Rabbits of the Strokach breed were first bred in Germany. Their meat is a valuable and nutritious product. Rabbits are large in size and spotted in color. Caring for and propagating the breed for commercial purposes requires special knowledge and experience. In general, the breed is unpretentious. Strokachi are friendly in nature and resemble a panda in color, so they are kept as pets.
History of origin
The Stroke rabbit is also known as the German giant. Work on breeding the breed began in the 18th century.The ancestors of giant rabbits are the Belgian Large Flanders and the English Spotted. From them, the strokes inherited their heaviness and variegated color. In subsequent generations, the best qualities of the forefathers were strengthened. Strokachi were recognized as a separate breed of rabbits at the beginning of the 20th century.
Description and characteristics of the Strokach rabbit
External features of the breed:
- body length - 70 centimeters;
- erect ears - 16 centimeters in length;
- the body is elongated;
- the croup is round;
- weight – 5-11 kilograms;
- main coat color is white;
- line on the back, spots - blue, black and gray;
- eyes shiny, brown;
- nose black;
- the neck is short, smoothly blending into the chest;
- The coat is dense, thick, 3 centimeters long.
Male German giants have round heads. Females are distinguished by their smaller size, fatty dewlap and oval head shape.
A distinctive feature of German giants is their dark ears, from which a stripe up to 3 centimeters wide stretches along the spine and ends with a spot on the tail.
Spots are also located on the sides, paws, and eyes. There are 8-10 marks with clear contours on the sides. The nose is covered in a pattern reminiscent of butterfly wings. A defect is considered to be a deviation of color from the three standard colors.
German breed rabbits reach their maximum weight by 8 months. Light but strong bones make up a small part of the volume. 55-60% of the carcass weight is used for meat products. Strokachi are able to reproduce from 4 months. In one litter, from 7 to 10 rabbits are born.
Advantages and disadvantages
Rabbit farms for breeding strokes are located in Europe. Domestic breeders also became interested in German giants. High quality of the product increases demand among buyers.
Positive qualities of the breed:
- fertility;
- soft meat;
- undemanding to feed;
- high survival rate of offspring;
- attractive color of skins.
Stroke fur is also popular and highly valued. There are no negative aspects to breeding German giants. Diseases and low reproductive rates occur under unfavorable conditions.
Care and maintenance
Requirements for an enclosure for a rabbit rabbit:
- wooden floor made of slats or solid boards;
- space for a standard individual – 100x75x50 centimeters;
- cage dimensions for breeding males and females with offspring – 160x100x60 centimeters;
- bunker feeders;
- summer litter - sawdust;
- winter bedding - hay.
German giants have sensitive skin prone to pododermatitis. The disease affects the paws of heavy rabbits living in metal cages at high temperatures and humidity.
Strokachi tolerate cold well. But in the room for permanent maintenance it is necessary to provide heating and ventilation. In summer, enclosures can be placed in the fresh air, and rabbits can be let out for a walk in a fenced, shaded pen. Due to their heavy weight, they move little. To protect the rowers from the sun, draft and precipitation, you need to place a canopy over the walking pen.
When kept indoors, bright lighting must be installed. In the dark, animal activity decreases. Special feeders contribute to the rapid increase in the weight of the linefish. When food is always available, rabbits eat up to 10 times a day. Young purchased rabbits are placed in a separate enclosure. They must undergo quarantine for 2 weeks. If the animals are healthy, they are placed with other rabbits.
Cubs are vaccinated at the age of 1.5 months, and then repeated vaccinations are given every six months. Animals are no longer given the vaccine 2 months before slaughter.
German giants weigh 4-5 kilograms by 5 months, and reach 6-10 kilograms at 8 months. Particularly large individuals gain 11 kilograms. Eight months rabbits are sent to slaughter. If you fatten them further, the weight will increase. But the meat will become tough.
Features of feeding
The rate of weight gain depends on nutrition. Rabbits on balanced food gain 1.5 kilograms in a month. The traditional diet of rabbits suits the strokers. They digest dry feed well. Individuals intended for slaughter, pregnant females and after birth are given the maximum amount of food. Due to lack of nutrients, female rabbits lose milk.
The diet of females used for breeding consists of hay and grass. They can eat plant foods around the clock. Cereals and concentrates in large quantities lead to obesity and infertility. They are given 1-2 times a day. The breeding males are also fed in portions.
The food of the stripers consists of green, roughage and vegetables. The summer diet of German giants consists of dandelions, clover, sage, tansy and alfalfa. In winter, fresh grass is replaced with straw. The diet of rabbits also includes green branches of fruit and coniferous trees.
Roughage includes:
- cereals;
- beans;
- corn;
- bran;
- silage.
Rabbits are fed raw and boiled root vegetables and fruits. Cabbage, beets, and green salad are given in small quantities. These vegetables cause indigestion in people.
How to properly breed rabbits
Farms contain 2-3 breeding males. Fertile males of the Stroka breed fertilize 15 females. Strokachi differ from other breeds in their rapid puberty. Females are ready for mating at 4.5 months. But breeders wait another 1-2 months.With early mating, weak offspring are born. Sexual maturity of males occurs at 6 months. The best time of year for mating is spring and summer. In the warm season, animals can be fed fresh herbs rich in natural vitamins.
A purebred pair is selected for breeding so that the rabbits inherit a specific color and genotype. Parents with color defects produce the same offspring. Mating of a purebred male and a non-purebred female is allowed. In this case, some of the babies will retain the characteristics of a pure breed.
Breeding
Rabbit pregnancy lasts 1 month. On day 24, they are placed in a separate cage equipped with a queen cell to accommodate the young rabbits. Females are fed individually. They are given more water to produce milk. In a shared cage, female rabbits will not be able to get enough fluid. If the female has little milk, she will not be able to feed the cubs and will kill them.
Rabbits also need a separate space in order to prepare a nest for babies. If the female pulls out the fur on her chest, this is a sign that the birth is approaching. She insulates the cage with wool, and a week later the baby rabbits appear.
After birth, the cubs remain with their mother for 3 months. Two-week-old rabbits leave the queen cell at night. Females always take care of their offspring. Rabbits receive immunity from their mother's milk. At the beginning of the second month of life, they are fed with herbs, vegetables and grains. After finishing feeding, the babies are left with their mother for another 2 weeks and transferred to an adult diet.
The main mistake when breeding rabbits is the early separation of the rabbits from their mother. Rabbits that are separated early lose their appetite and die.
How to choose a Strokach rabbit and how much does it cost?
German giant rabbits are chosen for breeding or meat production. At the same time, pay attention to the color of the spots and the line on the back.
Signs of marriage are broken stripes and non-standard colors. Deviations in color mean that individuals are not suitable for breeding. The weight gain and quality of meat in rejected rabbits does not decrease.
Signs of purebred strokers:
- bright markings and a stripe with clear boundaries;
- pure white color with gray and black markings;
- weight 5-10 kilograms;
- calm character.
When purchasing, you need to observe the behavior of the animals. You should not take aggressive rabbits, as this is a sign of impurity in the breed.
Strokaches are sold by private breeders. The cost of baby rabbits varies from 300 to 750 rubles. For adult males and females they ask 850 to 2500 rubles. They sell mestizos for a low price. Before purchasing, you need to check whether the rabbits are pure breed.
