Rabbit Management

Booklet No. 206

Animal Husbandry- Rabbits: RBS - 7
ontents
Preface
I. Introduction
II. Reproduction Rate Control
II. Mating
IV. Care during Pregnancy
V. Care during Kindling
VI. Fostering
VII. Care of Young Litter
VIII. Castration of Rabbits
IX. Weaning of Young Rabbits
X. Identification of Rabbits
XI. Records Keeping
XII. Coposition of Feed
XIII. !iseases
XIV. Processing of Rabbit "#in
XV. $conoics of Rabbitries.
!re"a#e
%&e general ipression aong Indian farers is t&at rabbit rearing is an e'pensi(e)
tedious and not so profitable occupation. %&is is totally untrue. Rabbit rearing is (ery profitable
pro(ided a rabbitry is anaged scientifically and t&e ortality aong rabbits is reduced to
iniu. %&is is possible only *&en all t&e anageent factors suc& as feeding) breeding)
disease control) etc. are ta#en *ell care of. %&is boo#let describes t&e iportant anagerial
practices for rabbitries.
$r. %.&. 'andy( Agri#ultural ) *n+ironmental *du#ation
,. ,ntrodu#tion
Rabbit rearing can becoe reunerati(e) *&en scientific anageent of rabbits is done
by #eeping in (ie* t&eir natural be&a(iour. +s ediu si,ed rabbits are ore producti(e) &ea(y
*eig&ted does are useful in breeding. Lifting t&e rabbits by ear reduces t&eir reproduction rate
and bunnies touc&ed before - days of age do not get ot&er.s il# and die. "uc& practical
be&a(iour instinct t&en becoe t&e basis for success in rabbit anageent. Careful
anageent practices can only ensure a steady production of &ealt&y and (igorous bunnies
/young ones0.
Rabbit faring &as been introduced in India only recently. + nuber of entrepreneurs
&a(e establis&ed pri(ate rabbit fars in 1iac&al Prades&) 2au and Kas&ir and &illy areas
of 3ttar Prades&) 1aryana and %ail 4adu. %&e lac# of ar#ets for rabbit ra* products is a
proble. + rabbit far *itl5 677 anials can becoe (iable) if facilities for ar#eting are
created by Central or "tate 8o(ernent. + sall scale anageent of t&e rabbitries *ill not
a#e uc& profit but it is to ac&ie(e soe producti(ity *it& a lo* input) using faily labour)
,,. Re-rodu#tion Rate ontrol
It is t&e far anager *&o deterines t&e rate of reproduction for doe at t&e far. %&e
reproduction rate can range fro 6 litres to 57 litres in one year. "oe rabbit breeds particularly
$uropean breeds) can be re9ated iediately after 57 days of #indling. 8enerally) bac#yard
rabbitries ta#e :9- litter per year. Young does are first presented for ating at ;9< ont&s age)
depending on t&e breed and *eig&t of t&e does /feales0. %&e ain syste used in ating
does are /50 sei9intensi(e) /60intensi(e and /=0 e'tensi(e.
..Semi-intensi+e system
%&e o(ulation in does is pro(o#ed by ating. %&e far anager a#es use of t&is
natural instinct in does in controlling t&e rate of reproduction per year. %&is is done by #eeping
tile .does. /feale0 and .buc#. /ale0 separate in different cages and allo*ing t&e ating at t&e
tie suitable under indi(idual far practices. In sei9intensi(e syste) t&e does are first
presented to buc# at < ont&s age. +fter about =59=6 days it gi(es birt& to young ones. 3sually
; 9: bunnies are born during first #indling. %&ereafter) t&ere *ill be si' to eig&t bunnies in eac&
#indling. %&e does are t&en ated only after 57 956 days. Weaning of young ones ta#es place
at 6> 9=7 days.
2. ,ntensi+e system
In intensi(e syste) tile ating of does occurs *it&in ;>) &ours of #indling and *eaning
t&e youngs at 6:9 6> days. %&is) I. &o*e(er) re?uires (ery good feeding and a anager *it& a
good le(el of e'pertise.
