Rabbits

1. Rabbits Chapter 47

2. Objectives • Describe the common breeds of rabbits • Discuss nutrient requirements and feeding practices for rabbits • Discuss reproduction and breeding of rabbits • Discuss management of the rabbit herd

3. Objectives (cont.) • Describe common diseases and prevention of disease problems with rabbits • Discuss housing and equipment for rabbits • Discuss marketing of rabbits

4. Classification of Rabbits • Ancestor of the domestic rabbit in the U.S. is the European wild rabbit • Modern breeds of domestic rabbit raised in the U.S. have been developed since the eighteenth century

5. Uses of Rabbits • Primary use of rabbits in U.S. is for meat production • Also used for • Pets • Research • Wool production

6. Breeds • There are 47 breeds of rabbits listed in the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) Standard of Perfection • Standards based on color, type, shape, weight, fur, wool, and hair • Breed selection should be based on expected use

7. Breeds (cont.)

8. Breeds (cont.)

9. Breeds (cont.)

10. Breeds (cont.)

11. Breeds (cont.)

12. Breeds (cont.)

13. Breeds (cont.)

14. Breeds (cont.)

15. Breeds (cont.)

16. Feeding • Nutrient Requirements • Rabbits are simple-stomached animals, and are herbivorous • Nutrient requirements are available from cooperative extension resources • Rabbits fed balanced rations have a feed to meat conversion ratio of about 3:1

17. Feeds • Hay • Makes up between 40 and 80 percent of diet • Green Feeds/Root Crops • Grasses, palatable weeds, cereal grains, and leafy vegetable crops • Grains • Oats, barely, wheat, buckwheat, grain sorghum, rye, soft varieties of corn

18. Feeds (cont.) • Protein Supplements • Soybean, linseed, sesame, and cottonseed oil meals are solid protein supplements • Should not be mixed with grains, as they will settle out and be wasted • Feed in cake, flake, or pelleted form • Soybean oil most common

19. Pelleting Feeds • Rabbits prefer a pelleted ration • Rate of gain, feed efficiency are improved • Commercial producers typically use complete pelleted rations • Two types: all-grain pellets and complete pellets

20. Storing Feeds • Feeds stored for more than 4 weeks lose value, palatability • Prevent rodents and insects from contaminating stored feeds • Do not allow cats or dogs into feed storage areas

21. Feeding Methods • Typically hand-fed in small rabbitries • Feed placed by hand in feed crocks or troughs • Regular feeding more important than number of times per day provided • Rabbits may be self-fed or full-fed by means of a hopper or self-feeder

22. Maintenance Feeding • Rabbits not in service can be fed a maintenance ration • Fine-stemmed, leafy, legume hay will provide nutrients required for maintenance

23. Feeding Herd Bucks in Service • Allow free access to high-quality hay during breeding season • Prevent bucks from becoming too fat, but feed enough to stay in good condition while in service

24. Feeding Growing Junior Does and Bucks • Daily, 2 to 4 ounces of all-grain or grain-protein pellets and free access to good-quality hay will provide proper nutrition for medium-weight breeds • Daily ration of 4 to 6 ounces of complete pelleted feed sufficient for proper growth of medium-weight breeds • Adjust for light and heavier breeds

25. Feeding Pregnant and Nursing Does • Feed maintenance ration until does are determined to be pregnant • Good-quality hay or hay pellets may be fed • Limit feed when using all-pellet ration to keep doe from becoming too fat • Avoid sudden changes in diet to keep doe from going off feed

26. Rabbit Breeding • Gestation period lasts 30 to 32 days • Can be rebred 6 weeks after kindling • Does can produce up to five litters per year • Ovulation occurs 10 hours after the female is bred by the male • Average about eight young per litter

27. Kindling • Prepare for kindling by providing a nesting box in cage 27 days after the doe is bred • Feed intake often reduced just prior • Usually occurs at night • Healthy does seldom have issues • Inspect litter next day

28. Losses at Kindling • Does can occasionally give birth on hutch floor rather than nest box • Frightened does may kindle prematurely • If doe fails to produce milk, young will die within 2 to 3 days • Transfer to litters where they can nurse and be cared for in such instances

29. Weaning • Young rabbits will start to eat solid feed at about 19 to 20 days of age • Does usually nurse young at night • Ensure all young rabbits are with mother at time of nursing, or mother will not nurse • May be weaned at 8 weeks of age

30. Handling Rabbits • Don’t handle unless it is necessary • Don’t lift by ears or legs • Proper method of lifting • Grasp loose skin over shoulders with one hand • Support weight of rabbit with other hand under the rump

31. Sexing Rabbits • Rabbits to be kept for breeding stock should be separated by sex at weaning • Check rabbit’s sex by exposing reddish mucous membrane • Rounded tip for buck • Protruding slit for doe

32. Identification of Breeding Rabbits • Tattoo breeding rabbits in the ear to mark for identification • Do not use ear tags or clips; they often will tear out of the ear

33. Castration • Rabbits raised for meat purposes are typically not castrated • Limited research to indicate castration of bucks will improve feed conversion, rate of growth, or carcass quality

34. Care During Hot Weather • Rabbits need to be kept cool in hot weather • Good ventilation without drafts is necessary in the rabbitry • Pregnant, newborn litters are especially susceptible to hot weather

35. Care During Cold Weather • Protect rabbits from direct exposure to rain, sleet, snow, and wind • Provide adequate ventilation in enclosed buildings to reduce excess moisture • Mature rabbits less susceptible to cold weather than young rabbits

36. Maintaining Healthy Rabbits • Sanitation and Disease Control • Good sanitation is important in disease control • Remove manure and bedding on regular basis • Do not overcrowd animals in rabbitry • Clean and disinfect hutches and equipment after outbreak of disease

37. Maintaining Healthy Rabbits (cont.) • Maintaining Health • Isolate sick and new breeding rabbits • Prevent visitors from touching rabbits • Isolate from animals that may carry disease or parasites

38. Maintaining Healthy Rabbits (cont.) • Preventing Disease Transmission • Isolate new animals, or those who have returned from shows, from the rest of the herd for a period long enough to determine that they are free of disease • May need to remove all animals, clean and sanitize facility

39. Common Health Problems • Pasteurellosis – most serious of health problems in rabbits • Enteritis – complex disease associated with bloating and diarrhea

40. Common Health Problems (cont.) • Other health problems • Caked breasts • Coccidiosis, intestinal or liver • Ear mange (canker) • Fur block • Heat prostration • Mastitis (Blue breast)

41. Common Health Problems (cont.) • Other health problems (cont.) • Paralyzed hindquarters • Pinworm • Ringworm (favus) • Skin mange • Sore hocks

42. Common Health Problems (cont.) • Other health problems (cont.) • Tapeworm larvae • Urine-hutch burn • Vent disease (spirochetosis)

43. Keeping Records • Keeping good records is essential for an efficient rabbit enterprise • Performance cards and financial records need to be kept • Computers can be used to keep records • Good records are essential for tax purposes

44. Facilities and Equipment • Buildings • Hutches • Feeding and Watering Equipment • Nest Boxes

45. Marketing Rabbits • Commercial rabbitries usually sell live fryers to processors • Live weight of fryers ranges from 3 to 6 pounds (1.36 to 2.7 kg) • The best carcasses dress out at 50 to 59 percent • Rabbits weaned, sold at 8 weeks