Many farmers breed rabbits. The real favorites are the white giant rabbits. Raising animals allows us to obtain a sufficient amount of tasty dietary meat and excellent fur pelts, which are in great demand among furriers. Keeping and breeding the breed does not require special conditions, so it is popular everywhere.
Origin of the white giant breed
Modern animals are the result of the work of breeders in Germany and France on the albino Flanders rabbit breed, distinguished by tasty meat and thin bones. It was the white giant that became the basis for theeating other popular breeds (black and brown rabbit, Soviet chinchilla).
The white giant, brought to Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century, had many disadvantages. The animals were not distinguished by their viability. The breed was characterized by low fertility and poorly developed maternal qualities, so a significant part of the offspring did not survive. However, over time it was possible to improve the breed.
Description and characteristics of the rabbit
Distinctive features of the breed are a white giant with red eyes: an elongated body (55-60 cm long) with strong bones, a long and narrow straight back, a wide, rounded croup, a massive head with long and wide ears. The giant has wide-set, strong and long limbs.
In the fur industry, rabbit skin with elastic and thick hair is in demand. White fur without markings is very widely used to imitate the hair of other fur-bearing animals (sable, fur seal). Due to their good meat characteristics (the weight of an adult is 5-6 kg), many farms breed albino rabbits.
Positive and negative sides
Due to its advantages, rabbits are bred by both large farms and individual rabbit breeders for personal purposes. Pros of the white giant:
- spectacular fur and durable skins are in demand among processors;
- animals quickly gain weight (3-4 month old rabbits are slaughtered for meat);
- tender and juicy meat (yield per adult is 70-80%).
When breeding a white giant, you need to take into account the disadvantages of the breed. The main disadvantage is the need to constantly monitor the selection of animals for mating.Improper breeding leads to degeneration of the breed. It is also necessary to control the diet of animals, since overfeeding contributes to obesity in animals that mate less often.
How to properly maintain and care for
It is the arrangement of the correct cages that becomes the key to the full development of animals. The structures should be spacious (taking into account the size of the animals), protected from direct sunlight and drafts. Cage doors are most often made of metal mesh. The floor must be made level so that the animals do not injure their paws.
The main maintenance requirement is to maintain cleanliness in the cages. At least 2-3 cage cleanings are done every week. It is recommended to periodically disinfect structures for preventive purposes. The internal surfaces of the cells are whitened with lime.
What to feed the animal
When keeping a white giant, the emphasis in the diet is on traditional rabbit food. Large farms use crushed oat and barley.
Advice! It is not advisable to feed animals wheat, since the rabbit’s body does not digest it well.
In the summer, they practice using fresh herbs. Rabbits happily eat cabbage leaves, vegetable tops and freshly cut grass (plantain, nettle, dandelion, quinoa are suitable). As an option, for breakfast you can prepare a brewed mixture of freshly cut grass, finely chopped zucchini, and pumpkin. Hay, grated carrots, summer preparations in the form of bunches of birch and willow branches add variety to the winter diet.
Basic rules of reproduction
Crossbreeding is not a problem, since the animals are ready for the process all year round. When breeding animals, several rules are followed:
- healthy, strong and large animals are chosen for mating;
- as soon as the female rabbit reaches the age of 5-6 months, she begins to be placed in the male’s cage (for 1-2 hours);
- a week later the mating is repeated. If the female rabbit does not allow the male to approach, it means that fertilization occurred during the first meeting.
Animals are mated in two ways: on the table and in the cage. Moreover, it is important to place the female in the cage with the male, and not vice versa. Otherwise, the rabbit may defend the territory, and the meeting will end in a fight.
Diseases and methods of combating them
Under improper housing conditions, animals' susceptibility to infections increases (myxomatosis, tularemia, listeriosis). Timely vaccination helps protect the health of rabbits. Diseases are often caused by skin parasites. The most common is ear mites. To get rid of it, the inner surface of the rabbits' ears is treated with camphor oil or a special mixture (glycerin, turpentine, kerosene are mixed).
Dirty bedding or mesh floors provoke paw disease - pododermatitis. If treatment is not started in time, the disease ends with damage to bones and tendons. Treatment of damaged areas with Levomikol ointment forms the basis of treatment. You also need to lay a flat sheet of cloth on the floor and regularly disinfect the floor covering.
Where can I buy and how much does it cost?
Rabbits aged 1.5-2 months are offered for sale for breeding. Farms in most regions sell rabbits. Farmers offer any number of individuals. Small farms sell baby rabbits in the amount of 20-30 individuals.
The cost of baby rabbits varies because it depends on the age of the animals. Some farms sell animals at a price per individual (varies between 600-1000 rubles). Often the seller indicates the price per month.In this case, the cost is 200-350 rubles per month (then a one-and-a-half-month-old rabbit will cost 300-530 rubles, and a two-month-old rabbit will cost 400-700 rubles).
Many farmers consider the White Giant breed to be the optimal choice for breeding. Raising rabbits allows you to quickly obtain nutritious meat, durable skin with delicate fur. These rabbits are also kept as pets.
