animal, plant & soil science lesson c7-15 the rabbit industry

Animal, Plant & Soil Science

Lesson C7-15The Rabbit Industry

Objectives Define terms used to describe

rabbits, and identify the parts of a rabbit.

Compare and contrast the common breeds of rabbits.

Recognize the advantages and disadvantages of rabbit production.

Objectives Determine the facility and equipment

needs in rabbit production.

Identify common conditions, parasites, and diseases that affect rabbits and determine appropriate prevention and treatment methods.

Objectives Examine the production practices

involved in raising rabbits.

Describe the feed rations and nutritional requirements for rabbits and examine why cecotrophy is normal for rabbits.

What are the proper terms used in describing rabbits, and what are the parts of a rabbit?

Knowing basic rabbit terminology is important. A. The following are common

names and terms used in describing rabbits.

1. A mature male rabbit is a buck. 2. A mature female rabbit is a doe. 3. A newborn rabbit is a kit. 4. The process of giving birth to young rabbits is

kindling. 5. A group of young rabbits born at one time is a

litter. 6. A group of rabbits is simply called a group.


B. Rabbits were once classified as rodents. However, rabbits have two more

incisor teeth than rodents. Therefore, rabbits are lagomorphs,

or members of the order Lagomorpha. Three rabbit genera are the jack rabbit (Lepus), the North

American cottontail (Sylvilagus), and the domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus).

All domestic rabbits in America are descendants of the Oryctolagus rabbit, which has a different number of chromosomes than the jack rabbit or the cottontail.

The domestic rabbit in America was imported from other parts of the world.


C. Since the main purpose of rabbits is meat consumption and fur bearing, we need to look at the basic parts and muscle groups. One must be familiar with many

external parts of a rabbit. Among these are forequarter, rib, loin, hip, hindquarter,

rump, leg, chest, forehead, and crown. The crown is the part of a rabbit’s head between the

ears and behind the brow. These terms help describe the conformation of rabbits.

What are the common breeds of rabbits, and how do they differ?

The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) recognizes 45 different breeds.

A. Rabbit breeds are broken down into several different categories.

Rabbits can be classified by fur type, body type, variety, size, or marking.

1. The first fur type is normal. Normal fur has long guard hairs that protect a

dense undercoat. Normal fur can also be called commercial fur. Most rabbits are classified as normal fur.

What are the common breeds of rabbits, and how do they differ? 2. The second fur type is satin.

Satin fur has luster, is composed of transparent hair, and is finer than normal fur.

Only one breed of rabbit has fur of this kind, and it is appropriately named the Satin.

3. The third fur type is rex. Rex fur has a very soft feel because it is dense and the

undercoat and guard hairs are the same length. Only two breeds of American rabbits have rex fur, the

Rex and the Mini Rex. 4. The final fur type is angora (or wool type).

Angora fur is used to manufacture clothing because of its long wool-like fibers.

Rabbit wool is much warmer than sheep wool because of its denseness.

Only six breeds fall into this group: the American Fuzzy Lop, Jersey Wooly, English Angora, French Angora, Satin Angora, and Giant Angora.


B. Before selecting the kind of rabbits to raise, the producer should consider available space, available time, and production goals.

1. The two most popular breeds for meat production are the New Zealand and the Californian. a. The New Zealand is completely white, red, or black

and weighs between 9 and 12 pounds. Besides being raised for meat, New Zealands are used for

research and show. b. The Californian is a white rabbit with colored nose,

ears, tail, and feet. At maturity Californians weigh between 8 and 11 pounds. They are used for meat and show.


2. The Checkered Giant has a white body with black ears, nose, and circles around the eyes. It also has black spots on the hindquarters, cheeks, and

sides of the body. The breed can also express black spine

marking and black spots on the tail. At maturity Checkered Giants weigh

more than 11 pounds. They are used for show and for their fur.

3. The Dutch rabbit can have a black, blue, chocolate, gray, tortoise, or steel body. It has a white band over the shoulder, under the neck,

and over the front legs and hind feet. At maturity Dutch rabbits weigh between 3½ and 5½

pounds. They are used for research, meat, and show.

