i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Our internship would not be well completed without help of many persons. We will recognize their valuable guidance, support and knowledgeable suggestions all of our life. First of all, we would sincerely like to express our deep appreciation to Dr Lonidas MBANZAMIHIGO, PhD representative Manager of PROXIVET-SUD-RWANDA and Madame NIKUZE our supervisors for their willingness to work with us and their financial support during this work. We are also grateful to all staffs of PROXIVET-SUD- RWANDA of VSF-Belgium; URUGAGA IMBARAGA; SDA-IRIBA for their diligence in conducting data collection, helping and supporting us to carry out this energy and time consuming work. We cannot forget to express our deep appreciation to all respondents (Vulnerable groups of MBAZI and MARABA sectors) for their courage in providing to us needed information in filling the reproductive record keeping and other related information to complete our internship. Finally, we would give sincere thanks to all Lecturers at NUR, deeply those of Faculty of Agriculture; our families; our classmates and friends for their sustainable encouragement during the internship.

Jean Claude NYABYENDA and Alexis MUNYANEZA

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ABSTRACT
A cross-sectional internship was conducted to find out the impact of small stocks (Rabbits and Goats) diffused to vulnerable groups by PROXIVET-SUD- RWANDA in collaboration with IMBARAGA Federation in the purpose of poverty reduction so as to improve their life style level. The internship was started on the 23rd of August and ended on the 23rd of September, 2010 in the interval of time during which we visited house to house groups of vulnerable families of MBAZI and MARABA sectors which are grouped in associations. After getting these small stocks (rabbits and goats) from the project, there was a great change in their well-being level as mentioned by themselves because now they are able to pay school fees for their children and other related issues. So, the project (PROXIVET-SUD-RWANDA) need more qualified engineers for helping those vulnerable people to follow up, to advise and encourage them to take care of their livestock in order to alleviate the poverty as it is one of the goals of the Project.

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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Projet organisation: Proxivet- Sud- Rwanda.................................................9 Figure 2. White New Zealand .............................................................12

Figure 3. Dutch...................................................................................................12 Figure 4. Best way of handling rabbit.......................................................................13 Figure 5. Example of Rabbit Cage............................................................................19 Figure 6. Rabbits in their Cage eating different species of forages..........................22 Figure 7. A trainee explaining the beneficiary and filling the record keeping at Mbazi sector.......................................................................................................................29 Figure 8. A trainee showing and explain how Sexing is done...................................29

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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Two kinds of minerals................................................................................26 Table 2. Common diseases, causes and their treatment means..............................27

LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix 1. White New Zealand rabbits in their Cage (Photo taken the 20sept 2010) ....................................................................................................................................I Appendix 2. Different breeds of rabbits eating their feeds (including banana leaves) ....................................................................................................................................I Appendix 3. Trainee explaining a beneficiary of the project the convenient feeds and best way of feeding rabbits. (Photo taken on the 20th Sept, 2010).....................II Appendix 4. One of the advanced beneficiaries in rabbit rearing at MARABA Sector III

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LIST OF ABREVIATIONS

Mg: Fe: Co: I : Mn: Zn: Se: Na: ABR: ADENYA: APROJUMAP: CAPEL: EAVK: ISAR: IRST: K g: MIG: MINAGRI: MSA: OMS: NGO: NZ : GDP: FAO: RARDA: PLP:

Magnesium Iron Cobalt Iodine Manganese Zinc Selenium Sodium Association Belgique au Rwanda Association pour le Dveloppement de Nyabimata Association pour la Promotion des Jumelage et de lAmiti entre les Peuples Centre dAppui llevage Ecole agri- Vtrinaire de Kabutare Institut des Sciences Agronomique du Rwanda Institut de Recherches Scientifique Technologiques Kilogram Multisectorial Investment Group Ministre de lAgriculture, de lElevage. Mutuelle de Sant Animale Organisation Mondiale de la sant Non governmental organization New Zealand Gross domestic product Food and agriculture organization Rwandan animal resource development authority Partenaires Locaux Principaux

vii

PROXIVET SUD RWANDA: RSSP: SDA: Vspp: UNR: UNICOOPAGI: VSF-B: MINECOFINE: NUR: FACAGRO: Hrs:
o

Projet de promotion dun service vtrinaire priv de proximit au Sud du Rwanda Rural Sector Support Project Services au Dveloppement des Associations Veterinary service private proximity Universit Nationale du Rwanda Union des Coopratives Agricoles de Gikongoro Vtrinaire sans frontire- Belgique Ministre de commerce et de la finance. National University of Rwanda Faculty of Agriculture Hours Degrees centigrade Kilocarolies August Vitamin

C:

Kcals: Aug: Vit:

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................ i ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................ii LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................iii LIST OF TABLES..........................................................................................................iv LIST OF APPENDICES...................................................................................................v LIST OF ABREVIATIONS..............................................................................................vi TABLE OF CONTENTS...............................................................................................viii CHAP I. PROBLEM STATEMENT....................................................................................1 1.1. General introduction.........................................................................................1 1.2. Objectives of the internship..............................................................................2 1.2.1. Specific objectives......................................................................................2 1.3. Methodological approach and materials ..........................................................2 1.3.1. Methodological...........................................................................................2 1.3.2. Materials.....................................................................................................3 1.2.3. Hypothesis................................................................................................. 3 PART I: DESCRIPTION OF PROXIVET-SUD-RWANDA.....................................................4 2.1.2. Origin of the project PROXIVET-SUD-RWANDA........................................4 2.1.3. Steps of the project...................................................................................5 2.1.4. Intervention area........................................................................................5 2.2. Project beneficiaries PROXIVET-SUD- RWANDA fall into three categories: ......6 2.3. Overall objective of the project........................................................................7 2.3.1. Specific Objective ......................................................................................7 2.4. Achievements ..................................................................................................7