/. *0tensi+e system
%&is syste is c&aracteri,ed by a long gap bet*een #indling and ating. %&e young
ones are *eaned at <: days and tile does are ated after *aning. %&is syste is (ery coon
in India especially in rabbitries started afres&.
,,. Mating.
+t t&e tie of ating doe Wit& buc#) t&e breeder c&ec#s t&e &ealt& of t&e doe to a#e
sure t&at s&e &as no respiratory disorder) sore &oc#s) etc) or s&e is not too t&in nor fat. + red
(al(a is a proising sign but not infallible. + red (al(a gi(es >79@7 per cent success in ating)
*&ile *&ite (al(a gi(es only 57967 per cent success. It is iportant for a farer to recogni,e t&e
signs of &eat in a doe so t&at &e can ta#e t&e doe to t&e buc# for ating at t&e correct tie. %&e
signs of &eat in a doe are /a0 t&e doe ay be restless) /b0 t&e (al(a ay loo# red and s*ollen
and /c0 t&e doe *ill allo* t&e buc# to ate &er.
%&e fre?uency of ating depends upon *&et&er t&e rabbitry is coercial or bac#yard.
%&e bac#yard rabbitry usually ais at four litters per doe per year by aintaining >7 days
inter(al bet*een atings. %&e coercial rabbitry ais at <9: litters per doe per year) by
aintaining :7 days inter(al bet*een atings. + doe can produce se(en litters per year) if <7
days inter(al bet*een ating is aintained. %&ese tec&ni?ues re?uire (ery &ig& standard of
feeding and anageent practices ot&er*ise does *ill get ill and e'&austed. It is noral to
&a(e <9: litters per doe per year.
,1. are during !regnan#y
%&e period of pregnancy in rabbits is fro 6@9=6 days. It is &elpful to #no* *&et&er a
doe *&ic& &as been ated becoe pregnant or not. + *ee# after ating t&e doe becoes
?uieter) sees to eat less) sits *it& &er abdoen resting nicely on t&e floor. "&e *ill start pulling
out &er &air to a#e a nest. %&e only effecti(e *ay of deterining pregnancy is to detect t&e
ebryos in t&e doe.s uterus by palpating t&e abdoen. %&is operation s&ould be carried out
bet*een 5795; days after ating. Ay t&is et&od) t&e de(eloping ebryos /baby rabbits0 can
actually be felt by &and. %&is et&od is not effecti(e if perfored earlier t&an @t& day) or after
5;t& day. %&e operation is ore delicate and t&ere is a ris# of pro(o#ing abortion. %&e tec&ni?ue
deands soe #no*ledge of t&e doe.s anatoy toget&er *it& considerable practice.
%&e pregnant doe can be allo*ed to suc#le t&eir pre(ious litter until a *ee# before &er
ne't litter is due. %&en s&e is s&ifted to breeding &utc& to get used to t&e place *&ere s&e *ill
gi(e birt&. +t tile sae tie) a nest bo' and suitable soft aterial suc& as grass) &ay or stra*
s&ould be pro(ided for a#ing t&e nest. + careful *atc& s&ould be #ept on t&e doe to see t&at
s&e starts a#ing nest. %&e daily balanced concentrate ration for ediu si,e does s&ould be
gradually increased during t&e last 57 days of pregnancy because t&e gro*t& of t&e ebryos
*ill be ta#ing place rapidly. 8ood feeding at t&is tie is li#ely to increase tile birt& *eig&t of t&e
young rabbits and t&e il# yield of t&e ot&er.
1. are during %indling
Kindling is t&e act of gi(ing birt& by a rabbit. 3sually a rabbit #indles bet*een 679=7 days
after ating. Kindling often ta#es place at nig&t. %&e presence of an attendant is not re?uired)
but t&e nests s&ould be placed in ?uiet) &ygienic surrounding and c&ec#ed fre?uently. %&is
operation is easy and t&ere is no ris# to t&e young. It can be perfored rig&t after #indling)
pro(ided t&e ot&er is reo(ed. %&e *or#er s&ould reo(e any dead anials) foetal sacs) etc.
and clean tile surrounding.
