RABBIT PRODUCTION

&
MANAGEMENT
 IMPORTANCE OF RABBIT PRODUCTION
Rabbit has a small body, short generation interval with
rapid growth.
Ability to utilize forage and agricultural by-products,
and adaptability to a wide range of ecological
environments.
It can be raised on roughage diet solely without
affecting productive and reproductive performance.
Its reproductive potentiality is very high i.e. rabbit can
be bred around the year and gives at least 4 crops with
5 litters in each time.
IMPORTANCE……

Lifespan of Rabbit is 8 - 10 years with a

reproductive lifespan of 6 years.
It can adapt in a wide range of climatic variation
and resistant to diseases.
Weaners can be marketed at 45 days and above.
Rabbit meat is rich in protein, certain minerals
and vitamins & low in fat and cholesterol.
Rabbit rearing is an additional source of income.
 Advantage of rabbit Farming
❖ Investment on housing and management is less.
❖ An efficient producer of meat. Feed efficiency 3.5 (Av)
❖ Rabbits breed fast and achieve rapid weight gains around 2
kg at 90 days of age
❖ They are commonly fed on leafy plants and vegetables
with relatively little concentrate feed.
❖ Rabbits produce high class protein characterised as lean &
white meat and excellent fur.
❖ Rabbit meat does not have any religious prohibitions,
unlike pig and cow meat.
❖ Rabbits are fed pellets, supplemented with hay, green
fodder, vegetables and clean water.
 Terminologies
❖ Buck: Mature male rabbit. Doe: Mature female rabbit.
❖ Kit/Kitten: A baby rabbit.
❖ Kindling: The act of giving birth (Parturition).
❖ Litter: A group of kits born from one doe at a time.
❖ Gestation: Days from breeding to kindling.
❖ Nest Box: The box where a doe gives birth.
❖ Dry Doe: A doe that is neither pregnant nor nursing.
❖ Bunny: - A young rabbit below 20 weeks of age.
❖ Fryer: - 10 to 12 weeks old rabbit ready for market.
❖ Roaster: - Culled rabbit.
Terminologies …..

❖ Weaner: - A newly weaned rabbit.

❖ Fur: - Wool.
❖ Pelt: - Skin.
❖ Shearing: - Cutting wool from rabbit at an interval of 85-90
days when it grows to the length of 4-6 cm
❖ Broiler rabbits: Rabbits reared for meat production.
❖ Rabbitry: A rabbit farm.
❖ Hutch: An individual cage, often with a wire floor.
❖ Cuniculture is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising
domestic rabbits as livestock for meat, fur, wool or for
exhibition and research purposes
External Body Parts of Rabbit
 Difference between Hare & Rabbit

Rabbit Hare
Rabbits are altricial, In contrast, hares are precocial,
1. having young that are born with hair and good vision.
born blind and hairless.

Comparatively smaller Hares are generally larger than

2. in size rabbits, with longer ears
Colour varies with colour Larger & Longer hind legs and
3. of the breed have black markings on their
fur

4. Can run fast Moves jumping

 Breeds available in India

Breed Fur colour Adult wt. (kg) Country of origin

New Zealand white White 4.5 UK

Grey Giant Greyish brown 3.5 Russia

White Giant White 4.0 Russia

Soviet Chinchila Steel grey 3.5 Russia

Angora Usually white 2.5 - 3.0 Europe

 Breeds available in North East

Soviet chinchila Newzealand white

Crossbred
 Economic parameters
1. Age of breeding 5 to 6 months

2. Gestation period 28 to 32 days

3. Litter size 6 to 12 kits

4. Weaning age 4 to 6 weeks

5. Rebreeding after kindling 4 weeks

6. Slaughter age 90 days and above

7. Slaughter weight 2 to 3 kg

8. Male –female ration 1:10

9. Breeding lifespan 6 years
10. Kits starts eating solid food 21 days after birth
11. Dressing percentage 62 to 65
12. Space sufficient for a single adult 2.5 x 2 x 1 ½ cft. (Cage or hutch)

13. Kindling interval 2 months

Care & Management
Of
Rabbit
 MANAGEMENT OF RABBIT

Housing management
Feeding management
Breeding management
Health management and
General management like transportation,
identification, handling etc.
 GENERAL MANAGEMENT
Identification