ix 2.5. Projet organisation: PROXIVET- SUD- RWANDA................................................9 PART. II. PRESENTATION OF CASE STUDY.................................................................10 Chap III. GEOGRAPHIC LOCALIZATION......................................................................10 3.1. Situation.........................................................................................................10 3.2. Climate...........................................................................................................10 3.3. Topography.................................................................................................... 10 CHAP.IV. GENERAL LUTTERATURE REVIEW ON CUNICULTRE/OR RABBIT REARING. .11 4.1. General introduction.......................................................................................11 4.2.1. Reproduction............................................................................................13 4.2.1.1. General characteristics.....................................................................14 4.2.1.1.1 The male.......................................................................................14 4.2.1.1.2. The female...................................................................................14 4.2.2. Mating of buck and does..........................................................................15 4.2.3. Pregnancy control....................................................................................15 4.2.4. Kindling and mother care.........................................................................16 4.3. Housing..........................................................................................................18 4.3.1. Advantages..............................................................................................18 4.3.2. Disadvantages..........................................................................................18 4.3.1. Location ...................................................................................................19 4.3.2. Light.........................................................................................................20 4.3.3. Temperature:...........................................................................................20 4.3.4. Ventilation ...............................................................................................20 4.4. Feeding requirements....................................................................................21 4.4.1. Water requirements.................................................................................23 4.4.2. Protein requirements................................................................................23 4.4.3. Lipid requirements...................................................................................24

x 4.4.4. Energy requirements................................................................................24 4.4.5. Cellulose requirements.............................................................................24 4.4.6. Minerals and Vitamins..............................................................................25 4.5. Health.............................................................................................................26 PART. III. ACTIVITIES REALIZED DURING THE INTERNSHIP........................................28 CHAP.V. FORMATION OF VUNERABLE GROUPS ABOUT RABIT MANAGEMENT AND FILLING RECORD KEEPING........................................................................................28 5.2. Distribution and filling the record keeping of reproduction for rabbits..........28 5.3. Sexing............................................................................................................ 29 5.4. Pregnancy control..........................................................................................29 5.5. Disinfection of cages......................................................................................30 5.6. Diseases control.............................................................................................30 Generally, during the internship the following obstacles were met:.........................31 The time for internship was not enough to conduct all activities. ...........................31 Meeting respondents at their homes was not easy because, they are almost all the time occupied by their agricultural activities. So, some of the beneficiaries were not visited.......................................................................................................................31 :CHAP.VI. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................32 6.1. Conclusion......................................................................................................32 6.2. Recommendations..........................................................................................32 6.2.1. To the project Proxivet-Sud-Rwanda.....................................................32 6.2.2. To the beneficiaries..................................................................................33 6.2.3. To the FACAGRO......................................................................................34 REFERENCES............................................................................................................. 35 APPENDICES............................................................................................................. 37

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CHAP I. PROBLEM STATEMENT

1.1. General introduction Rwanda is a small and highly populated country in Africa with 26,336km2 as surface, 300habitats/ km2 as density and the majority (90%) of population lives on Agriculture practice. Even if a large portion of Rwandan land is used for agricultural activities, there is still a serious problem of insufficiency food; scarcity, high cost and mismanagement of animal products. Some of the stated issues originate from low level of farmers understanding of animal rearing where by they consider larger stocks production as the only main source of animal products. In animal production, where we have two main systems of production: Larger stocks production system and small stocks production, one people choose the system to which he/she may afford because not every can buy equal number of cows as of rabbits and manage it properly in such way that it provides him with desirable level of his/her wellbeing. Although, small stocks rearing such as rabbits which is concerned for our study case, play a considerable in different domains like easy management, Short gestation period (20-31days), early breeding age (6-8 months).Health improvement through its nutritional value, source of incomes. Rabbit production is often used as savings accounts. When a small amount of money is needed, it is easier to sell a small animal than for example the hind leg of a goat. After observing all of these misconceptions and advantages of small livestock production, Rwandan government in collaboration with NGOs including PROXIVET-SUD-RWANDA; National University of Rwanda through the FACULTY Of AGRICULTURE encourages people to practice these small stocks through formation of farmers for new technologies used in livestock production. It is in this way that the FACAGRO through NUR organized for us the internship as the future professional consultants in Animal production; to practice the theoretical knowledge delivered from the academic lectures and to resolve some existing farmers problems.

This work is made up of three parts and six chapters: First part: Description of PROXIVET-SUD-RWANDA. Second part: Presentation of case study including some literature review on cuniculture/ Rabbit rearing Third part: Realized activities including conclusion and recommendations.

1.2. Objectives of the internship

Practice the theoretical part of academic lectures

to find out the impact of small stocks (Rabbits) diffused to vulnerable groups by Proxivet-

sud- Rwanda in collaboration with Imbaraga Federation on poverty reduction 1.2.1. Specific objectives

Follow up of rabbits diffused by the project (PROXIVET) To exploit the main farmers problems in rabbit raising and search for solutions
To find out the significance and the importance of small stocks to beneficiaries

(Vulnerable people) from MBAZI and MARABA Sectors. 1.3. Methodological approach and materials

1.3.1. Methodological
House to house visit. Interviews.

1.3.2. Materials
Pens Record keeping format papers. Vehicles for transport and

Wallets

1.2.3. Hypothesis

Rabbit production may improve lifestyle and poverty reduction for Rwandese people.

PART I: DESCRIPTION OF PROXIVET-SUD-RWANDA CHAP. II: OVERVIEW OF PROJECT: PROXIVET-SUD-RWANDA

2.1. Historical background 2.1.1. Introduction The project initiative to promote a local private veterinary service in southern Rwanda "PROXIVET-SUD-RWANDA" came agribusiness farmers through the associations / NGOs who are in contact with the performance of VSF-B in Rwanda. These associations / NGOs are: the farmers' union Agric IMBARAGA and NGO Services Development Associations "SDAIRIBA" that have been identified as key local partners (PLP) by VSF-B for this project.

