Episode V - ULTIMATE GUIDE TO RABBIT FARMING IN NIGERIA MANUAL
Ultimate Guide to Rabbit farming in Nigeria Manual
Ultimate guide to rabbit farming in Nigeria manual presents
an overview of the entire process of raising rabbits in Nigeria from selecting
healthy animals to preparing proper foods to treating disease. A separate
section of the manual includes step-by-step procedures for the construction of
a hutch unit to house two does and one buck.
Continuation: Weaning
Weaning means removing the babies from their mother.
Young rabbits open their
eyes 10-11 days after birth. They will come out of the nest box at about three
weeks of age, and at this time they start eating food other than their mother's
milk. They should be separated from their mother at eight weeks (no sooner) and
placed in another cage for fattening. If the young are separated before they
are eight weeks old they will stop gaining weight for a few days, and might
even lose weight.
After weaning, breed the doe again. Wean and breed the doe on the same day. If the doe becomes pregnant each time she is bred, she can produce four litters in 12 months. But do not expect to reach this goal at first; it is sometimes difficult even for experienced rabbit raisers especially strong does, however, can be bred at 7 weeks or even 6 weeks after kindling. When this is done, the young should continue to stay with their mother for the full 8 weeks before weaning. If the does are properly fed so they can stand the strain, this is a very good system of breeding. The doe is alone in her cage for only a short time before the next litter is kindled, and the hutch equipment is used to the best advantage.
After weaning, breed the doe again. Wean and breed the doe on the same day. If the doe becomes pregnant each time she is bred, she can produce four litters in 12 months. But do not expect to reach this goal at first; it is sometimes difficult even for experienced rabbit raisers especially strong does, however, can be bred at 7 weeks or even 6 weeks after kindling. When this is done, the young should continue to stay with their mother for the full 8 weeks before weaning. If the does are properly fed so they can stand the strain, this is a very good system of breeding. The doe is alone in her cage for only a short time before the next litter is kindled, and the hutch equipment is used to the best advantage.
Determining Sex
This can be done at weaning time (8 weeks) or earlier, after you gain
experience. The older males have two big testes. If only one testis shows do
not use him for breeding even though he is fertile, because it is a hereditary
defect. If you are still not sure, which is often the case with young rabbits,
hold the rabbit on its back, put one finger on the tail side of the genital
apparatus and one on the abdominal side. Press 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 (figure 2). Do not confuse two small glands about the size of a
pinhead on either side of the sexual organ with the testes.
 |
| figure 2 |
Orphan Litters
Sometimes a doe dies at kindling or shortly afterward. Many rabbit breeders
will not take time to raise orphan young, but young rabbits left without a doe can be fed whole cow or goat milk from
a bottle until able to eat grains and grass at two weeks of age. When raising orphan litters care must be taken
to keep all feeding equipment sanitary.
Balancing Litter Size
Some breeders mate several does at one time so they will all kindle within a
day or two of each other. If a doe has
an exceptionally large litter (10-16) and another doe has a small litter (2-4),
some of the rabbits from the large litter can be transferred to the smaller
one. A litter of eight is an ideal size.
Handle young rabbits as little as possible, but do not worry about destroying the scent of the human hand. As soon as the rabbits are placed in the nest box any odor clinging to them is quickly destroyed.
Handle young rabbits as little as possible, but do not worry about destroying the scent of the human hand. As soon as the rabbits are placed in the nest box any odor clinging to them is quickly destroyed.
Failures to Conceive
The doe can be sterile, not able to produce young, if the food ration is
unbalanced or the weather is too hot or too cold. Commercial breeding has
shortened the barren tendency so that it is possible to achieve four or more litters
in a year. However, a balanced diet is very important if does and bucks are to
realize this high rate of production.
Bucks and does that are too old can account for conception misses. With excellent care and feeding a rabbit will remain profitable to breed for 3-4 years. After this time does tend to give birth to small litters of 2 or 3 young.
Animals which have been known to produce well for several years are of special interest to the rabbit raiser. Keep records of good does and select rabbits from the litters of these outstanding does to keep aside for replacement stock. Sore hocks or other injuries can cause a loss of vitality in both does and bucks. Rabbits must receive excellent care combined with good management to achieve profitable results.
Bucks and does that are too old can account for conception misses. With excellent care and feeding a rabbit will remain profitable to breed for 3-4 years. After this time does tend to give birth to small litters of 2 or 3 young.
Animals which have been known to produce well for several years are of special interest to the rabbit raiser. Keep records of good does and select rabbits from the litters of these outstanding does to keep aside for replacement stock. Sore hocks or other injuries can cause a loss of vitality in both does and bucks. Rabbits must receive excellent care combined with good management to achieve profitable results.
Keeping Records
If you are only raising rabbits in your backyard, you probably do not need to
keep extensive records. The following
forms should prove sufficient. However,
once you get into a rabbit raising business where keeping a production schedule
becomes extremely important, more detailed records may be necessary.
Basic Records
These sample records (on the page before, and below) contain
information essential to the careful rabbit raiser. Good records save time and
allow planning of yearly production.
Records are the key to successful breeding and handling of the litter. Make an individual record for each breeding animal and tack it somewhere in the cage where it will remain dry and will not be chewed on by the rabbit.
Records are the key to successful breeding and handling of the litter. Make an individual record for each breeding animal and tack it somewhere in the cage where it will remain dry and will not be chewed on by the rabbit.
Complete Record Keeping
PLEASE NOTE: In the "weight" columns on the hutch
cards, figures are given in pounds. One kilogram = 2.2 pounds.
Column 1: Buck Identification of the buck used in any mating
is needed to compare litters out of different mates, or different litters out
of the same mates. You can plan for future matings and stock selection.
