Rabbits of the best meat breeds have repeatedly saved people from hunger and winter frosts. Rabbit meat is superior in quality to pork and even beef. It is not for nothing that rabbit meat invariably tops the list of healthy, dietary products. Experienced farmers are confident in the profitability of the enterprise, because breeding eared giants does not require huge expenses.
Advantages and disadvantages
Enterprising residents of rural areas are not afraid of financial difficulties.In troubled times, you can raise rabbits for meat at home. Animal husbandry is a good idea, but we must not forget about the intricacies of keeping and breeding meat animals, because this business has its advantages and disadvantages. Positive aspects of breeding:
- The eared beauties impress with their size. The average weight of a well-fed animal is 5 kg, and representatives of some breeds easily reach 12 kg. The appearance of giants is the best proof of the profitability of a farm.
- Meat rabbits grow rapidly. The life path of these animals is short, because only 4 months pass from the moment of birth to slaughter. This feature allows you to obtain meat of excellent quality. Experts know how the taste of meat deteriorates in older individuals. In addition, thanks to the precocity of pets, owners can reduce expenses on purchasing food.
- By the age of 5 months, the female rabbit is ready to reproduce. Each time the female brings up to 12 rabbits to the owner. Thus, the number of eared pets is steadily increasing.
- Thanks to their thick fur, animals feel great in all weather conditions. They can be kept in outdoor cages, enclosures or pits.
- Even a beginner can raise rabbits for meat. The new farmer will not have to sign up for training courses.
- Despite their impressive appearance, the animals are distinguished by their good-natured character.
- Most broiler beauties boast good immunity. They calmly tolerate moving and easily adapt to any living conditions.
Disadvantages of breeding:
- Pets need to be provided with a spacious home. Lack of movement and the heaviness of one's own weight have a detrimental effect on the health of animals.Deformation of the internal organs and limbs of rabbits can result in infertility.
- The quality of animal meat directly depends on a properly formulated diet. Purchasing ingredients for feed mixture will not be cheap.
Popular breeds of meat rabbits
Some famous breeds of broiler rabbits appeared thanks to the whim of nature, others were the result of the painstaking work of breeders. Representatives of meat breeds are united by the ability to grow rapidly and gain weight rapidly. On average, a broiler rabbit gains from 5 to 8.5 kg. The rate of increase in the animal's weight is about 50 g per day. Each breed of meat animal has its own unique characteristics.
Strokach
Farmers often call giant rabbits by the German motley giant. The stringers owe their remarkable qualities to their ancestors – the Flanders. From them, the eared descendants received a dense, fleshy body and strong paws. The head is of medium size and rests on a powerful short neck.
The length of the ears reaches 15 cm. The pet's gray coat is unevenly colored, so the name motley giant is very suitable for a rabbit. Occasionally there are handsome blue and black birds.
The animal grows and develops quickly. By the age of 5 months, the pet easily reaches 4.5-5 kg. The recommended age for slaughter is 8 months. Rabbits of the Strokach breed They are convenient for breeding, but often suffer from spinal problems. As a rule, the reason lies in a deficiency of vitamin D. The problem is solved by adding sprouted grains and bran to the pet’s diet.
White pannon
Attractive albinos are famous for their strength and endurance. The muscular body has an elongated shape, the muscles are clearly visible under the thin skin.Powerful long legs and a thick short neck indicate the remarkable strength of the rabbit. The large head is decorated with thick erect ears. A fluffy snow-white coat and red eyes are the distinctive features of the breed. Broilers are large animals. The weight of each individual reaches 5 kg. Pannonas are distinguished by their rare fertility; each time a female rabbit brings up to 9 babies.
Flanders
The second name of the breed is the Belgian giant. The breed was developed a century and a half ago. Flanders are called the progenitors of many representatives of meat breeds. The calm and friendly disposition of these handsome cats allows them to coexist peacefully with their furry brothers. Delicious food and a spacious, clean cage are all that is needed for the full development of your pet. Compared to other species, Flanders mature slowly. The optimal age for slaughtering a rabbit is 9 months.
Of the large family of meat animals, Flanders are the largest rabbits. The weight of each individual often reaches 12 kg. A large head, well-defined cheeks, powerful paws, an arched back - this is the portrait of a good-natured giant.
The gray skin of the Flanders is not particularly beautiful, so rabbits are more often used as a source of meat. Belgian giants are famous for their excellent appetite. Gluttons eat large amounts of food, so keeping Flanders can hardly be called a profitable occupation.
