The appearance of Angora rabbits is pleasing to the eye. They resemble a fluffy cloud and seem like toys. These animals can be used not only to obtain valuable fine fluff, but also as flexible pets. The breed consists of several varieties that differ in appearance, size, and body weight. Miniature dwarf angoras weigh a kilogram or one and a half, large representatives of the species reach 6 kilograms.
Origin of the species
For the first time, Angora rabbits, as representatives of the downy breed, were bred in Turkey, which was then the Ottoman Empire. They came to Europe in the twenties of the 18th century along with sailors from France. This country established political and economic contacts with the Turkish sultans. Along with cargoes of fabrics, jewelry, carpets and spices, unusual sailors arrived at the court of the French kings - the progenitors of the modern breed.
The name of the breed comes from a distorted toponym Ankara - a city in Turkey. The same name was given to the breed of white cats, distinguished by their fluffiness and light, voluminous fur (Turkish Angora).
Having become popular, Angora rabbits began to quickly multiply and crossbreed with other local and imported breeds. As a result of such long-term and centuries-long selection, various varieties were obtained, including the dwarf Angora rabbit, which became a favorite among representatives of high society.
Now animals of this breed are used both as pets and as productive animals, sources of valuable fine fluff.
Description and characteristics of the Angora rabbit
The main color option for representatives of the Angora breed is pure white. But the standard also includes other colors:
- Grey.
- Beige.
- Blue.
- Black.
Long-haired individuals look like a ball of fluff with ears and shiny red eyes (in white varieties). They have a round or oval compact body, long light hair reaching a length of 25 centimeters. The density of the coat is significant - up to 90-92%. The ears are shortened, the eyes are large.
The average weight reaches 2.5-4 kilograms, representatives of large varieties can weigh 5-6 kg.The young grow extremely quickly, reaching 2 kilograms of weight by the age of seven months. Life expectancy with proper care and proper nutrition reaches, on average, 7 years.
Types of breed
Over decades of selection, the following breeds have been developed:
- Dwarf decorative rabbit. Used as a family pet. It is distinguished by its miniature size, good-natured, easy-going disposition, and friendliness towards people and other pets. A variety is the fold angora - a fold-eared breed.
- Satin, or satin, is a large rabbit, up to 5 kg, that does not produce a large amount of fluff, but its quality is excellent. Down is durable and has a high degree of softness.
- English rabbit, weighing up to 3 kilograms, without long fluff only on the nose. In a year, up to 450 grams of fluff are obtained from it.
- A white down rabbit weighs up to 4 kg and produces up to 500 grams of fluff per year. Almost devoid of spine.
- The French rabbit weighs up to 4.5 kg, and can gain up to 550 grams of fluff in 12 months.
- The giant is a breed with an individual weighing up to 6 kg, distinguished by the presence of tufts on the ears. Annual productivity – 1.2 kilograms.
- The German breed is an animal weighing up to 3.5 kilograms, which can be cut once every two and a half months. The most productive, annually produces 1.5 kilograms of fluff.
A variety is chosen according to its purpose: to obtain fluff or as a home dweller.
Conditions of detention and care
Angora rabbits are kept in cages at home and in spacious enclosures in yards. They need to be kept clean and tidy, as their light, fluffy fur easily gets tangled and gets into tangles that are difficult to comb. This procedure is necessary in any case, but matted hair can become a source of skin irritation and parasites.
Animals are afraid of drafts and sudden changes in temperature, sensitive to changes in humidity, and too bright sunlight. It is necessary to ensure safety by hiding electrical wires, documents, shoes and anything that they can chew. Angora rabbits do not have a gag reflex, so they can swallow their down. This is dangerous and can lead to the death of the animal. The condition of your pet's coat must be closely monitored.
When bred for down, pets are kept in cages alone. This is due to the fact that they are territorial animals and will defend their territory literally to the death. In addition, it is much easier to keep valuable down in perfect condition.
What to feed a rabbit
The goal of breeding Angora rabbits is to obtain high-quality fluff, so when feeding you need to monitor the quality of food and its saturation with nutrients and vitamins. To do this, food is enriched with green grass and vegetables in the warm season, and in winter - with hay. Do not give herbs with spinous spikelets such as feather grass, which can get stuck in the esophagus or injure the mouth, as well as white cabbage, because it causes fermentation in the intestines.
Food that is not eaten immediately must be removed because decaying waste leads to disease. Also, rabbits should always have clean, fresh water.
Breeding
Angora rabbits enter puberty late, so females are allowed to mate only after reaching one year. The duration of pregnancy and the number of rabbits in a litter is standard - up to 8 individuals.During gestation and subsequent feeding, females are provided with silence, a calm environment and protected from temperature changes and high humidity.
Diseases and methods of combating them
Rabbits of all breeds have increased requirements for nutrition and living conditions, but Angora rabbits are especially picky. Their health needs to be closely monitored, because they can get sick if hygiene rules are not followed, due to drafts and humidity.
Angora rabbits may suffer from the following diseases:
- Colds - pneumonia, acute respiratory infections that arise due to non-compliance with the conditions of detention. The wool should not be allowed to get wet, because it is dense and dense and takes a long time to dry, leading to hypothermia. Drafts work the same way.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract caused by stale food, water or an abundance of succulent food that promotes flatulence.
- Infections of various origins (conjunctivitis, rhinitis, dermatitis, and so on). The causes of infections are staphylococci and other pathogens.
- Infestations – coccidiosis, fascioliasis, scabies and other diseases caused by parasites. Fascioliasis in rabbits is incurable.
At the slightest sign of ill health, the rabbit should be taken to the veterinarian. These creatures are very fragile and sensitive, their diseases develop rapidly. If you don't hurry up, you might lose your friend.
Interesting Facts
At the beginning of the 21st century, China became the leader in the industrial breeding of Angora rabbits. The largest amount of angora down in the world is produced here to produce valuable wool fabric. But in Europe, rabbits of this breed are also popular, although not on the same scale as in the Middle Kingdom.They are bred in Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and France. Most of all here are dwarf rabbits - cheerful and beautiful favorites of the whole family.
Tips for choosing a rabbit
When purchasing an animal, regardless of the purpose (for breeding, for fur or as a pet), first of all, you should pay attention to the appearance and behavior of the rabbit. He should have clear eyes, a clean nose and ears, and not matted or greasy fur. The animal must be friendly, cheerful, and quite active.
It is not advisable to buy a baby rabbit younger than 2-2.5 months, since only at this age does it become independent from its mother and can feed on its own.
Buying animals from unknown sellers is dangerous. It is better to focus on nurseries, experienced breeders, and representatives of professional forums. Breeding Angora rabbits must have documents confirming the purity of their blood. By following the rules, you can get a lovely pet friend, cheerful, playful, with a good character, who will live for 6-8 years, delighting the owners.