2.1.2. Origin of the project PROXIVET-SUD-RWANDA 1st Constat Vets/or Veterinarians technicians with no job
Inaccessibility of small farmers cares

2nd Constat: The state veterinaries services were reduced 3rd Constat: The governmental policy which encourages the development of private sector. 4th Constat (Law report): The introduction of improved animal breeds requires the correct health cover 5th Constat: The zero grazing system needs animal health and integration of agriculture and agriculture

2.1.3. Steps of the project

May, 2006: Preliminaries contract between Proxivet-Sud-Rwanda and the PLP. Also the

beginning of action test in installation of EAVK

September, 2007: Submission of concept paper of future project to the headquarter of

VSF-Belgium
November, 2007: Meeting with MINAGRI/RARDA, Southern province, 5districts of

southern province, FACAGRO, IRST, and other on-governmental partners.

November, 2007: Analysis of target groups, interviews, atelier MARP, atelier PIPO (152

females and males persons)

September, 2007: Acceptance of the project by DGSD January, 2008: Starting of the project

2.1.4. Intervention area The intervention area of this new action is located in the Southern Province of Rwanda and covers five Districts (Huye, Gisagara, Nyanza, Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru). It covers an area of about 4,000 square kilometers with 1,264,029 inhabitants. The action area of the project is the poorest region of Rwanda. Indeed, over 70% of the population of the region is poor with over 50% in extreme poverty.

The main causes of poverty are: The scarcity of land (0.5 ha per household on average) due to population pressure,
Poverty arable land due to erosion and lack of organic manure, inadequate training of

agricultural producers with respect to agriculture and livestock; Low coverage of health zoo area responsible for high morbidity and mortality of animals, Low productivity of livestock premises and

The absence of livestock in the most vulnerable households, and low commodity development. 2.2. Project beneficiaries PROXIVET-SUD- RWANDA fall into three categories:
The direct beneficiaries: They are agro pastoralists affiliated with major local partners

estimated at approximately 5,000 households and families most vulnerable group are the direct beneficiaries will receive priority attention in the context of rechepterisation.
The intermediate beneficiaries: Comprising mainly professionals in the livestock that

will be incorporated in private veterinary services Proximity (SVPp), acting on the ground through the support centers for breeding (CAPEL).
Indirect beneficiaries: Constituted by agro-pastoralists not affiliated with PLP who will

benefit from SVPp through CAPEL. Their number could be estimated at twice that of direct beneficiaries is 10,000 households. Through the project, veterinary services decentralized districts can better play its regulatory role to control and thus part of the group of indirect beneficiaries.

The project began in January 2008 and has two phases of three years each:

The first phase: Is a phase of installation and testing. Indeed, given that the activity of

promoting a local private veterinary service is new not only in the country but also in the sub-region, their technical viability, financial and institutional SVP will be analyzed during this phase, at two districts (one in each area of intervention PLP);

The second phase: Is a phase of consolidation and disengagement. During this phase, the

integrated development activities of farms being transferred to another project which will be developed by VSF-B, this phase will focus on strengthening SVP installed in the first phase and on network expansion Animal Health proximity to three other districts.

2.3. Overall objective of the project. The overall objective of the intervention is "the contribution of livestock in the economy and social life of households is optimized." 2.3.1. Specific Objective The specific objective of the project is formulated as follows: "Animal Health is improved through a local private veterinary service and the foundation for better integration of agriculture and livestock are established." 2.4. Achievements Intermediate results have been updated: Network of private veterinarians nearby are implemented in a sustainable manner for the benefit of small farmers in the agricultural area, the foundation for better integration of agriculture and livestock are established in the prospect of permanent housing, women are more involved in livestock activities and derive greater benefits, living conditions are very vulnerable families through improved livestock activities, the capacity of local organizations are active in breeding enhanced. To better accomplish his mission of the Project is committed to working with various partners: The main partners are:
The union IMBARAGA who is a professional association, created in March 1992. It

brings together agricultural producers in South Rwanda with a stronger presence in the districts of Huye, Gisagara and Nyanza.
The SDA-IRIBA organization is a local NGO founded in Rwanda in December 2000

and consists of a team of professionals in agriculture, livestock and forestry, education,

law and health, she works in the districts and Nyamagabe Nyaruguru (Southern Province) with primary mission is to transform groups into actual self-managed institutions and professional community to meet the basic needs of their members.
Among other partners, we can cite the government partners: MINAGRI, Local

Authorities (Districts and Sectors), the Institute for Scientific and Technological Research (IRST), ECOLE AGRI-VETERINAIRE de KABUTARE (EAVK), the Faculty of Agriculture, National University of Rwanda (NUR), the Consultative Forum of stakeholders in the Districts;
There are also non-governmental partners such as NGOs ABR (Belgium Association

of Rwanda) and its local partner APROJUMAP; the Multisectorial Investment Group (MIG), the Association for the Development of NYABIMATA (ADENYA), VSF-B is an organization Vterinaires sans frontires, and other collaborations and NGOs working in the area of action: UNICOOPAGI; Caritas; RSSP; etc

2.5. Projet organisation: PROXIVET- SUD- RWANDA

IMBARAGA Representative Project Manager SDA-IRIBA Representative

Veterinary in charge of the project

Administratif and Financial Assistant

Local Veterinaries

Driver logisticien

Drivers

Person in charge of maintenance and day custodian Person in charge of maintenance and night custodian

Figure 1. Projet organisation: Proxivet- Sud- Rwanda

(Source : PROXIVET SUD RWANDA Office, Huye 2010)

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PART. II. PRESENTATION OF CASE STUDY Chap III. GEOGRAPHIC LOCALIZATION 3.1. Situation Our internship was conducted in two sectors of Huye district: MARABA and MBAZI where Proxivet-Sud-Rwanda diffused rabbits and goats for fighting against vulnerabily for the selected groups of poor families. In these sectors, a big number of the population practice agriculture and rearing small stocks for satisfying their daily needs. 3.2. Climate
According to Kppen classification, Huye district experience climate of type AW3. Annual average rainfall varying between 1,200 to 1450mm/year Annual average temperature is 19oC to 20oC with two extremes: 12oC to 27oC