What are the common breeds of rabbits, and how do they differ? 4. The Holland Lop, despite its compact body,

expresses massiveness, with an overall look similar to that of a bulldog. The Holland Lop weighs only 3 to 4 pounds and has short

lop ears. The breed expresses broken and solid colors. Holland Lops are used mainly for show.

5. The Tan rabbit originated in England and has a two-colored body. It weighs an average of 4 to 5 pounds and is known as

one of the most beautiful breeds because of its color combinations.

The Tan is primarily a show breed. C. Regardless of the breed, all rabbits should be

purchased from a reputable breeder and evaluated for health, reproduction ability, longevity, and vigor.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of rabbit production? Rabbit production has several advantages

and disadvantages. A. The advantages of raising rabbits

are: 1. Rabbits reach market weight by

eight weeks, providing a quick return for the investor.

2. Basic housing and equipment needs are low compared with those of other livestock enterprises.

3. A variety of breeds are available from which to choose.

4. The production schedule for rabbits is short. The gestation period for a doe is 27 to 35 days. The potential is for four to eight cycles per year

(depending on rabbit type).

What are the advantages and disadvantages of rabbit production?

5. Rabbits are born in litters of from 2 to 15. Most litters contain 6 to 10 kits.

6. The rabbit industry provides six markets: meat, fur, pelts, pets, laboratory rabbits, and reptile feeders. The rabbit fur and wool industry also provides

the opportunity to sell pelts. 7. Rabbits are excellent pets and easily

managed. They make good beginning 4-H and FFA

projects.


B. The disadvantages of raising rabbits are: 1. Finding a reputable rabbit breeder can be

difficult. 2. Types of feed should be of high quality.

Some common feeds cause fertility and digestive problems.

3. The costs of facilities and equipment are minimal; however, the proper design and location of hutches is important.

4. Marketing rabbits can be challenging if no local harvest facility is available.

5. Raising rabbits is usually a supplemental, not a primary, income source.

What facilities and equipment are required in rabbit production?

Facility and equipment needs for raising rabbits depend on the various types of production and climate.

Number of rabbits, amount of space, kind of hutches, location, environment and climate conditions, amount of money readily available for investment, and use of other facilities and equipment are all key factors in planning for rabbit production.


A. Hutches are essential in rabbit production. A hutch is a small compartment that

allows ease of handling, protection, and proper management.

The size and number of the hutches depend on the operation.

Cages can be built from wire or wood. Two advantages of wire cages are that they are easier to

construct and clean and that they last longer. Wood cages protect animals from climate factors if the

hutches are located outside a building. Ventilation is very important in rabbit production,

whether the number of rabbits is large or small. Hutches should also allow indirect sunlight to rabbits.


B. A nest box is a box provided to a doe so that she can make a nest and have babies in it. It is also called a kindling box. The nest box is typically 12 inches

wide × 18 inches long × 12 inches deep. One end of the box is cut down to 6 inches deep. Straw or some sort of bedding should be placed inside

the nest box before the doe gives birth. C. Automatic waterers are highly recommended.

They improve sanitation and require less labor than water dishes.

Feeders should be heavy enough that rabbits do not tip them over.


D. Other equipment needs include measuring cups, scales, brushes and combs, and carry baskets or carts. Measuring cups are important for accurate

feeding in rabbit production. Scales are used for checking rabbit growth so

rate-of-gain records can be maintained. Brushes and combs are necessary for rabbit

care and grooming needs. Carry baskets or carts ease rabbit handling.

What are common conditions, parasites, and diseases that affect rabbits, and what are appropriate prevention and treatment methods?

Several common conditions, parasites, and diseases can affect rabbits.

Good management systems and prevention programs can control these.

A. Broken back can be caused by sudden noise or improper handling techniques. One way to prevent this condition is to educate

beginning growers about the proper way to pick up a rabbit.

Another is for growers to play soft radio music around the hutches.

The music will allow the rabbits to ease in noise changes.