If t&e ortality rate is ore t&an 67B) t&e nests &a(e to be inspected daily and dead
anials be reo(ed. "trict &ygienic easures are re?uired in t&e nest. + doe cannot
successfully rear ore t&an eig&t youngs) if s&e &as only eig&t teats. "elect t&e strongest eig&t
young rabbits fro t&e litter and lea(e t&e *it& t&e doe. %a#e t&e ot&ers a*ay and eit&er foster
t&e i.e. /gi(e to ot&er doe &a(ing fe*er young rabbits0 or cull t&e.
"oeties a doe #ills &er young /cannibalis0 or abandons t&e for no apparent
reasons. If s&e &as not done it before) ate &er again *it&in ;9< days. If t&is &as &appened
t*ice *it& t&e sae doe) s&e can be classed as a bad ot&er and s&ould be culled fro t&e
&erd.
1,. 2ostering
Fostering eans transferring ne* born bunnies to soe ot&er doe /*&ic& is not t&e real
ot&er doe0 for suc#ling and rearing. "oeties it is necessary to eliinate e'cess ne* born
bunnies) ore t&an eig&t in a large litter. %&e e'tra of bunnies are fostered to a doe &a(ing
saller litter i.e. less t&an eig&t. %&e ain points to be #ept in consideration during fostering are
/50 not ore t&an = bunnies s&ould be gi(en to a foster ot&er) /60 t&e a'iu age difference
bet*een t&e foster doe.s litter and t&e fostered baby s&ould be ;> &ours) /=0 fostering s&ould
ta#e place *it&in < days of #indling) /;0 ate se(eral does so t&at t&ey *ill #indle at about t&e
sae tie and /<0 to facilitate acceptance by t&e foster ot&er) rub .Vic#s Vaporub. on foster
ot&er.s nose as *ell as t&e nose of t&e bunnies to deaden t&eir sense of sell or run your
&and t&roug& t&e foster ot&er.s fur t&us transferring &er sell to t&e bunnies. %&is &elp in t&e
acceptance of bunnies by t&e doe.
1,,. are o" 3oung 4itter
+ fe* &ours after #indling reo(e t&e nest bo' fro t&e cage and inspect t&e litter)
reo(e any defored) undersi,ed) or dead young. If you are careful and ?uiet in a#ing t&e
inspection) t&e doe generally *ill not obCect. If s&e is ner(ous and irritable) place soe tepting
feed in t&e &utc& /cage0 iediately before inspection to distract &er attention and ?uieten &er.
Litters (ary in si,e. %&e ore coon breeds usually litter on an a(erage eig&t young
ones. "oe ay nuber 56 to 5>. For coercial purpose) -9> bunnies are left *it& t&e doe.
Aunnies are fed t*ice in a day) once early in t&e orning and again in t&e late e(ening. Dn t&e
57t& or 55t& day t&e eyes of t&e bunnies open. + day later t&ey begin to &eal. %&ey start to eat
green grass as early as t&e 5:tll day. Aut t&ey ust be supplied *it& soe ?uantity of soft dry
grass. %&ey are *eaned at <9- *ee#s old) *&en t&e litter is separated fro t&e doe. In intensi(e
breeding syste) under *ell organi,ed anageent) bunnies are *eaned on 6:
t&
day after
birt&. In e'tensi(e syste t&ey ay be *eaned at any tie bet*een : to 57 *ee#s age.
+fter *eaning t&e bunnies are classified forE /50 fryer production) /60 breeder production)
/=0 roaster production) and /;0 tile rabbit breed +ngora) is used only for *ool production under
cooler cliatic conditions.
