ADVANTAGES OF BREEDING RABBITS Rabbit breeding is one of the most profitable branches of animal husbandry. In order to better interest farms in breeding rabbits, in 2003 the purchase prices for live weight rabbits were increased more than twice and for skins by an average of 50%. Rabbits are the most prolific farm animals. During the year, an adult female can produce 4-6 litters, each of which usually contains 6-8 rabbits. Some productive females produce 12-15 or more rabbits in one litter. From the slaughter of the offspring obtained during the year from one female, you can get about one hundredweight of meat. Rabbits are also very precocious. If a piglet doubles its weight by the age of 15 days and a calf by the age of 47 days, then a rabbit calf achieves such results by the age of six days. By the age of one month, the weight of the young rabbits increases approximately 10 times. Such intensive growth of suckling rabbits is largely explained by the high nutritional value of rabbit milk. On average, it contains 15% protein, 10 to 20% fat, about 2% sugar and 2.5% mineral salts. With proper feeding, young suckling rabbits of early maturing breeds surpass meat chickens in growth intensity. Rabbits also reach sexual maturity early; 4-5-month-old females can be mated. Female rabbits are fertilized and produce offspring at any time of the year. No other fur animal, no domestic animal can provide such a rich assortment of beautiful and inexpensive furs of the widest consumption in terms of variety of natural colors as rabbits of our Eastern European breeds. Rabbits are relatively undemanding to the conditions of keeping and feeding. They can be bred in a limited area. Thanks to their thick fur, rabbits do not need a warm room and can be kept in outdoor cages all year round. Rabbits eat cheap green, coarse and succulent feed. With proper farm management, 2-3 times less feed is spent on producing 1 kg of rabbit meat than on a kilogram of cattle weight gain. Rabbit breeding also does not require large labor costs. Read more » Sections Rabbit breeding Mineral feed and vitamins Rabbits, especially young animals, have a high need for minerals. Pregnant and lactating female rabbits have an increased need for them. Rabbits should be given table salt throughout the year (adult animals 1-1.5 g per head per day, young animals - 0.5-1.0 g). Table salt is dissolved in water and concentrated feed is moistened with it. Salt should not be added to compound feed. In addition to salt, rabbits should be given bone meal and chalk in their main feed. Rabbit feeding - vitamins Bone meal is given at 1-2 g per head per day. It can be prepared at home by burning the bones in the oven until they crumble when pressed by hand. After that, they should be crushed and stored in a dry place. Vitamin supplements. In the summer, vitamin supplements are not necessary if the rabbits receive a sufficient amount of complete green fodder. In winter and early spring, the need for vitamins in rabbits increases significantly. Fish oil is given to rabbits as a source of vitamin A at 1-2 g per head. It is introduced together with concentrates. Fish oil is useful for lactating females and weak rabbits. The greens of sprouted grain are given to pregnant female rabbits and adult females as a source of vitamin E. For this purpose, oats are sprouted and given 10-20 g per head per day. As a vitamin feed, rabbits also prefer pine and spruce branches, which contain an increased amount of vitamin C. Read more » Sections Feeding rabbits White Giant Rabbits As the name of the breed suggests, this is a large rabbit. The breed of these wonderful rabbits was bred in Belgium and Germany in the 19th century by selection based on work with Flemish rabbits. Moreover, the fur is quite thick. The eyes are transparent, reddish. White Giant rabbits are characterized by a strong, somewhat elongated body, a deep, well-developed chest and a small dewlap. The average live weight is 5.1 with fluctuations from 4.3 to 6.4 kg or more. The body length of rabbits is 55-65 cm, chest circumference 36-38 cm. White Giant rabbits produce large-sized skins. White skin is easy to dye, and is also used in industry in its natural form. Females give birth to 7-8 rabbits and usually feed them well, the breed is distinguished by early maturity and high feed cost. Rabbits reach the highest average daily gain at the age of 4-5 months. The average live weight of the best rabbits at 2 months is 1.5 kg, at 3 months - 2 kg, at 4 months - 2.6 kg. White giant rabbits are bred in purity and used in crossbreeding with rabbits of other breeds.