Rabbit Rearing

Need/Problem Poverty and deprivation are widely prevalent in our country and gender inequality plays an important role in it. Despite often being sole earning members of families, women are mostly deprived of productive assets, literacy, necessary information or any steady source of employment and income. The female labour force participation is very low and consequently, their situation is becoming terrible. It has been found that animal husbandry plays an important role in mitigating poverty among landless labour and poor/marginal farmers, and that women perform significant functions in this activity. In recent times, increasing attention is being paid to small animals since they require less capital and contribute more to womens empowerment. Why Rabbit Farming?

With available small investment and in a small place rabbit farming gives more income Rabbits eat ordinary feed and convert them into a protein rich high quality meat Apart from meat production they can also be reared for hide and fur

Rabbit Farming is for whom? For landless farmers, uneducated youth and women, rabbit farming gives an additional income as a part time job. Advantages of Rabbit Farming

By rabbit rearing one can produce a quality protein rich meat for his own family Rabbits can be fed with easily available leaves, waste vegetables, grains available in the home Growth rate in broiler rabbits is very high. They attain 2 kgs at the age of three months Litter size (Number of young ones born/ kindling) in rabbits is high (around 8-12) When compared to the other meats rabbit meat contain high protein (21%) and less fat (8%). So this meat is suitable for all age groups from adults to children

Approach/Strategy Rabbit rearing for sustainable income generation with active participation of women. Rabbit meat is tasty, a novelty in most areas and moderate in price.

Low cholesterol content and recommended for the heart-risk people. The approach is to have a decentralized system of rabbit rearing with women breeding them in their homes and selling either the meat directly or after processing through a centralized system A local VO/NGO is provided essential training and organizes the entire network and operation. Several VOs have implemented the technology in diverse locations. One of the better field models has been developed and successfully demonstrated by Aishwarya Gram, a Kerala-based VO, with technical support from the local government Veterinary College.

They have employed the three-stage approach: Selection of beneficiaries, training and necessary inputs and support services Awareness generation in the target group, formation of SHGs, saving and self initiative activities. Installation of meat processing unit, marketing and publicity activities.

Condition for feasibility Area having tropical climate, evergreen forests and wide variety of natural resources are better suited for rabbit rearing. Fodder grass should be easily available CAUTION: Normally dietary habits and customs in most part of India do not currently include rabbit meat. If existing of good potential market do not presently exist, market promotion exercise would be required.

Technology Package Selection of Breed Main considerations are: High meat production Good breeding rates Adoptability to local condition.

Rabbit breeds and Availability Heavy weight breeds (4-6 kg )

White giant Grey giant Flemish giant

Medium weight breeds (3-4 kg)

Newzealand white Newzealand red Californian

Light weight breeds (2-3 kg)

Soviet chinchilla Dutch

Feeding Management Apart from kitchen wastes, pre-cultivated fodder grass and locally available green leaves can be used; fodder grass seeds can be supplied through farmers clubs. The varieties used for fodder cultivation are Napier, Paragrass, Congolignal and Gunia grass. Points to be remembered in feeding management of rabbits

The teeth of rabbits are continuously growing. Therefore rearing rabbits with concentrate feed alone is impossible The time schedule for feeding should be maintained strictly. If there is late in feeding of rabbits, they become restless and which in turn reduces the body weight Due the high temperature in the day time the rabbits wont take feed during day time. But they active during night. Therefore the green fodder fed to rabbits at night time will helps the rabbits to consume the green fodder with out wastage. Because of this the concentrate feed should be given in the morning time Concentrate feed can be given in the form of pellets. If pellet feed is not available the concentrate feed mixed with water and made in to small balls and given to rabbits For 1 kg rabbit 40 grams of concentrate feed and 40 grams of green fodder should be given for one day Rabbits always fed with fresh green fodder. The green fodder should not be put on the floor of the cages but they can be inserted in the sides of the cages

Clean fresh water should be provided to rabbits during all times of the day

Breeding Management of rabbits Breeding age Selection of rabbits for breeding Oestrous signs or heat signs in female rabbits Breeding of rabbits Care of Pregnant female Care and management of newborn rabbits Step mother feeding Points to be considered while changing the litter to the step mother Weaning of bunnies or young rabbits Reduction of mortality rate in the bunnies

Signs of healthy rabbit

Healthy and shiny hair coat very active Good and quick feed intake after feeding The eyes are usually bright and without any discharge Gradual body weight gain

Signs in diseased rabbits

Dull and depressed Reduction in the body weight and emaciation Heavy loss of hair No active movement of rabbits. But usually they stay in one particular place in the cage Reduction of feed intake

Watery or mucous discharge from the eye, nose, anus and mouth Increased body temperature and respiratory rate

Diseases of rabbits Pasteurellosis Enteritis Wry neck disease Mastitis Diseases due to fungal infection Farm hygienic measures to be followed to control disease in rabbitry

Veterinary Aid Frequent visit by the VOs coordinators and the leader of the Rabbit Club and give proper guidance. Indigenous cures and herbal remedies for rabbit diseases can also be evolved. Medicine can be purchased in bulk and supplied to the farmers. The average mortality rate is 20% of which 10% is in the first week, 5% in the second week, 3% in the third week, and 2% in the fourth week after birth.

Marketing and Collection centers A centralized marketing system may be formed to ensure reasonable returns. In the Kerala case, 45 collection centers were organized, a marketing network formed among the farmers, the collected rabbit brought to a nodal meat-processing unit and converted into different processed items like cutlet, sausage, keema etc. Major portion of the rabbit meat could be sold as dressed meat in nearby areas. It was found that, as rabbit meat is low fat, food demand could be promoted in the open market.

Fur Processing Forward linkage can be a significant source of income, technology development activities in this area may be taken up at a larger stage. Fur products can be use to make different products like caps, coats, bags, purses, toys, dolls etc.

System Design Rabbit rearing is undertaken by women at the domestic level. They are provided initial training in the technology. Technical and veterinary support by local Veterinary Hospital/College/Dept. The rabbits are taken to a suitably located nodal unit for slaughter and processing of meat. Quality control and marketing are undertaken centrally from here. At later stages, farmers can be organised in village level clubs, which in turn can be further organised under block-or district-level bodies. The farmers clubs can be treated as units for receiving rabbits, supplying medicines to formers and ultimately working as a SHG.

Conclusion Farmers can be organised in village level clubs, which in turn can be further organised under block-or district-level bodies. The farmers clubs can be treated as units for receiving rabbits, supplying medicines to formers and ultimately working as a SHG.