.. 2ryer -rodu#tion
Young rabbits fattened for eat are called fryer. + fryer young rabbit carcass usually
*eig&s 5.- #g at ; ont&s age and gi(es pelt of prie ?uality to *arrant tanning. + #ilo of
ar#etable fryer dressed eat re?uires <.- #ilo of coercial concentrates fro birt& to
ar#eting age. It is estiated t&at about >= #g of coercial concentrates is consued apart
fro daily one #ilo of roug&age) in raising a doe *it& :9> bunnies to attain t&e age of ; ont&s.
Castrated bunnies are faous for producing top ?uality eat and fur. Castration of bunnies
re?uire s#ill and patience. 8ro*t& rate in bunnies is e'treely fast during first > I *ee#s.
%&erefore) enoug& good ?uality feed in bot& roug&age and I concentrates s&ould be pro(ided.
2. Breeder -rodu#tion
Areeder production is siilar to fryer production) t&e only difference is t&at selection for
breeder production is done in t&e early stages of gro*t&. Areeder does s&ould be obtained fro
good producing does *&ic& &a(e e'cellent genetic perforance and good conforation suc& as
stoc#y body) stub nose) s&ort ears) alert eyes and e'cellent eater. %&ey re?uire special care to
eet t&e breeding re?uireents. 3sually breeding rabbits are fre?uently replaced or culled and
only best ones are #ept.
/. Roaster -rodu#tion
+ roaster or ature rabbit is usually an old breeding cu producing rabbit. It can be
fattened for 6 or = *ee#s to gain *eig&t and ipro(e fur ?uality. 1o*e(er) roaster rabbits are
al*ays less producti(e t&an fryer rabbits.
5. 6ool -rodu#tion
+ngora rabbits are fit for *ool production in cooler cliates. Its *ool gro*s to a lengt& of
:9> c in = ont&s) yielding about ;77 g *ool per rabbit per year. "&earing of *ool is done four
ties in a year.
1,,,. astration o" Rabbits
Ma#ing t&e ale sper producing organs non9functional is called castration. %&is
usually re?uires t*o people) one &olds t&e rabbit) t&e ot&er presses t&e rabbit.s belly fro front
to bac# to a#e t&e tentacles appear. %&e operator *it& t&e &elp of a s&arp and sterili,ed ra,or)
a#es a deep incision) cutting t&e s#in of t&e pouc&. +t t&is oent *it& refle' o(eent t&e
testicles coe ) out. %&e t&reads t&at conduct sper are t&en cut and t&e pouc& is I fi'ed to t&e
abdoen. %&e inCuries are disinfected *it& tincture of iodine. %&ere is no need to stitc& t&e
*ound as it &eals in <9: days. Aleeding to any e'tent is (ery rare. 1o*e(er) for rabbits of ;
ont&s and o(er it is best to crus& t&e sper conducting t&reads *it& t&e &elp of castrating
pincers.
,7. 6eaning o" 3oung Rabbits
+ *ee# before tl5e actual date of *eaning called *eaning period) t&e young ones are
gradually gi(en less il# and ore solid feed. Weaning can ta#e place *&en rabbits li(e *eig&t
is o(er <77 g and it is about 6: days old. %&e young rabbits begin to eat solid food at 5>967
days. +t tins stage) t&e youngs of a litter are ta#en a*ay at t&e sae tie and placed :9> per
cage in t&e area set aside for fattening or gro*ing fryers or breeders. %&e cages ust be clean
and t&e groups s&ould be fairly unifor) *it& a a'iu age difference of one *ee# bet*een
t&e. If rabbits are to be #ept beyond = ont&s) t&e buc#s ust be eit&er put indi(idual
cages or castrated) so t&at t&ey can continue to be colony reared) t&e feales ay reain in
groups) but t&ey re?uire ore space in t&e cage.
7. ,denti"i#ation o" Rabbits
Identification of rabbits can be ade in t*o *aysE /i0 by indi(idual ar#ing and /ii0 by
cage ar#ing. %&e first et&od is necessary for all producers. %&e second is iportant for t&e
econoic anageent of t&e rabbitry.