Californian
The secret to the popularity of Californians lies in the animals’ amazing ability to grow rapidly. By the age of 4-5 months, rabbits reach 5.5 kg of live weight and are ready for slaughter. Broilers are valued for the excellent quality of their skin and meat.
The cylindrical body, thick short neck and large head give the pet an impressive appearance.The Californian's thick snow-white coat is decorated with brown markings. Rabbits' paws are protected by dense hair, so the animals are not afraid of the mesh floor of the cage. Female rabbits are fertile, each litter brings the owner from 8 to 10 cubs.
Gray giant
The rabbit is a meat animal with rapid weight gain. High productivity, unpretentiousness and endurance are the main features of the giant. The length of the animal reaches 55-60 cm. The muscular, heavy body and massive head give the giant a monumental appearance.
The pet's chest circumference is 37-39 cm. The rabbit quickly gains weight, by the age of 5 months it easily reaches 5.5-6 kg. Farmers value giant skins because of their large size. Thanks to the animal's unpretentiousness, even beginners can breed gray giants.
White giant
Large albinos impress with the beauty of their snow-white fur coat and powerful physique. Giants cannot be called precocious; they reach full maturity only at the age of 6-7 months. The weight of an adult animal is 5-5.5 kg.
The stocky body of the pet is organically combined with a strong neck. The large head is decorated with straight ears. Red eyes and white skin without a single mark are the hallmarks of the famous breed. Breeding white giants brings guaranteed profits, since the animals serve as suppliers of large amounts of dietary meat and valuable fur.
Soviet chinchilla
Unusual cold-resistant rabbits are successfully bred even in the harsh conditions of Siberia. The chinchilla is a rapidly growing, unpretentious animal.The rabbit is often confused with a representative of the gray giant breed, but the Soviet chinchilla is significantly superior to its competitors in size and weight.
The animal has a large build, the volume of the pet's chest reaches 42 cm. The giant's back is curved in the form of an arch, its paws are straight and strong. The chinchilla is distinguished by its fur of an unusual structure and a beautiful silver-bluish color. By the age of 6 months, the rabbit gains 4.5 kg. Females are very fertile, each litter brings 8-10 rabbits to their owners.
New Zealand red
This well-fed dandy is famous for his thick red skin and unpretentiousness. Distinctive features of the breed: a strong muscular body, a wide chest, a small head topped with erect ears, and red eyes. Thanks to its woolly paws, the pet feels good in a cage with a mesh floor. New Zealanders quickly gain weight; by the age of 5 months, pets easily reach 4.5 kg.
Burgundian
Red-haired beauties are distinguished by their rare resistance to diseases. The strong, muscular body of the animal has a rounded shape. Small paws and a neat head combine well with the pet’s torso. The dense, thick fur of the Burgundy is highly valued by experts. Average weight of an adult rabbit are 4-4.5 kg. In 1 year, the female brings from 25 to 28 rabbits.
How to choose?
When choosing a breed for breeding, you need to take into account some nuances:
- the ability of rabbits to live in given climatic conditions;
- ripening time;
- fertility;
- demands on the quality of food and living conditions;
- productivity.
Perfect for breeding on a small farm white giant rabbits, Flanders and the gray giant. Representatives of the Californian breed and New Zealanders are ideal for large-scale farming.
Content Tips
Animals are kept in large cages, enclosures and even pits. Housing for pets is installed so that broilers do not suffer from direct sunlight. The largest individuals require more space. The floor in the cage is covered with boards. Otherwise, the giants risk injury or illness. Pet apartments are cleaned regularly.
The daily diet of pets consists of 700 g of fresh grass, 80 g of grain mixture (or feed), 200 g of hay, 200 g of vegetables or fruits. Rabbits are given branches of fruit trees as a healthy treat.
Features of crossing
To obtain healthy, productive offspring, the best individuals are selected. Each rabbit must have distinct characteristics of the breed. Before mating, the animals are carefully examined, paying attention to the condition of the coat and eyes. The fertility of the female is of great importance. According to experts, the best results are shown by rabbits from spring litters.
Diseases and treatment of meat rabbits
Eared giants are prone to diseases such as listeriosis, coccidiosis or myxomatosis. In addition, animals often become victims of poisoning or pneumonia. As a rule, troubles arise as a result of poor pet care. If animals show signs of illness, you should immediately call a veterinarian.