Some breeders may prefer to make arrangement to identify the

animals specially for research purpose. Identifications may be made
permanently through the use of tattooing in the ear, ear notching, ear
clip or ear tags. Leg rings can also be used for this purpose.
Transportation of Rabbit

Rabbits are very delicate and hence they are susceptible to changes
in climate and long journey. They are in general unable to cope with the
stress and strain of long continuous journey. Immature rabbits can be
transported in crates or like adults in specially constructed traveling
boxes which should be light proof and water proof.
Transportation…..
Transport box size
• Height 30-35 cm,
• Width 20-30 cm,
• Length 35-45 cm
Precautionary measures:
• There should be proper ventilation through lids and sides with baffle
boards to prevent draughts.
• The cages should be so well bedded to prevent jerking stress during
journey.
• Trucks used for this purpose should be cleaned & sanitized before and
after transportation.
• The rabbits should be vaccinated against diseases. Sick animal should
not be transported.
Handling of Rabbit
1. Rabbit is a restless animal. It should be handled gently and
carefully so that it is not frightened.
2. Rabbit is generally lifted by grasping the loose skin of the
neck region by one hand and placing the other hand below
the hindquarter to support the weight.
3. Rabbit should not be lifted by holding the ears. The ears
may be grasped along with loose skin of the shoulder
region if required.
4. Careless handling or improper security may lead to fracture
and injury since it will continue to struggle for escape. Even
during struggling it may scratch the handler with claws.
5. Young rabbit may be picked up and carried in one hand by
gently grasping the loin
Handling
 HOUSING MANAGEMENT
Site selection
Though rabbits can thrive at temperature between
-2oC to 30oC, the ideal temperature is 15o to 20oC.
A shaded and elevated area is preferred for easy
drainage of waste water from rabbit farm.
Shaded area is preferred to reduce the heat stress
as rabbit is very sensitive to high temperature.
Environment should be free from excessive
moisture, smoke, fume, dust and other pollutants.
Area should be protected from predators i.e dog,
fox, cat etc.
Type of Housing
1. Hutch system

Hutches are made of wood, bamboo, asbestos, thatch,

CGI sheets or with any locally available materials.
Individual hutch can be placed in one or two rows.
Hutch should be placed in a shady area to protect the
rabbits from extremes of heat.

.
Outdoor Hutch system

height
2. Cage system

Cages are usually made of wire nettings (Galvanized

wire mesh) and can be placed either in a single row
or in tier system.
After weaning, colony pens may be used to rear
rabbits till marketing.
Cages may be arranged in one row or tier system.
Cages are kept in areas protected from rain and sun.
Housing specifications (Hutch/Cage sizes)
Dimensions (ft.)
[Link]. Particulars
Length Breadth Height

Breeding hutch/cage for

1 2 2 1½
breeding (male + female)

2 Hutch/cage for single rabbit 2 1½ 1½

3 Kindling cage 3 2 1½

Colony pen size (After

1½
4 weaning to marketing per 1 1
rabbit)

5 Nest box 1½ 10 inches 10 inches

Indoor cage system
Kindling cage
Breeding Buck cage
Weaner cage
Housing…..

3. Backyard system:
It is a small scale rabbitry with a few
females and one or two male rabbits kept in
a rabbitry and are fed on greens, weeds and
vegetables kitchen scraps.

