What follows is a minimanual that tells how to get started on a shoestring. Rabbits have complex digestive systems, so its very important that they receive a proper diet. Rabbit farming in uganda, rearing tips, farmers association. A good rule of thumb is to mate rabbits of the same breed to each other rather than cross breeding large and small breeds. Animal welfare unit, nsw agriculture, locked bag 21, orange nsw 2800. Unless the rabbits are to be used for breeding purposes, they should be spayed or neutered. However, a doe can be bred back to the buck who produced her, and the same goes for bucks and the does. However, there are fewer diseases observed in the rabbit farming. This is one of the most important ways in which rabbit keepers can increase production. For gastronomic and economic reasons, the romans began rearing rabbits in special fenced areas, restricting the area of diffusion to the iberian peninsula, however.
Careful selection of rabbits for breeding can lead to improvements in the herd. You will need rabbits breeding stock to start rabbit farming in zimbabwe. Accommodation for rabbits over 12 weeks of age should be not less than 45 cm high, or of sufficient height to allow rabbits to sit upright with ears fully erect. Because they are a prey species, it is important for them to have a lot of offspring in order for the species to survive. When choosing breeding stock for rabbit production you should be very cautious of the rabbit s history. On the matter of breeding, most rabbits can actually take a litter of up to 10 and sometimes higher in certain in individuals. Management of bannies are also very difficult in deep litter system. It is very easy to start a commercial rabbit farming business since these are small animals and setting up housing for them is not all that difficult although there are a few important steps that you need to follow before starting a rabbit farm and they are listed below. The guide to raising and breeding rabbits for meat mother. However, to build a successful, sustainable commercial rabbit farming business, you require sufficient knowledge of how to efficiently raise the rabbits, good management skills, and a good rabbit farming business plan.
Then click save link as if you are using firefox, or save target as if you are using ie. Our advice for people with conditions like arthritis and gout, high blood pressure is to desist from. This stepbystep guide details rabbit breeds, behaviour, and handling. A beginners guide to rabbit farming ebook included livestocking. Wellmannered dogs and cats can live peacefully with the rabbits, but suitability should only be determined on a casebycase basis. Rabbit mating facts breeding cycle, limits, chart petsial. Before starting a rabbit farming business plan, it is better to learn which breed of rabbit is better for raising.
Starting from the 9th century ad, the rabbit both wild and domesticated began spreading to other european regions. Rabbits are social animals and are best housed in pairs or small groups. In greece, rabbit meat consumption is limited to 0. In the summer, it is wise to place frozen water bottles in the hutches with the rabbits to help keep them cool. Guide to raising rabbits for meat many people are turning to build a sustainable lifestyle. Also, extra care of the healthy breeding male rabbit and the pregnant rabbits is to be taken. Rabbit production guidelines penal reform international. This rabbit production manual is written for the malawi prison service farm. With the proper knowledge and understanding of the rabbit breeding cycle, as well as the limitations, a healthy litter of kits can be achieved. Starting rabbit farming business in zimbabwe and the. Many health problems in rabbits are caused by foods that are incompatible with their digestive physiology. Heres everything you need to make a binder to keep track of breeding, litters, weights, sales, expenses, etc. My advice is to go where there are more reputable breeders. There are too many rabbit breeds to fully describe in this manual.
Rabbit meat has high nutritional value but in developed countries continues to be considered for rural usage or. Ultimately we want to strive healthy breeding stock that produce. This means you can start with two mature breeding rabbits one male, one female and end up with over 40 rabbits in less than 12 months. Pdf backyard rabbit farming can be a great idea for having healthy meat and an additional source of income for the family without much. Production characteristics and constraints of rabbit farming in central. Interview and application study guides, youth contests by ellyn i dont even live in the western half of the united states, but i have heard a lot about a show theyre having soon called the 2011 west coast classic rabbit show in reno, nv, on april 1517. This publication provides an introduction to smallscale rabbit production, focusing on meat rabbits. Take extra care of the male rabbit used for breeding purpose and take good.
