Agriculture Notes

Reasons for rearing rabbits

Rabbits are very useful animals to keep for many reasons.

They are small enough to be picked up and handled as they are not dangerous, and they can be kept
almost anywhere.

There breeding is short.

One Doe (Female) may have 4 or 5 litters per year. That is producing 30 or 40 rabbits per year

Breeding stock is affordable.

They provide relatively cheap source.

They of protein which is low in cholesterol.

They can provide a supplement to the family income.

Rabbit provide meat quickly cause they grow very fast, They can be eaten after only 3 months.

They can earn you great profit in a short time

Explain the meaning of breed breeding and cross breeding
This used to refer to a group of domestic animals with common features which make them different
from other animals of the same species e.g. We can speak about different breeds among animals like
rabbit, poultry, cattle, sheep, goat, and pig

Breeding - is the process of producing plants or animals by sexual reproduction

Cross - Breeding the process of mating two animals that do not belong to the same breed. The intention
is to produce offspring with the best qualities of each breed

Breeds of Rabbit

Rabbits are classified according to their uses: meat, fur They can also be used as show animals

Flemish Giant is one of the largest domestic breeds of rabbit in the worlds. It cis also one of the oldest
known breed of rabbit in existence

Features/characteristics

Have long erect ears

Have big Blocky- looking head with bright bold eyes

Have large and powerful front & hind legs

Have long bodies and a wide back with well rounded & solid fleshed hind quarter

Have medium length hair with a glossy sheen and a dense undercoat

Can vary in color from black light gray steel to fawn sandy & white

Are used for: meat and fur production, or can be kept as pets

Can reach weights up to 10kg

Are also know as gentle giants and universal rabbit

Features / Characteristics of California Rabbit

Have big erect ears which are dark from base to tip

Have short neck

Have pink eyes

Have soft silky coats

Are very muscular and full in the shoulders

Have well-rounded compact body

Have dark gray or black rosed, ears tail & feet

Are used for meat & fur production

Can reach matures rate of 4.9kg(buck), 5.45 (doe)

Are also known as California White

New Zealand White Features

Have long erect ears

Have short neck and well-rounded and wide head

Have ruby pink eyes

A generally snowy, white in color

Have a well-rounded body

Are used for meat & fur production

Kept as pets

Can reach mature weights of 4.1-5kg (bucks), 4.5-5.5kg (doe)

Are the best suited breed for commercial rabbit farming

This is the most popular rabbit breed to raise throughout the world