Climate type: Humid Tropical temperate 3.3. Topography The topography is mixture of plateau and hills with round summit/hilltops, network of mountain chains with slope of about 25%. From north west to South- East, those mountains and hills are separated by marshlands. This are is situated at 1760m above sea level at 24o35longitude East and at 2o36longitude South. (MBONIGABA, 2002)

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CHAP.IV. GENERAL LUTTERATURE REVIEW ON CUNICULTRE/OR RABBIT REARING

4.1. General introduction Small livestock such as rabbit has a number of characteristics that might be advantageous in the small holder, subsistence- type integrated farming and gardening food production system in developing countries. Worldwide people keep rabbits for many different reasons: Rabbit meat is testy and has high nutrition value (High quality protein content)
Rabbit meat (Less cholesterol, fewer calories, and lower percentage of fat) is frequently

recommended by doctors to individuals with digestive problems and those unable to consume red meat.
Initial capital outlay is minimal. With some scrap wood or bamboo a hutch can be

constructed. Rabbit production is often used as savings accounts. When a small amount of money is needed, it is easier to sell a small animal than for example the hind leg of a goat.
Rabbit can be tended by women, children or men and unlike bigger animals need no force

be restrained. Wool production A rabbit is a nice present for a child on a birthday, for a neighbor who will marry or for a servant who wants to go home to his village. Rabbit has: Short gestation period (20-31days) Early breeding age (6-8 months) More litter number than other animals (5-7times/year) Higher litter size (1-12 kittens/per doe) Rabbit is small enough to eat all the meat at once without need for refrigeration or other conservation.

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The manure can be used for vegetable growing. Thus, rabbit production can be well integrated into small farming systems. As the cost of fertilizer products increases, so does the value of rabbit manure. Home gardening has increased; people are working with ornamentals in their yards than ever before; and organic farming is on the increase. Fifteen does, two bucks, and their litters will produce approximately one ton of manure a year. Rabbit manure analysis varies but is approximately1.3% N, 9% P, 1.0%K. When applying this manure using it around the plant or in seed bed, use the same precaution as with other manure because it can burn plants. (Sosthne HABUMUREMYI, Lecture notes, 2009) Breeds found in the area largely composed of White New Zealand, Californian, Local breeds and their crossbreds such as silver Marten, polish rabbit, Himalaya rabbit, Dutch rabbit, Rex rabbit, etc. The following Photos show one of them.

Figure 2. White New Zealand Figure 3. Dutch 4.2. General animal husbandry and handling Like other animals, rabbits require proper care for (re)producing well. Before going to sleep at night, one should check them, and during the day, one should keep a close eye on them. It is not of important to see that he animal is sick but one should learn to see weather the animal will be sick, it is not enough to see that a doe has made a nest and kindled, one should know beforehand that she will make a nest and she will kindle.

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Animals have no holidays, even on Christmas Eve they need feed, and they will kindle during Easter week or they may get sick during Idul fitr or Ramadan. As your own children, give your young rabbits the best quality food and drinking water. The hutches must be cleaned every day with water. Those animals you want to use for further breeding should be given identification and keep a close watch on their performance. Do not kill the fast growers but use those for further upgrading your stock. Separate the males and females that you want to keep at early time, before they become sexually active (4 months for females and 2 months for males later) to prevent inbreeding. It is better not to put several litters together in after mating the first time; you should give the young does separate hutches and then the whole cycle start again. Always handle the rabbits in the proper way

Figure 4. Best way of handling rabbit

4.2.1. Reproduction

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4.2.1.1. General characteristics o Ovulation is induced by mating o Pregnancy duration: 30to 32 days o Age for the first mating: 5 months (female),6 months (male) o Litter size: 1 to 12kittens o Sex ration: 8to 9 females /male o New born: newborn kittens are blind, devoid of fur and weigh less than 100gr o Kittens are fed exclusively by mother milk during first 18 -20days o Litters number: 5 to 7/ year o After kindling, the female can mate again after 10 to 12 days or after prior weaning. o Kittens can be weaned at about 4-5 weeks of age. The minimum average weaning weight of kittens is about 600gr. o Buck and doe remain profitable for two years if fed and managed properly.
o

Lighting program provides better conception.

4.2.1.1.1 The male

The proper ages for the first mating depend on the breed and individual development. For small breeds it is 4-5months, for large breeds: 9-12months. One male can easily handle up to 10 or more does, but this depends on mating intensity, heat, stress, age of the male, nutrition and so on. It is not a bad practice to have two males around because it easier to prevent inbreeding.

4.2.1.1.2. The female

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Like the males the proper age of first mating depends on the breed and individual development .Mate males (does) when they reach 75-80% of mature body weight (4-5 months of age for the right breeds, 7-9 months for the heavy breeds).Breeds will vary in age of sexual maturity with most New Zealand whites and Californians ready to breed at 4.5 to 5.5 months, whereas Flemish Giants arent ready until 6-7 months. To mate the rabbit you do not have to wait until these signs show; she can be put with the buck at any time, as the egg will come free after mating. 4.2.2. Mating of buck and does Mating should be carried out during the cooler times of the day, early morning or late afternoon. Always bring the doe to the buck and not the other way around. If you put the buck in the hutch of the doe she is liable to defend her territory and fighting can start. On the contrary, by bringing her to him she will smell the male and will not defend the territory. She may do some initial running around but will eventually accept the buck. If she accepts the buck she will sit down in his hutch and raise her rear end. Mating has taken place when the male fall aside or backwards after mounting the doe. If the doe is willing ton be mated, effective mating take place twice within the first 5-15 minutes. After a successful first mating a second is not necessary. If the female start to run or fight it is better to try it again after a few hours, the next morning or evening. Do not leave the doe with the buck overnight or for a few days. You will not know then whether mating actually took place, fighting might injure either the doe or the buck and stress will be the result. Instead keep watching the mating without disturbing it.

