Special
features of Rabbit
Rabbits are midway between ruminants and monogastric animals.
They are called pseudo ruminant. They can convert cellulose into meat and can
easily survive on kitchen scrap. They are coprophagous in nature they reinvest
their faeces in the early hours of morning directly from their anus through
lips. Thus replenish vitamins and cellulose content of feases.
They breed eight times in a year. Female may produce five to
eight youngs which attain sexual maturity in four to six months. Life span of
rabbit is about seven to eight years. Slaughter weight of rabbit is about 2 kg.
which can be achieved in 12 to 15 weeks. Rabbits have got fast reproductive
process and are able to remate within 24 hours of giving birth [kindling].
Their gestation period ranges to 31 days. They are prolific breeder.
i)
Rabbits are highly
prolific in nature
ii) Consume a large amount of forages from diverse origins and so can be reared on small amounts of costly concentrates.
iii) They can be reared in the kitchen garden/backyard of farmer’s house
iv) Initial investment cost is low
v) Quick returns i.e. six months after the establishment of farm
vi) Income generation at quarterly interval makes the repayment easy.
Vii) Apart from providing wool rabbits also provides income from manure etc.
viii) Residual feed, together with rabbit manure is highly suitable for vermicompost which in turn provides excellent manure for fertilising the fields.
ii) Consume a large amount of forages from diverse origins and so can be reared on small amounts of costly concentrates.
iii) They can be reared in the kitchen garden/backyard of farmer’s house
iv) Initial investment cost is low
v) Quick returns i.e. six months after the establishment of farm
vi) Income generation at quarterly interval makes the repayment easy.
Vii) Apart from providing wool rabbits also provides income from manure etc.
viii) Residual feed, together with rabbit manure is highly suitable for vermicompost which in turn provides excellent manure for fertilising the fields.
|
S.No
|
Category of feed
|
Feed staffs
|
|
RoughagesDry Bulky feeds
Fresh
Bulky feeds
i)
Grasses
ii) Green cereal plants
iii) Legumes
iv) Roots
v) Green vegetables
vi)
Other plants
Concentrates
i)
Energy supplements
ii) Protein supplements
|
Hay made from grass or legume
(Alfalfa)
Guniea grass, Napier grass
Maize, Sorghum
Alfalfa, Berseem
Turnips, radish, carrots, sweet
potatoes, yams
Green leaves of cabbage, spinach,
lettuce etc.
Banana leaves, various weeds,
local grass
Maize, Sorghum, millets, barley
Soya flour, groundnut cake, cotton
seed cake, meat, fish meal.
|
|
S.No.
|
Particulars
|
Concentrates
|
Hay
|
Greens+Veg/ Fruit garden waste
|
|
1
|
Breeding stock (on an average)
|
280
|
80
|
adlib
|
|
2
|
Weaners (7-12 weeks)
|
60
|
30
|
adlib
|
|
3
|
Growers (13-24 weeks)
|
90
|
30-40
|
adlib
|
|
4
|
Adult rabbits (above 24 weeks)
|
140
|
50-60
|
adlib
|
|
S.No.
|
Name
of the disease
|
Important Symptoms
|
Prevention
and control measures
|
|
1.
|
Coccidiosis
|
Diarrhea, loss of appetite and
dehydration. May cause death in 24-36 hours.
|
(i) Coccidiostats like
Sulphaquinoxaline + Sulphamerazine @ 0.02 to 0.10% in drinking water(ii)
Strict Hygienic measures
|
|
2.
|
Body mange (Ear canker)
|
Intense prurity, scratching,
scaling of the skin, loss of fur and animal becomes weak.
|
(i) Application of ascabiol
lotion(ii) Ivermectin injection 0.02 ml/kg body wt (S/C)
(ii) Strict hygienic measures
|
|
3.
|
Enterits complex
|
Subnormal temperature, crouched
posture, roughned hair coat, gelatinous mucus with dry feaces and bloat.
|
(i) No successful treatment(ii)
Tetracycline in feed @ 100 gm/tonne feed
(iii) Adequate amount of fibre
should be given.
|
|
4.
|
Pasteurellosis(Snuffles)
|
Discharges from nostrils, wiping
of nose with paws, loss of appetite, high rise of temperature.
|
(i) 400000 IU of pencillin and 0.5
g streptomycin given I/M
|
|
5.
|
Shorehock
|
Inflamed areas or sores on the
under surface of hind paws, weakness and dehydration.
|
(i) Sores should opened and
antiseptic dressing should be applied. Provide soft bedding during treatment
period
|
|
6.
|
Hind quarter paralysis
|
Sudden jerk, excitement,
paralysis, loss of control over urination and defication.
|
(i) Affected animals should be
slaughtered.
|
|
7.
|
Hairfball occlusion
|
Wool get accumulated in stomach
and blocks normal passage of food.
|
(i) Treat the animal with mineral
oil or neopeptin or fresh pineapple juice.
|
|
8.
|
Wryneck
|
Permanent turning of neck to one
side, unable to eat, weakness.
|
Affected animals should be
slaughtered
|