Column 2: Date bred. This date shows you when the doe should kindle, and when to put in the nest box. An "L" (late) in this column would show that the doe did not rebreed on schedule. It is very important to know this: if she is always a late breeder, cull her (separate her out). We learned to save stock only out of does which bred and conceived regularly, year around (in addition to other desirable traits). This includes bucks as well.
Using the information in this column pays off in increased conception rates and overall production: in 1965 our annual conception rate was 82 percent, and our Fall (August through December) breedings conception rate was 70 percent. By 1971 annual conception rate was 95 percent and the Fall rate was 93 percent. The does bred on schedule, and conceived.
Column 3: Date kindled. This gives you a reference point for recording exact age in days of the young later on. Shows if the doe is always late, early or on time. Not needed on buck records.
Column 4: Number of young kindled shows the total number of young born. If some were born dead, or died soon after birth, we indicated this as a two-part figure: 14/10 -- 14 the total number born, and 10 the number alive and well. This column is useful in doe and buck evaluation.
Column 2: Date bred. This date shows you when the doe should kindle, and when to put in the nest box. An "L" (late) in this column would show that the doe did not rebreed on schedule. It is very important to know this: if she is always a late breeder, cull her (separate her out). We learned to save stock only out of does which bred and conceived regularly, year around (in addition to other desirable traits). This includes bucks as well.
Using the information in this column pays off in increased conception rates and overall production: in 1965 our annual conception rate was 82 percent, and our Fall (August through December) breedings conception rate was 70 percent. By 1971 annual conception rate was 95 percent and the Fall rate was 93 percent. The does bred on schedule, and conceived.
Column 3: Date kindled. This gives you a reference point for recording exact age in days of the young later on. Shows if the doe is always late, early or on time. Not needed on buck records.
Column 4: Number of young kindled shows the total number of young born. If some were born dead, or died soon after birth, we indicated this as a two-part figure: 14/10 -- 14 the total number born, and 10 the number alive and well. This column is useful in doe and buck evaluation.
Number of young at 1 week. We found it frequently takes 4-7 days
to get all litters settled down to the exact number we expect the doe to raise;
so we decided that one week was a practical date. This figure is used as the
reference for checking any mortality later on. If it is a good, bad even or uneven
(in quality - not number) litter, the appropriate letter is added.
Column 5: Young at 3 weeks. A summary of the litter's nest box history. Useful in early estimate of number for future sales, and in evaluation of sire and dam.
Number. Shows survival and mortality. To rate the litter, add the appropriate letter.
Age in days Accuracy in days is necessary for proper appraisal of the rate of weight gain in the nest box.
Weight of litter Shows the doe's nursing ability, and also the sire's capability to give his young the ability to make the most of the doe's milk. You can compare with other litters on the sire's and dam's records. When breeding for herd bucks, the doe's milking ability is of great importance, because she passes this on through her son to his daughters.
Column 6: Weaned. This and the next column really sum it up for the commercial rabbit raiser.
Number. Shows survival and mortality in the litter. This is important for sales, and as part of the doe's and buck's performance records.
Age in days. Since a whole litter can gain close to a pound a day at the age of 8-9 weeks, exactness is essential for factual judgment.
Weight of litter. We weigh the whole litter at once - it is a lot quicker and easier, and more accurate than one by one and adding it up. Since we look closely at the total number of pounds produced, it is logical.
Column 7: Number Marketable on Time (MOT). This is the real key to profit and loss on a litter, and reflects the performance and profitability of a doe or buck. Included in this figure are any young saved for breeding stock: even though they are to be separated out, they would of course be marketable. Holdover fryers to be used as breeders eat up the profit of those sold, and take up valuable hutch space - so use your records well and take care in selecting breeding stock.
Column 8: Notes Limited space means limiting notes to important things, and abbreviating legibly, such as WNB for "wet nest box," O.F. for "off feed," S4D for "saved 4 does" (for breed stock), etc.
Column 5: Young at 3 weeks. A summary of the litter's nest box history. Useful in early estimate of number for future sales, and in evaluation of sire and dam.
Number. Shows survival and mortality. To rate the litter, add the appropriate letter.
Age in days Accuracy in days is necessary for proper appraisal of the rate of weight gain in the nest box.
Weight of litter Shows the doe's nursing ability, and also the sire's capability to give his young the ability to make the most of the doe's milk. You can compare with other litters on the sire's and dam's records. When breeding for herd bucks, the doe's milking ability is of great importance, because she passes this on through her son to his daughters.
Column 6: Weaned. This and the next column really sum it up for the commercial rabbit raiser.
Number. Shows survival and mortality in the litter. This is important for sales, and as part of the doe's and buck's performance records.
Age in days. Since a whole litter can gain close to a pound a day at the age of 8-9 weeks, exactness is essential for factual judgment.
Weight of litter. We weigh the whole litter at once - it is a lot quicker and easier, and more accurate than one by one and adding it up. Since we look closely at the total number of pounds produced, it is logical.
Column 7: Number Marketable on Time (MOT). This is the real key to profit and loss on a litter, and reflects the performance and profitability of a doe or buck. Included in this figure are any young saved for breeding stock: even though they are to be separated out, they would of course be marketable. Holdover fryers to be used as breeders eat up the profit of those sold, and take up valuable hutch space - so use your records well and take care in selecting breeding stock.
Column 8: Notes Limited space means limiting notes to important things, and abbreviating legibly, such as WNB for "wet nest box," O.F. for "off feed," S4D for "saved 4 does" (for breed stock), etc.
Ultimate guide to
rabbit farming in Nigeria manual is the right material, if not the best for
anyone who wants to start rabbit farming in Nigeria and does not know how, or
needs materials on rabbit farming.
Episode II of the
manual. If you have not read episode I of this manual please do so now.