4.2.3. Pregnancy control

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To check sooner if the mating is successful you will have to check pregnancy. Here we explained it properly and practically the main signs: Pregnancy control requires some practices but they are some fairly clear signs. Her hair can easily be pulled out if she is pregnant (later on she will make a nest with her own hair which she pulls with her mouth from the body) During the last days of pregnancy the teats become harder and somewhat red, and the udder will then begin to swell.

The best method of checking pregnancy is palpation but it requires practice. Palpation is

possible from 10 days and onwards after mating. If she is pregnant after two weeks you will feel hard thing like marbles in the upper side of the abdomen. 4.2.4. Kindling and mother care When the doe is almost ready for kindling (about 4 weeks after mating) you can put a nest box in the maternity cage. Kindling can then take place in this nest box. Kindling can take place at any time of day but morning seems to be the most popular time. All does needs now are rest and feed. A scared doe may eat her young. Cannibalism and (even abortion) are common problems. The causes are many and most undependable. These are some of the causes. First- litter does are usually extremely nervous. Give them more chance and then cull if cannibalism recurs. Unbalanced diet. Lack of water.

17 Unusual noises can cause the injury the young and can result in cannibalism. Strange dogs, predators, or people can cause the doe to stamp her feet and mash the

young. Moving nest box after young are kindled. Shallow nest box makes the does feel insecure and she is easily disturbed.

Do not handle the kindles more than absolutely, but check the newborn trying not to disturb them too much. Wash your hands first, as the smell predator (dogs, cats or rodents) may upset the mother. Check the kindles for full bellies and for dead ones. The smell of the nest will soon tell you if it is dirty. The doe does not take care of her kindles. This is a common complaint from beginners. In fact the doe only allows her kindles to suckle one or two times a day, and even then only for a short period. So the doe will rarely be seen with the kindles. Do not worry about this!

The cage should be large enough for the nest box and leaving space for the does. If it is too small she might accidentally hurt the kindles by sitting on them. After two weeks they will start to come out of the box, then after 3 weeks the nest box can easily be removed. At this time they will also suckle more often in a day. Weaning usually take place after 4 weeks but should not be later than 6 weeks. Milk production seems to stop at time, so there is no use for the young with the mother any longer. In our study case, during internship we remarked that many of the beneficiaries of Proxivet -Sud Rwanda have little knowledge about rabbit reproduction, hygiene required inside the nests or the mothers cages. Generally around the cages, there are many things that can cause stress to rabbits. Some of them live with them in rabbitries; others dont remember to place the nest boxes at time, In addition children like to disturb them looking inside the nests how the kittens are alike or how they suckle. As we have mentioned above lack of water to sickles doe can cause cannibalism habit. So many beneficiaries did not use drinking equipment; they put above the cage and let their rabbit waterless. Another big problem that we noticed is that their rabbits experience

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dominant winds which may be the one of causes of insufficient (re)production or lead to death of their rabbits. 4.3. Housing

There are various items of equipment that will be needed for a rabbit. It is best to buy the essential items of equipment such as cage or hutch, floor covering, nesting material, water bottle, food dish and food before getting a rabbit, so that the rabbit's new home can be prepared and ready before the rabbit's arrival. For our study case, rabbits live in wooden cages offered by the project. These cages are built in rectangular form where they used one piece of wire bent into inverted channel shape to form the top, front and back. 4.3.1. Advantages The food and water intake can be controlled and monitored. Feces and urine excretion can be monitored and quantified. Animals can be identified and without the need to mark them. The spread of infection between animals may be controlled more readily, but not eliminated and only if staff takes strict precautions. Easier to maintain a cleaner environment. 4.3.2. Disadvantages When housed singly in solid walled cages, the animals are socially isolated, which is detrimental to their psychological wellbeing as they show a greater incidence of abnormal behavior. There is a limited area and stimulus input. It is difficult to enrich the environment because it is so small.

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Animals suffer from osteoporosis and other skeletal abnormalities that make it to lose the capacity for normal locomotion.

Figure 5. Example of Rabbit Cage 4.3. Rabbitry buildings 4.3.1. Location The location of your rabbitry building is very important. Rabbit have fur coat that keep them warm in the winter but they cannot take them off in the summer. Much of the consideration in the sitting and construction of the rabbitry is aimed at keeping the unit as cool as possible in the summer. To keep the unit cool, it ids advisable to locate it in the shadow of large trees and in relation to the prevailing winds to provide maximum natural ventilation. Another important factor is drainage. Rabbit generate a lot of liquid through their urine and there is also wastage from the drinking system. Water occurence in the rabbitry leads to ammonia production. So, it is important that the site of the rabbitry be well drained. So, that water

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produced in the unit can be drained away and water does not flow in from outside. If the site is too low to provide a good drainage, use fill to raise the level before starting construction 4.3.2. Light Unless you have a few rabbits, you probably will want to install lights in your rabbitry. It has been shown that providing 16hrs of year around will help in increasing reproductive rate. The light should also be controlled in the morning because changes in time of sunrise and switching from standard to daylight savings time and back will also affect productivity. It is much better to have an automatic system because trying to remember to turn the lights on and off will result in too many mistakes. Irregular light be more harmful than no control at all. A level of light sufficient to see to walk through the rabbitry seems to be sufficient. 4.3.3. Temperature: Rabbit is homoeothermic animal, for better living, the body temperature have to be maintained between 37oC to 39oC. When ambient temperature persists and if the body temperature goes beyond 40oC, it suffers heat stress. In normal circumstances, when external temperatures range between comfort zone from 16-19oC. 4.3.4. Ventilation Before you construct or modify a housing rabbits, you should spend some time visiting a number of rabbitries to find out what other rabbits keepers have done to house rabbits in your area. Ventilation is extremely important in rabbit production because it provides fresh air, reduces humidity; dilute and kills airborne, disease causing organisms; and help control temperature. If the building is located in areas with good breezes most of the time and the building is narrow enough that the breezes can ventilate across the entire unit (which generally means 20 feet wide or lees) you may be able to rely on natural ventilation. if the building is more than about 20 feet wide or you live in area where breezes are not consistent, you probably will have to plan to