B. Snuffles (Pasteurella multocida) is a bacterial infection. Signs may include pneumonia, sneezing, nasal discharge,

coughing, and weepy eyes. This disease is contagious and should be treated with an

antibiotic in the drinking water. The water for the entire rabbitry should be treated.

C. Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease that has two different types: intestinal and liver. Signs of this disease include anorexia, debilitation, and

poor weight gain. The use of an antibiotic is recommended as the

treatment. A preventive practice is cleaning cage floors daily with a

wire brush to remove any droppings stuck to the wire.


D. Ear mites are common external parasites of rabbits. Two types of mites can infect rabbits: Psoroptes

cuniculi and Sarcoptes scabiei. Common signs of mites are shaking of the head

and scratching and flapping of the ears. Mineral oil rubbed on the ears can serve as a

control or treatment. If mites have infected the fur area, an antibiotic

should be used. Mites can do terrible damage to the fur coat

and cause fur loss.


E. Viral hemorrhagic disease is a viral disorder in rabbits. It can cause hemorrhage in the

lungs and intestines. Rabbits may show signs of bloody nose and

bloody stools. There is no cure for this disease, which can

wipe out a rabbitry. Exposed rabbits must be destroyed. Prevention of viral hemorrhagic disease

involves quarantining new rabbits for 30 days before introducing them into a group.


F. Wool block can occur when rabbits are not trimmed or groomed properly. Extra-long wool left on a rabbit

can be ingested. This can cause a wool ball in the

digestive system that can kill the animal within days.

Symptoms are coughing and difficult breathing. Treatment requires the animal to drink

pineapple juice for several days.

What production practices are involved in raising rabbits? Production practices are no different whether a

few rabbits or a hundred are being raised. Common maintenance of facilities and proper care

of animals are necessary. A. Facilities and equipment should be cleaned

daily to decrease diseases and parasites. Feces should be disposed of properly. Waterers and feeders should be cleaned and should be

free of any foreign materials. For rabbits to maintain healthy and shiny coats, quality,

clean water is important. B. Carefully selecting breeding stock is the first

step in guaranteeing disease-free rabbits with good maternal traits. Selection of rabbits should also be based on

conformation and style of the particular breed.

What production practices are involved in raising rabbits?

C. Understanding production schedules is essential. If production requires breeding,

a producer must understand gestation period and rebreeding times.

If schedules are followed, does can be very productive.

Meat rabbits can be ready for market in less than 12 weeks.

Marketing as many fryers per doe as possible will maximize returns.

Growth records should be kept to maintain efficiency.


D. Feeding rabbits is a daily production practice that must be taken seriously. Rabbits have different nutrient

requirements at various stages of production.

They must receive proper minerals and adequate protein.

Clean water is important; a lactating doe can drink up to a gallon a day.


E. Health maintenance and disease prevention are essential for successful rabbit production.

The producer should: 1. Never loan out bucks. 2. Isolate new rabbits for 30 days. 3. Quickly dispose of dead rabbits

and disinfect cages and all equipment. 4. Burn droppings. 5. Clean cages regularly. 6. Wash and disinfect nest boxes after each litter. 7. Clean up extra fur from cages. 8. Control flies and rodents.


F. Record keeping is a production practice that allows good management decisions to be made. Identification of animals should be

documented. Records of breeding, rebreeding,

nesting, kindling, purchases, weight, feed conversions, and marketing should be kept.


G. Effective marketing is essential to ensure an adequate financial return.

Develop a marketing plan for rabbits based on meat, fur, or other uses.

1. Meat rabbits are raised as fryers or roasters. A fryer is a domestic rabbit, usually 12 weeks

old or less, whose carcass weighs more than 1½ pounds but no more than 4 pounds.

A roaster is a rabbit that is heavier than a fryer or cull animal from the breeding herd.


a. To raise rabbits successfully for meat, one must assess the amount of feed required to produce the rabbit weight desired.

Fryers typically consume 4 pounds of pelleted feed for every pound of gain.