It provides enough meat to supplement the

family need without any investment/cost.
Nest box
 HEALTH MANAGEMENT

Strict sanitation practices are of

paramount importance in rabbit farming.
Improper sanitation may lead to various
infections through spreading of infective
germs.
Buildings should be well ventilated and
sufficiently lighted.
Over crowding should be avoided since
many diseases spread through contact.
Disinfection may not provide cent percent
security. But, it must be done to minimize
spread of infection.
Health management……
Regular and frequent, preferably daily removal of
waste including manure, unused feed, soiled
bedding and nesting material is essential in either
solid or wire floored cages.
This is to be done to avoid breeding of flies and thus
infection through them. Wastes should be removed
from the premises each day.
All equipments including water bottles, feed trays
and nest boxes should be periodically washed with
soapy (hot) water and rinsed with chlorine or other
suitable disinfectant solution or steam.
Rabbit hairs may pose a problem. Pregnant does
may pluck hairs from their bodies to make nest.
These hairs may stick to anywhere of the cages.
Health management……common diseases
Pasteurellosis (Snuffles): A very common bacterial
respiratory infection causing sneezing, nasal discharge,
conjunctivitis and ear infections.
Coccidiosis: A protozoan disease causing severe
diarrhea, dehydration and high mortality, especially in
young rabbits.
Mange (Ear Canker/Skin Mange): Caused by mites,
leading to intense itching, scratching, hair loss and
scaly skin/ears.
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHDV): A highly
contagious, fatal virus causing sudden death, often
with fever and respiratory distress.
Health …..
Aflatoxicosis: It is a fungal disease caused due to
intake of feed contaminated with Aspergilus flavus.
Treatment consists of broad spectrum antibiotic
parenteraly to the sick animals. Multivitamin and
liver extract may be supplemented with feed &
water respectively.
Hind quarter paralysis: Sudden jerk, excitement,
paralysis, loss of control over urination and
defication. Affected animals should be slaughtered.
Health management……

Myxomatosis: A viral disease spread by

mosquitoes/ fleas, causing swelling of the eyes,
ears, and genital areas.
Gastrointestinal (GI) Stasis: A condition where the
digestive system slows or stops, often due to poor
diet, resulting in reduced or no feces.
Heat stroke: Common in Indian climate, symptoms
include rapid breathing, drooling, and lethargy.
Health management……
Prevention and Management
Hygiene: Regularly clean and disinfect cages,
water bottles, and feeders to prevent coccidiosis.
Vaccination: Vaccinate against RHDV and
Myxomatosis where available.
Diet: Provide high-fibre food to prevent digestive
issues.
Environment: Protect rabbits from extreme heat,
direct sunlight and mosquitoes.
Quarantine: Isolate new rabbits to prevent the
spread of contagious diseases.
 FEEDING MANAGEMENT
High-quality grass, green fodder, vegetables,
concentrate mash or pellet feed is an ideal diet for
rabbit.
Water is the most important nutrient for rabbits and
should be fresh and readily available.
Rabbit can thrive on a wide variety of
unconventional feed stuff like agricultural crop
residue eg. cow pea haulm (stem), peanut haulm; oil
cake eg. sunflower cake, neem seed meal,
cottonseed meal without any adverse effect.
Fruit industry by-product eg apple pomace, citrus
pulp; forest by product eg. mulberry leaves, tapioca
leaves, subabool leaf, aquatic plant eg. Azolla etc.
Roughages & Concentrate Feed
Roughages:
i) Grasses
ii) Green cereal plants
iii) Legumes
iv) Roots
v) Green vegetables
vi) Other plants
Concentrates
i) Energy supplements
ii) Protein supplements
Feed staff
Hay : Hay made from grass or legume
Grass : Guinea grass,
Napier grass,
Maize, Sorghum,
Alfalfa, Berseem, local grass

Roots: Turnips, radish, carrots, sweet potatoes, yams

Green leaves: Cabbage, spinach, lettuce, Banana leaves, various

weeds

Cereals & grains: Maize, Sorghum, millets, barley, Soya flour,

groundnut cake, cotton seed cake, meat, fish meal.
 Composition of the concentrate feed
Ingredient
Weaner(%) Finisher(%)

Crush maize 32 39
Wheat bran 25 24
Rice polish 15 15
Ground nut cake 15 10
Soyabean meal 10 10
Mineral mixture & Vitamin 2.5 1.5
Common salt 0.5 0.5
Feed requirements of rabbits (gms/day)
Greens+Veg/
[Link]. Particulars Concentrates Hay Fruit garden
waste

Breeding stock (on an

1 280 80 Ad lib
average)

2 Weaners (7-12 weeks) 60 30 Ad lib

3 Growers (13-24 weeks) 90 30-40 Ad lib

Adult rabbits (above 24

4 140 50-60 Ad lib
weeks)
Feeding management….

