Rabbit Production - James I McNitt

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and Utility Carts

      A cart equipped for hauling feed, rabbits, nest boxes, and other equipment is a great convenience and a time and labor saver. A cart with three 30 to 45 cm bicycle-type wheels will provide maneuverability over obstacles on the floor as well as mobility for getting around cages and through the aisles. The cart can be purchased or built at home. Feeding from such a cart greatly reduces the labor of feeding as compared to carrying buckets of feed up and down the aisles. It is also possible to carry more than one type of feed at a time so rabbits can more easily be fed to their requirements. A special bed on the cart for holding rabbits can be used for taking does to the buck’s cage for breeding and for transporting rabbits out of the rabbitry.

      Other Equipment

      Other equipment needed in the rabbitry may include nail clippers for nail trimming, wire brushes for cage cleaning, and a propane torch or a vacuum cleaner for removing hair from cages. A very useful item is a fish landing net to catch rabbits that may escape.

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      Rabbit Management

      Rabbits vary considerably in temperament and respond readily to kind treatment. If they are handled properly they will be gentle and easy to manage, and these characteristics should be considered in selecting breeding stock. A doe that is fairly aggressive for a few days following kindling should not be condemned if she is gentle at other times. Aggressiveness indicates that she is alert and ready to protect her newborn litter. Some of the does that are the best mothers show this trait. However, if she continues to be aggressive, culling the animal should be considered.

      When entering the rabbitry, practise caution so as not to startle the animals. A familiar voice speaking to them will give warning and prevent them from becoming frightened. A background noise, such as the sound from a radio or a fan, is very helpful in keeping rabbits calm.

      It should be emphasized that good management is the key to successful rabbit raising. The quality of the stock, the quality of the feed, and the sophistication of the cages, equipment, and building will do nothing to overcome the detrimental effects of poor management. Rabbit production involves a high degree of management skill compared to other livestock endeavors. Cleanliness, ventilation, and close observation of the animals are very important. Close observation is extremely crucial, since early detection may allow correction of problems before they become serious or uncorrectable.

      Handling Rabbits

      Rabbits should never be lifted only by their ears or legs, for they may be permanently injured. You may lift and carry a small rabbit or fryer comfortably without damaging the pelt or bruising the carcass by grasping the loin gently but firmly, with the heel of the hand toward the tail of the animal. With a medium or heavy weight rabbit, grasp a fold of skin over the shoulder with one hand and place the other hand under the rump to support the weight of the animal (Fig. 5.1).

      Fig. 5.1. The proper method for lifting medium- or heavy-weight rabbits. (Courtesy of J.I. McNitt)

      For carrying, grasp a fold of skin over the shoulder and lift, holding the rabbit against your body with its head under one arm, the forearm being extended along the side of the animal and the hand under its rump for support. This prevents struggling, and the rabbit may be carried comfortably (Fig. 5.2). The aim is not to totally confine the rabbit: rather the rabbit should be held so it feels safe. Gentle handling of rabbits should result in fewer scratching or biting attempts.

      Fig. 5.2. The proper method for carrying medium- or heavy-weight rabbits. (Courtesy of J.I. McNitt)

      Number of Bucks

      Traditionally, 1 buck for every 10 does has been used. This underutilizes the buck and increases costs of operation. Research has demonstrated that the sperm count does not decrease below the level for optimum fertilization even when the buck is used daily for extended periods of time or used three or four times a day for a few days. The buck’s only purpose in a rabbitry is breeding. If he is not used often, he may become fat and lazy. If 1 buck is kept for 10 does and your rebreeding interval is 35 days, the buck is only used 10 times in 66 days (35 + 31 days gestation). This means it works about once a week. One buck could service 66 does if it were used daily. With a shorter breeding interval, more bucks are needed. Many commercial rabbit raisers are now keeping 1 buck for 25 to 30 does.

      The bucks should not be overfed. They should be on restricted feed, but when they are working hard and during cold weather, they should be fed more. The greatest cause of decreased libido (sexual desire) in bucks is being overweight.

      Age to Breed

      Individual rabbits vary somewhat in the rapidity with which they develop, so both development and age must be taken into consideration in determining the proper time to start them in production. Sexually, the smaller breeds mature much earlier than the heavier breeds. The small Polish usually are ready to start production at 4 months of age, the medium weight New Zealand, Californian, etc., at 4½ to 5½ months, and the heavy Flemish at 6 to 7 months.

      For best results, junior bucks and does should be fed in such a manner that they will make normal growth, develop strong, healthy bodies, and be firm in flesh when they are to be mated for the first time, without being excessively fat. Bucks should be put into service about a month later than does, as they are slower to mature sexually.

      A method of determining sexual maturity in does is to examine the vulva. Does that are ready to breed, regardless of age, are those that have a moist, swollen, reddish-pink vulva. Does that show this condition will readily accept the buck when placed in his cage. When does are not ready to mate, the vulva is small and whitish in color with very little moisture observed.

      Breeding Schedule

      For production of show rabbits, it may be advisable not to attempt to produce more than two or three litters a year, with the time of matings arranged so that the offspring will be of the proper age and development for the desired show classification.

      For commercial meat rabbit production, the objective should be to produce and raise as many marketable fryers per doe per year as possible. It takes about 35 offspring per doe per year to meet expenses, or the equivalent of about five litters per year. Fryers may be kept with the doe until marketing at eight weeks, but the trend now is for earlier weaning and earlier breed-back, to attempt to increase productivity. Many producers now breed back at 14 or 21 days. In intensive production systems, does may even be bred within 24 hours of kindling. It is remarkable that does will rebreed immediately after giving birth; in fact, their receptivity is very good at that time. Under post-partum breeding systems, litters must be weaned at 28 days, so the does can be given nest boxes in preparation for kindling three days later. No other type of livestock has such a potential for high reproductibility as the rabbit. However, this system may increase the percentage of does that are culled annually. Intensive breeding increases nutritional requirements, so a high quality feed is needed. Intensive breeding is not recommended for new rabbit raisers. Probably a 35- or 42-day breed-back should be first selected, and if satisfactory results are obtained, it can be shortened to a period that suits the producer and his or her management skills. With early breed-back, more cages are needed than when

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