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supply fresh air using artificial ventilation. a ventilation slot or vent in the ridge of the roof will allow the warm air that rises from the animals to escape. 4.4. Feeding requirements

Each rabbit will have different tastes and not all rabbits like the same things to eat. However, it is important to know what can and cannot be fed to rabbits to avoid harming the rabbit and to help keep the rabbit healthy. Rabbits must have a constant supply of hay as the fiber contained is vital to their digestion and forms the bulk of their diet in addition to rabbit mix or pellets. In addition rabbits should be fed fresh fruit and vegetables or plants and flowers daily. Rabbits will eat their feces to obtain maximum nutrition from their food. This is normal and should not be cause for alarm. This phenomena is called coprophagy Although the rabbit mix or pellets and hay will provide the rabbit with a good basic diet it is necessary also to feed fruit, vegetables or plants and flowers. If too much fruit or vegetables is fed and left in the cage this should be removed and replaced the next day to avoid it being left and becoming mouldy. Some of the fruits, vegetables and herbs commonly found in Rwanda that are safe to feed a rabbit are listed below:

Apple (seedless) Banana Basil Cabbage Carrots and Carrot Tops Cauliflower leaves and stalks Celery Chicory Greens Cucumber Green Pepper Orange (peeled) Parsley - a good tonic

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Red Cabbage Savoy Cabbage Spinach Tomato Apple seeds Potato and Potato Tops Tomato Leaves Umuyenzi Umukoni, Akaziranyo Inkarambwe, Umwishywa, Umutambasha, Ikibonobono, etc (Source: PND/FAO, 1985)

Fruit, vegetables and herbs that should not be fed are:

Figure 6. Rabbits in their Cage eating different species of forages But on another hand there are a large variety of rabbit treats sold in pet shops and most rabbits relish these. However it should remembered that these are treats to be fed occasionally only and should not form a large part of the rabbit's diet. The overfeeding of treats with high sugar content can lead to rabbits becoming obese.

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In the area of our internship the diet is mainly composed of forages which offered twice a day. They offer it around 9h before noon and at 4h in the afternoon. It is an extensive system of feeding, conditions in which rabbits cannot express their performances such as in terms of growth or in meat production. Some of those forages usually offered to rabbits are listed here in vernacular names: Setaria, Ibishikashike, imivumu, inyabarasanya, kimari, amasununu, ibicumucumu, nyasogereza, urubingo, tripsakumu, etc. Water is less offered as observed but we explained them the importance of water to rabbits as one of the components of daily rabbit diet and particularly its role for kindled rabbit in order to produce milk for its kittens. In formulating rabbit diet, you have to take are that the diet fulfill the following requirements 4.4.1. Water requirements Contrary to what some farmers especially beneficiaries think, rabbit drink water. When rabbit is fed with dry feeds like powder, hay, seeds, young rabbits drink 1.5 to 2 more times than dry feeds offered while rabbit that kindled drink 2 to 2.5time than it eats for production of milk to its kittens. Water is the main important factor but it may be the source of problems when offered in inadequate amount. In fact, based on age of rabbit , water should be provided as follow per a day: 0.2 to 0.3 litres of water for growing rabbit (in growing age) 0.6 to 0.7 litres of water for rabbit with its kittens after kindling Before weaning, 1 litre or more for rabbit with its kittens. It is of important to remember all of farmers that rabbits drink many times during the day time and more during the night (25 to 30 respectively) in time of 24h (LEBAS et al, 1984) 4.4.2. Protein requirements Proteins are very important molecules for body constitution of living organisms (animals and plants). So, rabbits need proteins for their proper body constitution. Proteins are necessary for all

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of animals like rabbits for growth, meat production, and milk production or for reproduction. In recent researches conducted in Europe, it was determined that there exist relationship between feeding efficacy and protein quality. So, among 21 amino acids that make constitution of proteins, there are 10 essential amino-acids (that cannot be produced by the rabbit body). When dietary proteins provide these essential amino acids, the diet have to contain 15-16% of crude proteins for fattening rabbit, 17-18% for lactating rabbit. When ambient temperature ranges over 25-27oC, it is better to increase 1point for the rate of dietary protein and then have 16-17% for fattening rabbits and 18-10% for lactating rabbits 4.4.3. Lipid requirements The lipid requirements for rabbit is covered in a diet which contains 2.5 to 3% of it(lipids).It is not necessary to add more fat component on rabbit diet because this diet contains it its self sufficiently. Here are some examples feeds that are rich in lipids lie rice bran (3-16% of lipids), Coprah or palmists expelled straws (8-9% of lipids) 4.4.4. Energy requirements The energy requirement for rabbits depends mainly on the type of production and ambient temperature. The rabbit that is in growing age or in reproduction (gestation, lactation) can cover/ consume a diet that contain from 2200 to 2700kcals of digestible energy per kg (J.B., AKAYEZU, internship report, 2009). In the diet, energy comes from sugars, fats and proteins Rabbit consume well the quantity of diet offered when temperature ranges between 25-26oC. When ambient temperature becomes hot for example at 30oC, his/her appetite, growth and milk production are reduced. 4.4.5. Cellulose requirements Celluloses is the vegetal component which contains lignin, hemicelluloses and pectin constituents to form (all) vegetal cell wall. This is a major element that conveys the rigidity to

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plant. Even if this component is rigid, basing on its caecum microorganisms, rabbit is able to digest a part of these fibers and these permit transit of food in digestive tract. For fattening rabbit, the crud celluloses rate in a well balanced diet has to range between 14-16% (Weede titration method). Reproducing rabbit has to be satisfied with diet containing 12-13% of celluloses. 4.4.6. Minerals and Vitamins Minerals are essential in function and constitution of the rabbit body. These include Ca2+, Mg2+, PO43-, Na+, etc. They particularly play a great role in bone milk constitution but also regulate the intra and extracellular equilibrium. In lactating phase, rabbit need supplementation of minerals (1.1 to 1.3% Ca2+ and 0.6 to 0.7% PO43-). These mineral salts supplements are often covered by commercial feeds. Rabbit has a particular and interesting aspect of its digestive system called Coecotrophy where rabbit re-ingests its feces and after extracting needed minerals and other useful nutrients like inside excrete them (feces/or crottes molles in french). (LEBAS and al, 1984). Fat soluble vitamins like Vit A, D, E, and K have to be offered from diet. But contrary, if rabbit is healthy (without diarrhea), water soluble vitamins like VitC and ones of VitB group are provided by digestive flora and particularly by coprophagy system.