Regular time-table for feeding

The concentrate feed can be given twice, i.e.
once in the morning and in the afternoon
Breeding bucks are to be supplemented with
additional protein, vitamin and minerals in
diet.
An adequate supply of fresh and clean water
is essential for good rabbit production.
 REPRODUCTION MANAGEMENT
(a) Buck:
A buck develops its breeding capabilities at the
age of 8 months.
An ideal buck should continue to maintain its
reproductive ability at least for 3 years.
A young buck may be allowed to mate one doe
at an interval of 3 to 4 days. But from 12 months
of age onwards it may mate 4 - 6 does in 7 days.
A buck beyond 6 years of age should be culled.
REPRODUCTION MANAGEMENT……

(b) Doe:
A doe becomes capable to reproduce based on
breed, nutritional status and seasons. A smaller
breed attain sexual maturity at 4 - 5 months
whereas the larger breed at 6 - 7 months of age.

(c) Heat detection:

Rabbits are induced ovulators. A doe does not have
a set heat cycle, as such it can be bred all the year
round.
REPRODUCTION MANAGEMENT……

(d) Mating:
For mating the doe is taken to buck’s cage to
prevent fighting. On successful mating the buck
makes a typical sound and falls towards the
side. This shows the breeding is successful &
complete.
(e) Pregnancy:
The gestation (pregnancy) period in rabbit ranges
from 28 - 32 days. The nest box is to be kept within
the cage to facilitate the doe for preparing bedding
for the new born.
Preparation for kindling
The nest box is to be provided 5 - 6 days
before parturition. The nest box should
contain nesting materials like straw, grass,
wood savings etc.
A doe generally pullout some of her own
hairs to make nest for litters.
Adequate measures should be taken for
feeding and proper care during pregnancy
period.
Kindling (Parturition):
Kindling process may not require any human
interference. The kindling process usually
completes within 7 - 30 mins.
Following parturition the doe uses to lick the
young and may eat the placenta. The baby rabbits
will try to suckle the mother.
If the number of litter is more than eight, all may
be able to suckle since doe has eight teats.
The doe should not be disturbed and adequate
food and water should be provided so that
optimum amount of milk is available to the baby
rabbits.
Care of young ones
The kits are born hairless with their eyes closed.
They open their eyes by around 10-14 days.
The nest box is removed after 3rd week of
kindling, when the kits start coming outside the
box and try to consume feed.
Adequate feeding and watering is essential to
prevent the doe from crushing and eating the
kits.
Rabbits nurse their young only once daily,
usually at night or early in the morning
Weaning:
Weaning is a stressful period and requires
careful handling.
The weaning is done between 4th and 6th
week.
The doe should be removed from the cage
and the litter allowed to stay in the kindling
box for the next 3 to 4 weeks.
Sex of the young rabbit can be determined
one week after kindling by an experienced
person.
 RECORDS KEEPING
Records help in sound management and making
business decisions.
Records help to know whether the farm is running
in loss or profit.
Records give all information about productive and
reproductive performance of individual rabbit &
help decision making.
Following registers are to be maintained in a rabbit
farm.
i) Breeding register, ii) Kits register, iii) Herd
register, iv) Feed register, vi) Financial records.
RECORD KEEPING …..
Breeding register
Sl Dam Sire Date of Expected Date of Litter Remarks
No. No. No. service date of kindling size
kindling
1
2

Sale register
Sl ID Breed Sex Category Quantity Rate Amount Challan Bill No.
No. N (Rs) (Rs) No. & & Date
o. Date
1
2
RECORD KEEPING …..
Herd Register Month ……………
Suckling Weaned
Total Kits Total Grand
Pregnant Lactating Kits Kits Breeding
Date Total
does does bucks
(M+F)
M F M F M F M F

Kits register
Sl Dam Sire Date of Litter size Mortality Weaning Litter size at
No. No. No. Birth at Birth number Date weaning
RECORD KEEPING …..
Feed register
Date Kits Weaner Adult Pregnant Lactating Total feed Remarks
given (Kg)