Rabbits go through a breeding cycle which should be followed strictly in order to produce healthy babies. However, it does take a lot of work to take care of a rabbit. The guide to raising and breeding rabbits for meat. In this project, you own one or more does a doe is a female rabbit. Guide to raising rabbits for meat rural living today. A bucks physical condition will influence the health and vitality strength of his offspring. How to start rabbit farming business raise rabbits for meat and the rabbit farming business plan pdf, word and excel financial statements.
The behaviour of laboratory rabbits is very similar to that of wild rabbits. I never liked the idea of producing rabbits only for the meat market, though, so i focused on angora rabbits. Ten commandments for raising healthy rabbits mother earth. Jul 03, 2018 joining a rabbit club and attending rabbit shows are useful ways to learn about rabbit production, says karoline. Guidelines for the housing of rabbits in scientific. Rabbits are extremely hotnatured so it is important to place their shelter in a shaded area. Taking care and managing your rabbits can leads better production in your business. Read on to learn more about raising rabbits including how to house and feed them, and common breeds.
Always use healthy rabbits for breeding with proper age and body weight. Rabbit farming is the process of breeding, fattening and reproducing rabbits, economically to obtain the maximum benefit in the sale of its products and by. Please feel free to copy and paste blank cards at the end if you need more, or delete unneeded cards. Commercial rabbit production poultry science mississippi state. Rabbit meat is healthy because it is rich in protein and low in fat. Rabbits are among the five most popular house pets. I felt it important to mention this one right off the bat. There are few if any rabbit processing plants in the midwest, thus. Free rabbitry record sheets to download and print rabbit.
Hay rabbits need hayspecifically, timothy grass hay. The pricing of rabbit meat in our country is shown in table 1. A calculation of economic fundamentals of this dipole. As first time owners, more and more people want to know the best ways to look after their pet bunnies and improve the health and quality of their lives. Rabbit production manual government of nova scotia. Many owners use sheds, backyards, and old barns as sites for rabbit warrens a highclass word for an area of pens. Apr 01, 2021 that said, raising rabbits can be profitable and doesnt take up as much space or resources as larger animals.
Ph 02 6391 3682 fax 02 6391 3570 or sydney office ph 02. A basic rabbit diet should consist of the following foods. Through proper guidelines, rabbit rearing not only requires minimal capital investment but also provides increased livelihood income and yield. Rabbits are members of the leporidae family, indigenous throughout most parts of the world, and raised in smallholder and largescale, commercial production systems rabbit is marketed as whole or half carcasses, although interest in cuts and ground meat is increasing. A beginners guide to raising rabbits, including a rabbit barn, pens, feeders and. Breed photos courtesy of the american rabbit breeders association. A single doe female rabbit can give birth to litter up to 40 kits baby rabbits in a single year. Raising rabbits can be a satisfying experience as well as contributing to the family income and diet.
But the following facts should be considered before starting a rabbit project. You should use male rabbits for breeding purpose at their 1 year of age to get quality young rabbits. Ten commandments for raising healthy rabbits mother earth news. Oryctolagus cuniculus includes the european rabbit species and its descen. Rabbit farming 3 amazing success stories and everything. Rabbit farming business is a very profitable business, and many people are making money all over the world by raising rabbits for meat. Those that do take on the chore of raising rabbits for meat will have to pay close attention to the cost, requirements, and all the other requirements that come with building a small backyard rabbit farm. Deep litter system is not suitable for intensive system of rearing. How production affects income for years five litters per doe per year was the goal of most rabbit breeders. Oct 26, 2020 rabbits are known for their quick and effective breeding in the wild. With increased costs of production, you must increase the. Sarah kicks off this series with an in depth look at how we breed our new zealand and californian cross meat rabbits. Rabbit farming is the process of breeding, fattening and reproducing rabbits, economically to obtain the maximum benefit in the sale of its products and byproducts. So, to provide you comfort here below is the list of the top 10 breeds of rabbits, which are suitable best for raising rabbits along with their avg.