The table below shows 2kinds of minerals: Major minerals Calcium Phosphorous Magnesium Sodium Potassium Chlorine Minor minerals Iron Copper Surfer Cobalt Zinc Manganese

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Selenium Table 1. Two kinds of minerals 4.5. Health

Iodine

The animal has to be healthy. The main signs are a smooth skin, Standing hairs, clear eyes, quiet breathing and no manger (scabies) forming crusts around the nose and eyes; at the edges of ears or inside the ears as a dirty mass. Put them on the ground and let them jump to watch for irregular legs, inspect the anus to see weather it is dirty from diarrhea (should not be) which is often the case in younger rabbits. Check the stomach (abdomen) of animal. It should feel soft but smooth; a spongy feeling may indicate some intestinal troubles. Watch for sneezing rabbits. Dirty front legs and/ or dirty nose may indicate a coughing disease (pasteurellosis), because the animals wash their nose with their front legs. The table below shows common diseases, their causes and their treatment means Diseases and Symptoms Ear mange or Canker: Shaking of head, scratching of ears, brown scaly crusts at base of inner ear Skin mange: reddened scaly skin, intense itching and scratching, some loss of fur Coccidiosis, intestinal: Mild cases, no symptoms, moderate cases, diarrhea and no weight gain. Several cases have pot belly, Diarrhea with mucus and pneumonia is often secondary. Heat prostration: Rapid respiration, prostration, bloodtinged fluid from nose and mouth. Does that are due to candle are most suspectible Pneumonia: Labored breathing with nose held high, bluish Cause Ear mites: Psoroptes cunuculli Treatment and Control Into each ear , put 1%-5% limesulphur solution

Mites: Cheyletierlla parasitivorax and sarcoptes scabiel Parasitic infection of the intestinal tract caused by coccidian

Dip entire animal in 1.75% limesulphur base. Repeat in two weeks if necessary. Keep floor clean and dry, remove droppings frequently. Prevent fecal contamination of feed and water. Add feed grade sulphaquinoxaline

Extreme outside temperature. Reduce temperature with Degree vary with location and water spray, foggers. wet the humidity animal to help reduced body temperature. Bacteria infection of lungs. Organism involed may be Water soluble sulphaquinoxaline

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color to eyes and ears.Lungs shows congestion, red, moist, may be filled with pus Pasteurellosis: may be chronic infection. Nasal discharge, watery eyes, weight loss or mortality without symptoms. Inflammation of lungs, inflammation of bronchi and nasal sinuses

pasteurella miltocida, streptococcus and staphylococcus. Bacteria infection: Pasteurella Combination of penicillin and mitocida streptomycin. Use good sanitary measures to reduce transmission to new animals.

Table 2. Common diseases, causes and their treatment means

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PART. III. ACTIVITIES REALIZED DURING THE INTERNSHIP CHAP.V. FORMATION OF VUNERABLE GROUPS ABOUT RABIT MANAGEMENT AND FILLING RECORD KEEPING
During the internship in the interval of 23rd August to 23rd September, 2010, we performed many activities concerning rabbit keeping in MARABA and MBAZI sectors. Theses activities are summarized as follow:
Formation about rabbit management (House to house visit) Distribution and filling the record keeping of rabbits reproduction Sexing

Pregnancy control Disinfection of cages Diseases control 5.1. Formation about rabbit management In thirty days (30days), we visited house to house a hundred and eighty families from MBAZI and MARABA sectors. For each family that we have visited, we took enough time to hear from them how they raise/ manage their rabbits and then after, we explained and advised them the best way of managing rabbits properly. This include feeding, hygienic conditions, housing and how to fill the record keeping of reproduction where they ought to know date of birth, number of cage, performance of parents, breed, sex, breeding age , breeding age, litter number (giving birth times/year), litter size (number of kittens/per doe).

5.2. Distribution and filling the record keeping of reproduction for rabbits

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The following photo shows how the trainee was filling reproduction record keeping at MBAZI sector:

Figure 7. A trainee explaining the beneficiary and filling the record keeping at Mbazi sector 5.3. Sexing The sexing of very young animal is not easy. The older male has two big testes. -Pressing down gently and stretch the organ; if it is a doe, a long slit will appear, if it is a buck, a small curved penis will show. This information and other not mentioned here are necessary for those people and we explained them properly as shown is photo below.