Financial Records:
1. Cash Book
2. Sale Proceed Register
3. Expenditure records Register
 SHEARING
Shearing rabbits is a vital process to harvest wool,
typically done every 3 months, or when fiber reaches
5–6 cm. It is done using specialized electric clippers
or scissors to remove wool.
Shearing tool: It is recommended to use a pet-specific
clipper for shearing tools, which is easy to operate. If
you use scissors, you must be careful not to injure the
rabbit or cut the meat. Other necessary tools for
shearing, are combs, shears, hair boxes, etc.
Shearing time: Rabbits are sheared at the age of 50 to
60 days and should be sheared after every 90 days.
However, in areas and seasons with high
temperatures, breeding rabbits and female rabbits
can also be sheared once every 60 to 70 days.
After shearing, increase insulation to prevent cold.
Shearing……
Shearing should not be done on extreme cold days of December
and January
While shearing, care should be taken to cut the wool as close to
the skin in a single cut.
After shearing animal should be given protection against
adverse climate for 15 days.
The wool should be sorted out into various grades for better
marketing.
Avoid shearing of pregnant females 15 days before due date of
kindling.
Wool should be delivered in a clean manner to fetch premium
price.
 Project for Rabbit Farming
Following assumptions are made for calculation of economics: -
(a) One male : 8 – 10 female
(b) Breeding age: 6 months & above
(c) Produce 4 crops per year (5 litters per crop) = 20 kits per year
(d) Mortality: 10%
(e) Conception rate : 80%
(f) Weaner Marketing age : 45 days & above
(g) Adult slaughtering age : 180 days & above
(h) Dressing percentage : 65%
(i) Concentrate feed to roughages ratio : 20 : 80
(j) Labour (Man-animal ratio): 1 : 100 in cages system.
 Economics for a small scale Rabbitry
Sl No. Criteria Description

1 Name & Address :

2 Land : Own

3 Location of the Farm :

4 Breed to be reared : Soviet Chinchilla

5 Purpose of rearing : Breeding & Table purpose

6 Maximum herd strength : 50

7 System of housing : Hutch system

8 Labour : Family labour

1st Year Expenditure statement:
Capital investment:
Sl. No. Description/Rate etc Amount

Cost of 30 Chinchilla Rabbit (5M + 45F) of approx 90 days

1. old @ Rs. 450/- per animal including transportation Rs. 13,500/-
(30 x 450 )
Construction cost of Hutch @ 500/- per cft.
i) Active Breeding Does = 40 Nos @ 6 cft. /hutch
(40 x 6 x 500 = 1,20,000/-)
2. ii) Kindling hutch = 15 Nos @ 9 cft. /hutch Rs. 2,62,500/-
(15 x 9 x 500 = 67,500/-)
iii) Colony hutch = 5 Nos @ 1.5 cft/animal for 20
(5 x 1.5 x 20 x 500 = 75,000/-)
Equipment : Feeding trough & watering pail, waste carrier,
3. hand gloves, grooming brush etc . LS Rs. 5000/-

Total capital cost Rs. 2,81,000/-

Recurring Expenditure
Concentrate feed @ 280 gm/animal/day for 90 days
1. @Rs 40/- per kg (0.280 x 50 x 40 x 90 = Rs. Rs. 50,400/-
50400/-)
2. Medicines & Vaccination for 1st year. LS Rs. 5,000/-

3. Miscellaneous Rs. 2,000/-

Total recurring expenditure Rs. 57,400/-

Total Expenditure in 1st year = (Capital investment + Rs. 3,38,400/-

Recurring Expenditure)
Income:
Initially 3 month old rabbits are procured & they have to be reared for another 3
months till breeding. The 1 st crop may come out after another one month gestation
and 1½ month weaning period. As such 2 crops @ 5 kits/doe for 32 out of 40 (80%
conception rate) = 160 – 16 = 144 (10% mortality out of 160) kits will be ready to
sell .
Sl. No. Descriptiopn Amount

1. Sale of 144 weaned kits @ 300/- per kit Rs. 43,200/-

Sale of unproductive parent stock 5 nos @ Rs 250/

2. Rs. 3,125/-
per kg live wt. 5 x 250 x 2.5 kg

Sale of manure @ 9 gm/day/rabbit = 9 x 50 x 365

3. Rs. 1,640/-
=164 kg @ Rs 10/- per kg.

Total Income at the end of the 1st year Rs. 47,965/-

Net Income at the end of 1st year =(47965 - 57400) (-) Rs. 9,435/-
2nd year Expenditure statement: