2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Even if you live outside the city only during the warm season, it is quite possible to breed several generations of rabbits. As a result, you will receive a lot of valuable meat and support the family budget
Historical reference
The history of rabbit breeding goes back to the 3rd century BC. Rabbits were brought to Russia in the 11th century, but the development of production began only at the beginning of the 20th century. Today we use 60 breeds, although 200 are involved in the world rabbit breeding.
Why exactly rabbits?
The fertility of rabbits and the rapid growth of individuals make it possible to obtain "fast" meat, which is highly valued by gourmets and nutritionists. Cultivation does not require expensive feed and a lot of labor. There are many more reasons to start rabbit breeding in the country.
The rabbit, in addition to meat, provides a variety of products. If desired, you can make fur skins, leather. You can get fluff, which is ideal for knitting, velor, felt. Paws, tails, ears are popular in souvenir production.
Rabbit manure is not inferior to horse manure and is very useful for increasing the yield of beds on depleted and clayey soils. Creates favorable conditions for cucumbers, cabbage, celery, potatoes, mushrooms. By the way, one rabbit produces about 100 kg of organic matter a year.
Functional features of rabbits
Reproduction is the main task of the breeder. For this, it is useful for beginners to know that an adult female can please her offspring up to 6 times a year. Each litter / litter yields 6-12 cubs.
Sexual maturity occurs at 3-4 months, they are allowed to mate at 4-5 months of age with a weight of 2-2, 8 kg. Males are ready to breed at 5-6 months. For large breeds, the period and weight varies: 5-6 months; 3.0-3.5 kg. Early births occur at 4 months old and are slaughtered during autumn / early winter. Short term pregnancy - one month. Based on this, you can calculate how many rabbits / meat you will receive during the summer season, when living in the country from April to October.
Experienced rabbit breeders plan the appearance of offspring and preliminarily draw up a schedule of mating, marking the dates on the calendar. Based on this, the average production cycle can be predicted.
Keeping rabbits in the country
There are many systems for keeping: harem, parquet, nursery, dugout and others. The most common and convenient way for suburban breeding is the cell system. This eliminates mortality, related mating, leading to the degeneration of the herd.
Closed rabbitries are made, in which the cages are set in a row, in tiers, in sheds. In summer it can be kept outdoors under a canopy, in winter it must be indoors. Molting begins in October-November. At this time, mating is not carried out, but they are fed intensively, increasing the amount of protein and vitamins in the menu.
The rabbit reaches the norm of the conditioned weight at 5-6 months. To obtain a full-fledged skin, fur products, they feed up to 3-8 months. If you are not interested in fur, you should purchase broiler and meat breeds for breeding.
Breeding rabbits in garden plots
Rational breeding can be done in one season. To do this, in March you need to have a young female and “cover” her in March-April. Thus, you will get 2-3 litters and slaughter an individual for meat. An experienced rabbit breeder can get 60 offspring from one female.
For breeding, you need to select well-fed, but not obese rabbits, as this will negatively affect the offspring. Overfed individuals may not be covered at all, those lagging behind in development are discarded. One rabbit can marry eight females without rest. In the central regions of Russia, active okrol takes place from January to August. In the southern part, January-September.
Feeding rabbits
One-season advantage - young animals are fed on free feed (grass, garden waste). In summer, a minimum of compound feed and grain is required. The usual diet includes not only hay, grass, but also root vegetables, parsley, dandelion, euphorbia, lettuce. The most useful hay from alfalfa, timothy grass. It is important to maintain a balance of vegetables and hay in the menu. It is not recommended to give tomatoes, cabbage, beans. With care, clover, vetch, peas, so that there are no problems with the intestines, it is recommended to give no more than 60 g per individual, mixing with cereals.
A sharp transition from dry food to grasses is also unacceptable - flatulence occurs, mortality is possible. Fresh food (dried grass) is introduced gradually: the first day - 50 g, increasing this volume daily, i.e. on day 10 you get 500 g and so on up to 1-1, 5 kilos per day. For young rabbits (1-4 months), the norm is respectively 100-800 per day. In the cold period, chalk, bran, sprouted grain, salt are added. Young animals begin to feed 15 days after birth.
We will tell you about the prevention of rabbit diseases in the next article!
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