A. ,ndi+idual identi"i#ation
$ac& rabbit is assigned a nuber. %&is nuber *ill appear on all docuents concerning
t&e rabbit and on t&e rabbit itself. %&ere are t&ree *ays of identification nuber on t&e rabbits.
$ac& &as its o*n erits and deerits.
.. Ring met'od
+ nubered ring is attac&ed to t&e &ind leg Cust abo(e t&e &oc#. Ris# of losing t&e ring is
&ig&.
2. li- met'od
+ nubered clip is attac&ed to t&e rabbit.s ear. %&ese clips are ade of etal or plastic
and ris# of loss is again &ig&.
/. &attooing
"all &oles are punc&ed in t&e rabbit.s ear spelling put nubers or letters. %attooing
lasts t&roug&out t&e rabbits lifetie and is used at t&e tie of *eaning) using special rabbit
pincers.
B. age identi"i#ation
%&e rabbitries *&ic& are siple #eep records of rabbits and not for (arious breeds and
do not breed selecti(ely) li#e to use t&is et&od of identification. +ll t&e cages in t&e rabbitry are
nubered. %&e nuber of t&e cage *ill appear on t&e records. %&is et&od is uc& siple and
easier t&an indi(idual identification and is useful for sall and big rabbitries.
7,. Re#ords %ee-ing
+t rabbitries a nuber of record boo#s are aintained) for e(aluation of pre(ious year
*or#ing) finali,ing future prograe
and calculating financial profit and losses.
A. Re#ords "ur breeding
%&e records to breeding consists of daily record boo#) doe record boo#) buc# record
boo#) pigeon &ole o(able doe card) *ee#ly *or# plan) suary record boo#) etc.
.. $aily re#ord bouk
It is siplest record boo#. It is essential in alost e(ery #ind of production syste. In t&is
boo# t&e record of e(ery day acti(ities) *it& sall note by t&e *or#er or producer is gi(en briefly
and clearly.
2. $oe re#ord book
%&is boo# #eeps t&e record of eac& doe) its ating date) result of pregnancy test)
reating date etc. It consists of follo*ing ites.
a. $oe number
b. 2irst Mating) /i0 date /dt0) /ii0 "ire nuber /"0) /iii0 Pregnancy result /P0
#. Se#ond mating /if 5st ating fails0 /i0 !ate /!t0) /ii0 "ire nuber /"0F /iii0 Pregnancy result
/P0.
d. %indling /i0 !ate of #indling/!t0) /ii0 nuber of young born/K0) /iii0 4uber of young born
li(ing /AL0) /i(0 nuber of young born dead /A!0.
e. 4itters /i0 4uber of youngs dead before *eaning /!0) /ii0 4uber of youngs at *eaning
/WL0
". ,denti"i#ation nuber gi(en to eac& li(ing young after 6> days and t&eir li(e *eig&t.
/. Bu#k re#ord book
Auc# record boo# aintains record of eac& ale rabbit used in breeding. It consists of
follo*ing colun.
a. 4uber of buc#
b. !ate of ating
c. 4uber of doe
d. Pregnancy result
e. 4uber of young born li(ing and dead
f. Identification !uber gi(en to eac& li(ing young after 6> days
5. $oe #ard 8it' #age
%&e record boo# syste is often inade?uate) t&erefore t&e ipro(eent is a doe card
boo#ed to eac& cage for calculating t&e indi(idual doe producti(ity. %&is card is siilar to t&e
record boo# as e'plained abo(e. "iilarly) a buc# card is prepared for eac& buc# and &oo#ed to
t&e cage.
