The New Zealand universal rabbit has rightfully taken pride of place on the farms of experienced and novice livestock breeders. It is difficult to find a more useful creature. The pet is widely known as a reliable source of tasty, lean meat and valuable fur. The animal does not require round-the-clock care and invariably pleases its owners with its unpretentiousness and flexible character. Even a debutant can cope with breeding fluffy beauties.
Origin story
Contrary to the misconception of many livestock breeders, the rabbit is not related to New Zealand. The charming animals owe their appearance to American breeders. Enterprising farmers sought to combine the best qualities in one individual: a fleshy body and a beautiful skin. By crossing a wild New Zealand rabbit with a Belgian hare, experts obtained the first New Zealand rabbit. The breed received official recognition in 1910.
Subsequently, the eared beauties were repeatedly crossed with representatives of the best breeds. The pedigree of modern New Zealanders contains references to kinship with the Flemish giant, giant chinchilla and American white. Since the end of the 20th century, New Zealand beauties have received worldwide recognition.
Description and characteristics of the breed
Beginning breeders often choose New Zealand breed rabbits for self-breeding. The animal is distinguished by a strong, fleshy back, developed strong legs and a short neck. The average height of a pet is 48 cm. Rabbit weight rarely exceeds 5 kg. The rabbit's plump body is covered with thick fur. Depending on the variety, there are handsome white or reddish-red ones.
Pros and cons of New Zealand rabbits
The popularity of New Zealanders among farmers is not surprising. Broilers have many advantages:
- Females are fertile, each litter brings the owner up to 10 newborns.
- Rabbits are rapidly gaining weight.
- The breed is universal. Animals regularly serve as suppliers of skins and meat.
- Thanks to the characteristics of the animals, the costs are instantly recouped.
The disadvantages of the New Zealand breed include the high cost of breeding individuals.
Varieties
Despite the general name of the breed, rabbits are divided into 2 types:
- reds, called by specialists NZK (New Zealand reds);
- whites, known by the abbreviation NZB, (New Zealand Whites).
Those with a red-orange color are much smaller than their snow-white counterparts. With good care, an adult grows up to 49-51 cm. The weight of a pet, on average, is 3.9-4.5 kg. The animal has a strong body build. Its small head is topped with a pair of straight ears. The rabbit's velvety fur coat is painted in a rich brick-red color. The area of the animal's eyes, mouth, hips, belly and tail is marked with a lighter shade. The Red New Zealander is unpretentious and easily adapts to any living conditions.
The white representative of the New Zealand breed grows up to 47 cm. The female is slightly larger in size than the male and can grow up to 49 cm. A tightly built body, a short neck and thick paws indicate the strength of the animal. The short, rounded muzzle and small reddish eyes give the pet charm.
The main decoration of the New Zealander is its soft, thick, silky white coat. The pet's membership in the breed is indicated by the presence of a silver undercoat and a correct bite. Albinos are distinguished by their calm, flexible disposition and unpretentiousness.
Black New Zealander is rare on farms, so experts do not mention it. Thanks to its shiny charcoal coat, the long-eared beauty is often confused with a representative of the Viennese breed.
Subtleties of keeping and caring for animals
A spacious cage is suitable for keeping pets. Animals must move freely in their new home. The ceiling in the cage is made high so that if necessary the rabbit can stand on its hind legs.
Pets cannot tolerate heat and loud sounds, so the home is installed in a secluded corner, protected from bright sunlight. Comfortable temperature for New Zealanders is 15-16 degrees. Indoors, rabbits need access to fresh air. This will help avoid a bacterial infection outbreak.
It is advisable to equip a cage for New Zealanders with a mesh floor. This trick won’t harm those with thickly furred paws, but it will make life easier for the owners. Cleaning out waste from a mesh cage is much easier than cleaning out a traditional rabbit house.
The cage is equipped with a piece of wood for grinding teeth, a convenient feeder and a drinking bowl. Animals need constant access to water and food. Each dwelling contains several rabbits of the same sex and age. A house is installed in a cage intended for females. In it, the rabbit will feed her offspring. Once every 10 days, pets are carefully examined, combed and mats carefully cut off.
Nuances of nutrition
New Zealanders are unpretentious eaters, but need a balanced diet. The daily diet is based on the time of year, age, gender and life cycle of the pet.
Rabbits' food should include succulent feed (silage, carrots, beets), roughage (straw, hay, willow and fruit tree branches), concentrates (grain mixture, mixed feed), green feed (fresh grass, cereals and legumes). Vegetables and fruits are introduced into the diet of animals in small pieces, gradually. Otherwise, pets risk getting sick. The water in the drinking bowl is changed frequently.
How to properly breed rabbits
Already 5 months after birth, females are ready for mating. Males reach “marriage age” a little later.They are ready to breed at the age of 7 months. Individuals who are overweight or have droopy ears are not allowed to mate.
The readiness of a female to have offspring is calculated by age and behavior. In anticipation of offspring, the female rabbit arranges a nest, lining it with her own down. Each time a young female brings 8-9 rabbits. The cubs are born tiny, their weight does not exceed 45 g.
Female rabbits of the New Zealand breed are natural mothers; they conscientiously feed their offspring until the babies are delivered. Thanks to rich mother's milk, newborn rabbits rapidly gain weight. By the age of 2 months, the average weight of the cub is 2 kg. By 3 months, the animal gains from 3 to 3.2 kg.
Diseases and vaccinations
A frivolous attitude towards compliance with the rules for keeping pets often leads to a sad outcome. New Zealanders may become victims of an insidious disease called myxomatosis. Tumors appear on the animal's head and paws. Over time, they merge into one swelling. The infection is carried by small rodents and insects. Unfortunately, sick animals cannot be treated. All infected rabbits are destroyed. Cages, drinking bowls and feeders are thoroughly disinfected.
Coccidiosis lurks in young individuals. Pets aged 2-4 months are at risk. Rabbits suffer from diarrhea, lethargy and yellowing of the mucous membranes. Only a veteran can cope with the problem.
For adult rabbits, viral hemorrhagic disease is dangerous. Animals lose their appetite and become lethargic. The disease is accompanied by convulsions and involuntary throwing back of the head. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the scourge. All infected rabbits will have to be destroyed.Such unpleasant diseases as rhinitis (treated with furatsilin solution) or infectious stomatitis cause a lot of trouble for the owners. Preventive measures and routine vaccination will help you avoid dangerous diseases. Clean cages and good nutrition are the key to the health of eared pets.
What to look for when choosing?
The correct selection of animals for further breeding is the main task. A mistake can ruin all the endeavors of a future livestock breeder. Experienced farmers advise purchasing a rabbit at the age of 3 months. The raised pet no longer depends on mother's milk and will easily get used to the new conditions of detention.
A healthy animal pleases the eye with its fatness, shiny silky fur and clear eyes. Good condition is indicated by the pet's mobility and curiosity. A conscientious seller provides the buyer with information about the vaccinations and diet of the animals.