Figure 8. A trainee showing and explain how Sexing is done (Photo taken on the 20th Sept, 2010) 5.4. Pregnancy control

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To check sooner if the mating is successful you will have to check pregnancy. Here we explained it properly and practically the main signs: Pregnancy control requires some practices but they are some fairly clear signs.
Her hair can easily be pulled out if she is pregnant (later on she will make a nest with her

own hair which she pulls with her mouth from the body) During the last days of pregnancy the teats become harder and somewhat red, and the udder will then begin to swell.
The best method of checking pregnancy is palpation but it requires practice. Palpation is

possible from 10 days and onwards after mating. If she is pregnant after two weeks you will feel hard thing like marbles in the upper side of the abdomen. 5.5. Disinfection of cages When raising animals (especially rabbits for our case), on small scale, the environment tend to be contaminated by the microbes. While rabbit is a very sensible animal to diseases and die in matter of days. So, to prevent this, we explained and advised the respondents different means of disinfection of cages such as spraying Ivermectine solution/buffer on cages walls or fire uses, where by they can make fire and heat on cages walls to kill some of microbes that occur there. 5.6. Diseases control The rabbit like other animals cannot (re)produce with feeling healthy, is why we encouraged them (beneficiaries) to be careful of diseases prevalence in their animals. Here are some guidelines given to them: Disease prevention is much better than treatment Not to overcrowd their animals (rabbits) Practice good nutrition

31 Provide plenty of draft-free ventilation

To let their rabbits have plenty of sun light as long as it is not very hot prowlers and predators. When rabbit is healthy, it eats and drinks properly whereas many of them didnt know that rabbit drink water and they were surprised when we told them to watering their rabbits. Also, it does dejection normally, her/his fur/hair is bright and smooth, white, bright eyed with no flow tears, normal temperature.

SOME CONSTRAINTS Generally, during the internship the following obstacles were met: The time for internship was not enough to conduct all activities. Meeting respondents at their homes was not easy because, they are almost all the time occupied by their agricultural activities. So, some of the beneficiaries were not visited.

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:CHAP.VI. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

6.1. Conclusion In general the internship was done and completed as it was planed and different concepts were practically learnt so as to fulfill on the knowledge acquired in different academic domains especially in our Agricultural courses. As future professionals in agriculture especially in animal production, we are now familiarized with rabbit behaviors and their rearing system. During our internship, we were surprised by understanding that all of beneficiaries have insurance for their animals where they pay 40% and the rest part is paid by the project (PROXIVET-SUD-RWANDA). Regarding to the observations we made during 30days of our internship, no doubt to say that PROXIVET SUD RWANDA have made a great change on improvement of lifestyle for groups of families that live with poverty. In addition, by visiting house to house, we have seen that beneficiaries rear different breeds of rabbits which perform differently depending on the way they are managed. Briefly, according our hypothesis, we observed that when rabbit are kept in proper conditions could contribute to poverty reduction. 6.2. Recommendations 6.2.1. To the project Proxivet-Sud-Rwanda The work curried out at this project should be the result to economy of the country by not basing only to rabbits and goats, but also other animals should be improved in the working area and expanded in whole of the country.

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The establishment of the research on rabbit nutrition and management should be resumed.
The project beneficiaries need permanent assistance in terms of sensitization especially in

the domain of animal production. Veterinary services should be available to all beneficiaries. Rabbit and rabbit products should get a good market. The level of current veterinary personnel should be increased through formations If possible, the project should firstly help the beneficiaries to get the comfortable habitation houses because many of them live together with their animals.

6.2.2. To the beneficiaries

Beneficiaries should change their mindset and develop hard working spirit in order to

alleviate poverty and hunger. They should consolidate their teams to form cooperatives in order to get more profit.
All beneficiaries have to take care of the support given by the project such as Cages,

rabbitries and their animals. They should respect different advices given by CVV, trainees and their vets. Sanitary conditions are recommended to all beneficiaries to fight against infectious disease They should live separately from their animals especially rabbits to avoid zoonotic diseases and stress for rabbits which reduce their performance and lead to death. They must burry dead animal and not to eat it without ante and post-mortem inspection.

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6.2.3. To the FACAGRO

The FACAGRO should respect the time reserved for internship. The FACAGRO should visit regularly the students during internship period. The FACAGRO should practical courses to help student to conceptualize theoretical courses.
The FACAGRO should improve its sites like Rwasave, Tonga and Gihindamuyaga to

facilitate students to find easily the field for internship.

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REFERENCES
HABUMUREMYI S, Rabbit production, lecture notes, faculty of agriculture NUR, 2009 SWITTEN S., Llevage du lapin dans les petites exploitations. Mmoire indit, 1980 PROSPER S., Etude de linfluence de la race, de lalimentation et du system dlevage

sue lengraissement des lapereaux, mmoire indit, FACAGRO NUR, 2002.

VIGUIE J., Les maladies du lapin et du livre, 3e dition, 1981 MINECOFIN, Programme et stratgie de rduction de la pauvret, Kigali, 2007 MINECOFIN, 2002, a profile of poverty in Rwanda: Analysis based on the results of the

households living conditions, survey, 1991-2002.

UNDP, Rwanda United Nations Development Assistance Framework, 2001. PND/FAO, Project de dveloppent du petit levage/ ubworozi bwinkwavu, 1985 AKAYEZU J. B, Suivi des lapins diffuse dans le district HUYE : Secteurs MBAZI et

MARABA PAR VSF/Belgique, internship report, 2009

MBONIGABA, T.T, Essaie de compostage de dchets verts et valuation des effets des

compostes obtenus sur des sols du Rwanda, p.28, 2002. ELECTRONIC REFERENCES http://www.fao.org/docrep/t1690e/t1690e00.htm (Consulted the 25th Aug, 2010)

Rabbitgeek.com. http://www.rabbitgeek.com/abwrc.html. (Retrieved 2010-08-21.) Cinnamon Rabbit Breeders Association Benbrook J, "Green Patch Dutch Rabbits" http:www.goolge.com (Consulted the 26th Aug, 2010) http:www.wikipedia.org (Consulted the 26th Aug, 2010)

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APPENDICES

Some of the breeds of rabbits found in the area

Appendix 1. White New Zealand rabbits in their Cage (Photo taken the 20sept 2010)

Appendix 2. Different breeds of rabbits eating their feeds (including banana leaves)

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Appendix 3. Trainee explaining a beneficiary of the project the convenient feeds and best way of feeding rabbits. (Photo taken on the 20th Sept, 2010)

Appendix4. A cage with record keeping of reproduction (Photo taken on the 20th Sept, 2010)

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Appendix 4. One of the advanced beneficiaries in rabbit rearing at MARABA Sector (Photo taken on the 20th Sept, 2010)

Rabbit rearing can lead to poverty alleviation when done conveniently