9. !igeon 'ole doe mo+ing #ard
Pigeon cages for eac& doe. offer a (irtually foolproof *ay of onitoring all e(ents in t&e
rabbit anageent. %&ere are se(eral anageent and planning systes. %&e iportant t&ing
is to use one syste consistently. %&e pigeon &ole syste in(ol(es a large bo' *it& four
&ori,ontal ro*s of =5 copartents. $ac& corresponds to a day of t&e ont&. %&e first ro* is
for atings) t&e second ro* is for pregnancy c&ec#s /palpation0) t&e t&ird ro* for birt&s and t&e
last for *eaning. If *eaning ta#es place bet*een first and second ont&s) *&ic& is coon in
e'tensi(e production) t&ere *ill be 6 ro*s for *eaning for e(en ont&s and odd ont&s.
$(ery orning t&e producer sees &is *or# t&roug& t&e cards in bo'es. +s eac& is
copleted) t&e card of t&e doe concerned o(es into t&e pigeon&ole corresponding to t&e ne't
operation and t&e day for *&ic& it is sc&eduled.
For e'aple) in a rabbitry *&ere ating ta#es place 57 days after #indlings and rabbits
are *eaned at =< days) t&e doe record o(es t&roug& pigeon&oles as follo*E Let us suppose
t&e doe is ated on =9-9@6 i.e. t&ird day of an odd ont&. 1er card is t&en placed in t&e
palpation ro*) in date bo' 5:) as pregnancy *ill be tested after 5= days /i.e. = G 5= H 5:0. If t&e
palpation result is positi(e) t&e doe card is placed in t&e #indling ro* under second day of t&e
e(en ont& /5: G 5< H =50. Dn t&e ot&er &and) if palpation result is negati(e) t&e sae card *ill
be placed bac# to ating ro*. +fter #indling t&e doe card returns to t&e ating ro* under t&e
56t& day of t&e sae ont& /6 G 57 H 560) ating after 57 days of #indling. +t t&e sae tie) a
card *it& doe.s indi(idual and cage nubers *ill be placed it t&e *eaning ro* in space - of t&e
second) odd ont& / 6 G.=< H =-0.
6. 6eekly 8ork -lan
Dne an *or#ing for > &ours a day can anage =77 does on far. In a rational
production unit t&e follo*ing a(erage ties ust be set aside for ain breeding acti(ities for
577 does.
a. Four &ours per *ee# for ating.
b. %&ree &ours per *ee# for nest super(ision.
c. %*o &ours a *ee# for &andling young) nest bo'es
d. Dne &our a *ee# for palpation
e. Four &our a *ee# for &ygiene.
B. Re#ord "or "attening young
1ere again t&e daily record boo# as e'plained abo(e is essential. It *ill list t&e first and
last fattening days of rabbits in eac& cage) any ortality and its causes. Li(e *eig&t *&en sold
and t&e nuber of rabbits ar#eted *ee#ly could also be added. In large scale production)
production c&ec#s *ill be done by batc&es. + batc& is a group of rabbits *eaned in t&e sae
*ee#.
If t&e breeder uses balanced concentrates &e *ill record t&e aount of feed eaten by
fattening rabbits. Feed con(ersion efficiency is t&e aount of feed needed to produce a *eig&t
gain of one #ilogra *&ic& is a sound econoic criterion. If t&e producer *ants to breed &is
stoc#) &e can use a litter card listing t&e *eaning *eig&t and date) t&e *eig&t at ating and gi(e
indi(idual identification nuber to eac& rabbit.
7,,. om-osition o" 2eed
Rabbits inta#e forages) concentrates salt and *ater.
.. 2orages: Rabbit feed on (arious #inds of roug&ages li#e lea(es of banana) green grasses)
legue fodder) legue &ay) #itc&en *astes) garden (egetables) green salad lea(es and ot&er
green lea(es. 8reen grass s&ould be gi(en to t&e rabbits as far as possible.
2. on#entrates: +ny cobination of a(ailable concentrates li#e ai,e) Co*ar) *&eat) bengal
gra) groundnut ca#e) rice bran and eat cu bone eal) etc. Protein re?uireent is 5695< per
cent in ration for non lactating does and 5: 967 per cent for lactating does. +n e'aple of a
balanced ration of rabbit feed is gi(en in %able9I.
