Rabbit Production Guide by Josh Schaeffer
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Rabbit Production
B
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Types of Rabbit Production
Fanciers
Pets, Breeding Stock, and Show Animals
Laboratory
Fur/Hair
Angora
Rex
MEAT
Largest Rabbit Market
Basics Of Raising Meat
Rabbits
Breed Selection
General Management Techniques
Understanding Rabbits
Housing
Feeding
Breeding
Health
Marketing
Breed Selection
Meet demands
White
Fine-boned
Expected litter size
8-10 kits
Personal preference
3 Most Popular Meat Breeds
New Zealand (white)
Californian
Florida White
General Management
Techniques
Understanding Rabbits
Behavior
Normals
Temp. 103.1 degrees F
Heart rate 180-350 beats per minute
Respiratory rate 40-65 breaths per minute
Hair coat
Mucous membranes
General Management
Techniques
Housing
Sanitary
Climate Control
Owner-friendly
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Hanging Hutches
Slants
Stacked
Hanging Hutches
Stacked---Climate Controlled
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Feeding
Fresh, Clean Water
is essential
Pellets
Usually all that is
needed
Hay not necessary
Formulated to
meet rabbit needs
Hay and Grains
General Management
Techniques
Feed Efficiencies of Common
Meat Animals
Breeding
KEEP RECORDS!!!!!!
Doe is induced ovulator
In heat 14 out of 16 days
Gestation = 31-33 days
Breeding Schedule
Take doe to buck
Day 10-16: palpate
Day 28: add nest box
Day 31-33: doe kindles
General Management
Techniques
General Management
Techniques
Post-kindling
Observe and count kits
Remove dead
Remove nest box 15 to 21 days post-
kindling
Wean and rebreed on ~ day 30
Allows for 5 litters per year
General Management
Techniques
Health
Sanitation
Pasteurellosis multocida
External parasites
Flies
Fleas
Mites
Internal parasites
Not a major problem
General Management
Techniques
Marketing
Pricing
Live sale
Butchered rabbit
Health regulations
The Rabbit Industry
GROWING
Especially in developing countries
Current production estimated at 1.5
million tons
Not large N. American market
No need for animal raised in confinement
Low demand-consumer ignorance
MMMMMMM…….It’s GOOD
Highly nutritious
Fine Grained
Mild flavored
Fryer
Roaster
Inspection
Voluntary
Grading
Rabbit vs. the Rest
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NOT get Rich Quick!!
Initial costs are high
Housing
Breeding Stock
Supplies
Annual Costs
Feed
Health program
Upkeep
Labor intensive
Works Cited
Bennet, Bob.
Strorey’s Guide to Raising
Rabbits.
Pavia, Audrey.
Rabbits for Dummies.
“Rabbits.”
The Merck Veterinary Manual.
pg.
1386-1402.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations.
http://www.fao.org
23 April 2004.
Food Safety and Inspection Service.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov
23 April 2004.
Agricultural Alternatives: Rabbit Production.
Penn State, 1994.
In this comprehensive guide by Josh Schaeffer, you will learn about different types of rabbit production including fanciers pets, breeding stock, show animals, laboratory fur/hair, Angora, Rex, and meat rabbits. The guide covers the basics of raising meat rabbits, breed selection, general management techniques, understanding rabbit behavior, housing, feeding, breeding, health, and marketing. It also includes information on popular meat rabbit breeds such as New Zealand, Californian, and Florida White. Additionally, you will find guidance on general management techniques including housing, sanitary practices, climate control, feeding, and record-keeping.
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Presentation Transcript
Rabbit Production By Josh Schaeffer
Types of Rabbit Production Fanciers Pets, Breeding Stock, and Show Animals Laboratory Fur/Hair Angora Rex MEAT Largest Rabbit Market
Basics Of Raising Meat Rabbits Breed Selection General Management Techniques Understanding Rabbits Housing Feeding Breeding Health Marketing
Breed Selection Meet demands White Fine-boned Expected litter size 8-10 kits Personal preference
3 Most Popular Meat Breeds New Zealand (white) Click on image
General Management Techniques Understanding Rabbits Behavior Normals Temp. 103.1 degrees F Heart rate 180-350 beats per minute Respiratory rate 40-65 breaths per minute Hair coat Mucous membranes
General Management Techniques Housing Sanitary Climate Control Owner-friendly Types- If you can imagine it, then it exists! Hanging Hutches Slants Stacked
Sanitary & Organized Recording Keeping
General Management Techniques Feeding Fresh, Clean Water is essential Pellets Usually all that is needed Hay not necessary Formulated to meet rabbit needs Hay and Grains
Feed Efficiencies of Common Meat Animals BEEF LAMB HOG CHICKEN RABBIT 6-8 lbs feed/lb gain 4 lbs feed/lb gain 2.5-3 lbs feed/lb gain 2 lbs feed/lb gain 4 lbs feed/lb gain
General Management Techniques Breeding KEEP RECORDS!!!!!! Doe is induced ovulator In heat 14 out of 16 days Gestation = 31-33 days Breeding Schedule Take doe to buck Day 10-16: palpate Day 28: add nest box Day 31-33: doe kindles
General Management Techniques Post-kindling Observe and count kits Remove dead Remove nest box 15 to 21 days post- kindling Wean and rebreed on ~ day 30 Allows for 5 litters per year
General Management Techniques Health Sanitation Pasteurellosis multocida External parasites Flies Fleas Mites Internal parasites Not a major problem
General Management Techniques Marketing Pricing Live sale Butchered rabbit Health regulations
The Rabbit Industry GROWING Especially in developing countries Current production estimated at 1.5 million tons Not large N. American market No need for animal raised in confinement Low demand-consumer ignorance
MMMMMMM.Its GOOD Highly nutritious Fine Grained Mild flavored Fryer Roaster Inspection Voluntary Grading
Rabbit vs. the Rest This is based on 1 pound of raw meat. MEAT PROTEIN FAT CALORIES Rabbit 20.8 10.25 795 Chicken 20.0 11.0 810 Veal 18.8 14.0 910 Turkey 20.1 22.2 1190 Beef 16.3 28.0 1440 Lamb 15.7 27.7 1420 Pork 11.9 45.0 2050
NOT get Rich Quick!! Initial costs are high Housing Breeding Stock Supplies Annual Costs Feed Health program Upkeep Labor intensive
Works Cited Bennet, Bob. Strorey s Guide to Raising Rabbits. Pavia, Audrey. Rabbits for Dummies. Rabbits. The Merck Veterinary Manual. pg. 1386-1402. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. http://www.fao.org 23 April 2004. Food Safety and Inspection Service. http://www.fsis.usda.gov 23 April 2004. Agricultural Alternatives: Rabbit Production. Penn State, 1994.