Rabbit farming as business, profit and process for. When you start raising, start with two junior 4 or less month old. There is some profit for those willing to make the necessary sacrifices. Like all pets, rabbits need a clean, healthy environment and the right kind of food in order.
Open your file, type in the details for each rabbit and save your document as a new file name so that you can reuse this blank template in the future. Since we dont keep our records binder in the rabbitry, we record breedings on a breeding board, then transfer the info to our binder once a month. In rabbits raising rabbits is not a get rich quick business. Breeding meat rabbits 101 the imperfectly happy home. If youre short on space, raising rabbits may be a perfect option for your homestead. This manual is a reference guide for young people and adults wanting to participate in. Bucks in poor condition, or too fat or over used for breeding may either go sterile or sire small litters. Ten commandments for raising healthy rabbits mother. And never breed kits from the same kindling with each other.
Production characteristics and constraints of rabbit farming in. Starting rabbit farming business in zimbabwe and the business. It is very important to record breeding info immediately. Rabbits reared in deep litter system are more susceptible to diseases. Animalwised is here to give you some important tips for raising. To download, rightclick either pdf or word under each icon. Rabbits are small mammals closely related to hares and picas. Farming with rabbits is becoming increasingly popular because they can be kept in a relatively small space it is not expensive to keep them they eat almost. Before investing your money in rabbit production, get all available literature, talk. There are also many rules to be followed when breeding rabbits in order to produce the best rabbits possible. Rabbits rabbits are small mammals in the family leporidae of the order lagomorpha.
Purchase your breeding stock from rabbit farmers who have a good reputation in the. Diseases in rabbits can cause less meat production, also the fur. There are many species in the rabbit family but all domesticated rabbits are believed to have descended from a single species known as the european rabbit. Rabbit farming for meat purposes animal frontiers oxford. That said, raising rabbits can be profitable and doesnt take up as much space or resources as larger animals. Rabbit farming as business, profit and process for beginners 2018. You can order a booklet from the american rabbit breeders association on tips for breeding specifically for your rabbit breed.
Rabbit farming, rearing a complete project guide agri farming. Rabbit production is little exploited due to several reasons such as ignorance of the population about the nutritional value of the rabbit meat, eating patterns and little. Pdf backyard rabbit farming can be a great idea for having healthy meat and an additional source of income for the family without much involvement. In farm house, rabbits can be reared by keeping them in different cages. Two years ago i started rabbit farming in my small scale backyard. Apr 29, 2015 a rabbit barn the hare raising business is adaptable to any location.
Rabbit meat is considered a healthy food from a nutritional point of view. Rabbit farming and two system of rearing zoology notes. Rabbit farming, rearing a complete project guide agri. Backyard rabbit farming in the tropics journey to forever. Print out a breeding board on standard paper, then laminate or place in a plastic page protector. Keeping good records is essential to raising quality rabbits. It instructs how to construct rabbit hutches, kindling boxes, weaner cages and where to place the rabbits. These are bucks male rabbits, and does female rabbits. I only kept one sheet for the whole rabbitry and noted several rabbits placements on it in each show. These animals can be purchased from reputable breeders and will come with a. A sustainable lifestyle is one that can be maintained and controlled through work you do yourself and is an ecofriendly way to live in conjunction with the world one way to embrace a sustainable lifestyle is to grow and raise your own food sources. Rabbits need specific care to stay healthy and happy. Rabbits become suitable for breeding within their 5 to 6 months of age. Unit i commercial type breeding stock rabbits should have excellent meat producing qualities, emphasis should be placed on body and muscling unit ii fancy type breeding stock rabbits should be good representatives of their breed or breeds if a crossbred, emphasis should be placed on.
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