%able9I. Coposition of a rabbit feed
"l.4o Ingredients Percentage
5 Aengal gra 6<.77
6 W&eat 67.77
= Rice bran 67.77
; 8roundnut ca#e 6=.<7
< Meat cu bone eal 57.77
: Mineral i'ture 5.77
- Coon salt 7.<7
%otal 577.77
/.S#'edule "or "eeding
+ odel feeding sc&edule for rabbits is gi(en in table 6. Fres& and clean *ater ust
al*ays be a(ailable at all ties.
%able 6 E Inta#e sc&edule for rabbits
"l.4o +nial Aody *t. /in #g0 Ration /g0 Fodder
/green0 /g0
5 Auc#s ;9< 5-< 677
6 !oes ;9< 5<7 677
= Lactating does ;9< 677 6<7
; Weaners /: *#s0 7.:97.- <7 577
7,,,. $iseases
Rabbit diseases include coccidiosis) ear can#er or ange) bacterial enteritis)
pasteurellosis) astitis) conCuncti(itis) foot pad abscess) sore &oc#) &ind ?uarter paralysis) &eat
prostration and &air ball occlusion.
1ygiene in bo'es and s&eds) regular (accination) ade?uate feeding and periodic
edication *it& ant&elentics and coccidiostats are t&e easures to be ta#en for pre(enting
disease in rabbits. It is econoical to slaug&ter rabbit t&an spending ore on edicines.
7,1. !ro#essing o" Rabbit Skin
+fter t&e slaug&ter of t&e rabbit. its s#in can be used to a#e glo(es) caps) dolls and
ot&er articles. %&e rabbit s#in can fetc& good prices in tile ar#et. %&e s#in can be processed in
t&e follo*ing anner.
%&e s#in is soa#ed o(ernig&t in clean *ater at 6<IC i.e. roo teperature. 4e't day
orning) prepare a solution containing @7 g of coon salt) ;7 g of potas& alu and 6 #g of
soda as& in one litre of *ater. "oa# t&e pre(iously *ater soa#ed s#in in t&is solution to reo(e
&airs etc. and t&en *as&ed in clean *ater t&oroug&ly and dried in t&e sun.
71. *#onomi#s o" Rabbitry
Rabbit faring &as been introduced in India only recently. %&e e'periences gained by
t&e pri(ate gro*ers in 1iac&al Prades&) 2au and Kas&if) 1aryana and %ail 4adu &a(e
s&o*n t&at due to lac# of ar#et for rabbit eat) rabbit faring &as not been profitable. %&ose
*&o started rabbitaries to becoe ric& o(ernig&t &a(e not stac#ed up golden bunnies as per
e'pectation. %&e reasons are clear) if you start Wit& a unit of 577 feales plus 67 ales) t&e
e'penses for t&e first year *ill aount to rupees one la#&. %&is *ill include t&e cost of cages)
feed) edicine) labour) rent of t&e s&ed. %&is is a big outlay for an ordinary person getting
iediate returns. 1o*e(er) to start a rabbit business one does not need a large initial
integuent. + fe* doe.s *it& a ra or buc# is enoug& to start) once t&e #indling begins t&e &erd
rapidly increases in si,e) so t&at (ery soon one can slaug&ter t&e young ales. Aecause t&e
does produce offspring regularly t&ey for a regular source of incoe instead of a large aount
at once.
%*o factors are responsible for successful rabbit rearing are ac?uiring (eterinary s#ill
and (icinity of ar#et for selling rabbit eat and *ool. + far of 677 rabbit floc# can becoe
(iable only in areas &a(ing a *ell organi,ed ar#et for *ool and eat.
%&e poor farers) &o*e(er) can start rabbit rearing only as bac#yard rearing. %&is *ill
suppleent &is incoe and pro(ide eat for &oe) but &e cannot depend solely on it. Rabbit
faring is not going to be lucrati(e) until and unless Central or "tate 8o(ernents a#e soe
policies for creating facilities for anufacturing &osiery goods) li#e s&a*ls.
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