchilla
This up-to-6kg rabbit from the United States has a commercial body type and rollback fur. There is only one recognized color: Chinchilla. It is listed as critical (most endangered) according to the Livestock
Conservancy.
Rabbit fact 7 : Rabbits are most active at dawn and dusk not at night
New Zealand
It can weigh up to 6kg, has a commercial body type and flyback fur.
Recognized colors are black, broken, white and red.
Flemish Giant
Another giant, this breed has no maximum weight limit. It is semi-arched with rollback fur. It originated in Belgium and recognized colors are black, blue, fawn, light gray, sandy, steel gray, white.
Rabbit fact 9: Rabbits will not fall ill if well taken care of, fed and housed properly
Feeding Chart for a rabbit that is 3 months or older
Benefits of rabbit meat
1. It is ideal for pregnant women as it is healthy quick to digest, rich in nutrients, vitamins, proteins and minerals and great taste to chewing.
2. Rabbit meat contains a high proportion of protein and the least fat to meat ratio compared to other types of meat.
3. It is very important and useful for patients who suffer from high blood pressure, and this is because it contains a very small percentage of the element sodium, in addition, it fits on a balanced important nutrients ratio and so it is a wonderful food, in particular to people who suffer from high blood pressure.
4. It is free of harmful cholesterol hence it is good for cardiovascular health, which makes it a good for people who suffer from heart disease.
5. Rabbit meat keeps the bones and teeth healthy due to a high
proportion of calcium which is a very important element in bones and teeth formation.
6. Rabbit meat contains potassium and magnesium, which have an important role in maintaining the health of the nervous system, strengthening the immune system and protecting against stroke.
7. Rabbit meat works to strengthen the sexual health because it contains zinc element which helps women against Infertility and increase sexual potency in men.
8. It helps get rid of anaemia because it contains a high percentage of iron which is a very important component of haemoglobin in the blood.
Rabbits are herbivores but cannot survive on grass or hay alone. Rabbits eat a lot of kitchen and garden wastes. Rabbits also love Tridax procumbems as well as a lot of other forage grasses. Most small plants and tree leaves are rabbit food except ornamental ones and a select few. Timothy hay is fed to rabbits abroad. In Nigeria, we use groundnut hay and cowpea testa. Other things that can be used to
formulate rabbit food include brewer’s grain, pap chaff, milled wheat chaff, kunu chaff, soyabean milk chaff ( heat treated), dried cassava peels, yam and potato peels, etc.
Formulated rabbit pellets or marsh sprinkled with water to reduce dust should be used in large scale farming. Water should never be exhausted in a rabbit’s drinker.
9. It helps build tissue and muscle strength and this is due to a high percentage of phosphorus element.
10. Rabbit meat helps to increase mental activity because it contains potassium, zinc and other very useful elements for the body.
11. It is one of the best white meats available on the market today.
12. The ratio of meat to bone is high meaning there is more edible meat on the carcass than even a chicken.
13. Rabbit meat with the many health benefits does not have a strong flavour and is comparable to chicken but not identical.
14. Rabbit meat is well known for its high easily digestible protein
content. A 3-oz. serving of rabbit meat contains 28 g of protein, more than beef or chicken. Rabbit is also a concentrated source of iron. A serving contains more than 4 mg. Additionally, the meat provides a wide range of minerals. The highest levels include 204 mg of
phosphorous and 292 mg of potassium, with higher calcium content than any other meat.
15. The calories in rabbit meat are the lowest. A serving contains only 147 calories so rabbit’s meats are a good source of protein for people who are obese and want to lose weight.
Get great mouth watering rabbit recipes from RFCO So that you can enjoy the many health benefits to eating rabbit meat. You could also replace it in any chicken recipe.
Compiled from the internet and various rabbit forums by Angba Victor for RFCO 8th of December, 2018
Rabbit fact 10: Rabbits experience puberty at 3 months