They should gain ¼ pound per week. b. Most commercial operations sell fryers and roasters to

processors. The processors harvest the rabbits and market the pelts and

meat. Colored pelts are not worth as much as pure white ones, so

most growers raise only white rabbits. c. Some producers harvest and market the rabbits they

grow, but they must follow the same strict sanitation and harvesting regulations as large processors.


2. Rabbits are also used to produce fur, often of the wool type. The wool of angora rabbits grows

2½ to 3½ inches long and can be harvested at a rate of 1 inch per month.

On average, angora rabbits shear 14 to 15 ounces annually.

To raise angora rabbits successfully, the rabbits’ environment must be kept clean and their wool harvested often.

Since the price for rabbit wool is low, raising animals for both wool and meat is a good idea.

The wool is marketed for use in clothing.


3. Rabbits are also used for their skins. The pelts are usually marketed by the pound and bought

by raw-fur buyers. A pelt is an animal’s skin that still has the hair attached. Skins must meet requirements and therefore should not

be cut or mutilated by overstretching or overdrying. 4. Rabbits raised for pets or for 4-H and FFA

projects are usually grown by small producers. Rabbits can be raised outside, or they can be raised

inside a small shed or garage. Marketing of rabbits raised for pets or projects is usually

done locally.


5. Rabbits can also be marketed to research laboratories. These laboratories have strict guidelines

that must be met. A laboratory may require a certain size, age,

breed, or sex. This type of marketing is typically handled

through a contact. 6. Rabbits are marketed to zoos and other

types of operations. Rabbits are the food of choice for snakes,

crocodiles, alligators, eagles, and wolves.

What are common feed rations and nutritional requirements for rabbits, and why is cecotrophy normal for rabbits?

Rabbits require the same basic nutrients as other animals.

Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, and vitamins are important in rabbit rations, as is water.

The amount of each depends upon the age, production type, and growth rate of the animals.

A. Percentage of protein in rations is typically 14 to 16 percent. Bucks, pregnant does, does with litters, and growing

rabbits need 14 to 18 percent crude protein. Dry does, nonactive bucks, and maturing rabbits should

be on rations with 12 to 14 percent crude protein. Wool-producing rabbits require 10 to 12 percent for

short-haired adults and 13 to 15 percent for long-haired adults.


B. Fats are required and should account for 1 to 1½ percent of total caloric intake. Eicosanoids have essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty

acids acting as their foundation and should be a part of the diet. Eicosanoids control blood pressure, blood clotting, and muscle contractions.

C. The rabbit has a digestive system similar to that of the horse. This type of system allows for the

utilization of high-quality hay, grasses, and/or green vegetables.

Hay should be clean and contain nutrients and high-quality leaves.

Alfalfa is preferred because of its high content of nutrients.

Other vegetable greens can be fed to rabbits as long as the animals are three months or older.

Fiber content is very important in a rabbit’s diet.


D. A common ration for a rabbit would include a commercial feed, along with hay or green feeds. The commercial feed should be only

40 percent of the total amount fed. The rest of the diet should include hay or

greens in addition to water. Commercial feeds are available through many

feed companies and provide different percentages of protein to meet the specific needs of rabbits.


E. Cecotrophy is a process in which rabbits eat their soft feces. It is a normal practice that rabbits mainly perform early

in the morning or late at night. This procedure allows rabbits to make use of bacterial

digestion in the lower tract. Through the process, rabbits fully convert forage protein,

synthesize B vitamins, and further break down cellulose or fiber into energy that can be used.

Rabbits should be allowed to practice cecotrophy, because it contributes 20 percent of the protein and 10 percent of the required energy.

Rabbits will eat only soft, green pellets. They will not eat hard, brown pellets.

Review What are the proper terms used in

describing rabbits, and what are the parts of a rabbit?



Review What facilities and equipment are required

in rabbit production?


Review What production practices are involved in

raising rabbits?


animal, plant & soil science lesson c7-15 the rabbit industry

Documents

domestic rabbits

group of rabbits

rabbit breeds

rabbits head

conformation of rabbits

oryctolagus rabbit

common breeds of rabbits

rabbit genera