Mr

sKei
ght

RABBI
TPRODUCTI
ON

Terms
Doe:Femal er abbi
t
Buck:Mal erabbit
Li
tter
: Groupofy oungr abbi
ts
Rabbitry:Rabbithouse
Kindl
ing:Givingbirt
h
Gestationperiod:Pregnancy

Br
eedsofrabbi
ts
*NewZealandWhit
e *Angora *Chi
nchi
ll
a
*NewZealandRed *Fl
emishGiant *Ear
lops
*Cal
if
orni
aWhite *Checker
edgiant

Fact
orst
oconsi
derbef
orest
art
ingr
abbi
tpr
oduct
ion

[Link]
mer
’sknowl
edgeandski
l
ls:
Thef
armershoul
dhav
eski
l
lsonhowt
orai
ser
abbi
ts

[Link]
ail
abi
l
ityofmar
ket
:Thef
armershoul
dfi
ndouti
fther
eisdemandf
orr
abbi
tandr
abbi
tpr
oduct
s

[Link]
ail
abi
l
ityofcapi
tal
:Thef
armershoul
dhav
emoneyt
obuyal
lthei
nputneedede.
[Link]
ches,
feedse.
t.
c

4Av
ail
abi
l
ityofwat
er:
Ther
emustbear
eli
abl
esour
ceofwat
er

[Link]
ail
abi
l
ityofl
abour
:Rel
i
abl
eandl
i
ter
atewor
ker
sar
eneededt
ohel
pint
heent
erpr
ise

[Link]
l
abi
l
ityofbreedingstock:Theremustbear
eli
abl
esour
ceofbr
eedi
ngst
ocki
nor
derf
ort
hef
armert
o
sel
ectt
her
ightbr
eedf orhi
s/herpurpose

[Link]
imat
iccondi
ti
ons:Thef
armershoul
dfi
ndway
sofr
educi
nghi
ght
emper
atur
essi
ncer
abbi
tscanwi
thst
and
col
dbett
erthanheat
.

Pr
epar
ati
onst
omakebef
oreacqui
ri
ngr
abbi
tsf
orabusi
ness

*Cleananddi sinfectrabbithousesandhut ches

*Cov erthef l
oorwi thfreshbeddi [Link]
*Feeder sanddr inkersshouldbecl eaned
*PlaceFeeder sanddr inkersingoodposi ti
on
*Medi cines,drugsandv accinesshoul dbeav ail
ed
*Ensur esuffici
entpr otecti
onf r
om pr edat
or s,
thiev
esandsuddennoi
se
*Hirequal i
fi
edst af
ftot akecareofr abbit
s
*Availcor r
ectf eeds

Rabbi tproducti
onmet hods/syst
ems
[Link]
ensivesystem [Link]
ntensi
vesyst
em c. Ext
ensive
system
[Link]
Rabbi tsarekeptindoorsinsi
dear abbi
thouse
Food,wat erandotherrequir
ement sareprov
idedbythefarmer.I
tiseasi
ert
oobser
veandmanagerabbi
[Link]
met hodr equir
eshighiniti
ali
nvest
ment

Ty
pesofi
ntensi
vesy
stem: i
.Deepl
i
ttersy
stem i
i
.Hut
ches

i
.Deepli
tt
ersyst
em:Rabbit
sar ekepti
nahousewit
hlit
teront
hef l
oorasbeddi
[Link]
erar
epr
ovi
ded
i
nsi
detherabbi
tr
[Link]
i
tterusedcanbesawdust
,str
awordrygrass

1|
Page
 Mr
sKei
ght

<>Thel
it
teri
simport
antbecausei
t:
 Absorbsmoistur
e
 Provi
descomfort
 Provi
dewarmthwheni t
’scol
d
<>Thedi
sadvant
ageist
hattherei
shighri
skofdi
seasesandpar
asi
tesi
nfest
ati
onundert
hesy
stem

i
[Link]
ches:Rabbi
tsarekeptincagescal
l
edhutches
Rabbi
tscanbekeptindi
vidual
lyori
nsmallergr
[Link]
erar
epr
ovi
dedi
nsi
det
hehut
ches.

[Link]
ensiv
e/mor antsystem
Rabbi
tsarekeptingr
azinghutcheswhi
chmustbemov
eddai
l
ytof
reshpast
ures.
Waterandfeedsareprovi
dedforther
abbi
ts.

[Link]
vesystem /opengrazingmet hod
Rabbitsarekeptoutdoor
sonf encedpast ur
es.
Rabbitsfendforthemsel
vesandl it
tl
ef oodmaybepr
ovi
[Link]
eri
spr
ovi
dedf
ort
her
abbi
[Link]
epr
ovi
ded
withsimpleboxesforshelt
er
<>Iti
sacheapmet hodbutproductivi
tyisveryl
ow

ABUDGETFORARABBI
TENTERPRI
SE

Abudgetisanest
imateofhowmuchmoneyt hebusi
nessisexpectedt
ospendandrecei
veafteraper
iodoft
ime.
<>I
tisprepar
edbefor
estart
ingabusi
nesst
of i
ndouti
fthebusinesswi
llmakepr
ofi
torloss.

Expect
edincome Expectedcosts
I
tem Amount(P) It
em Amount(
P)
Saleof100rabbi
ts@P50each 5000.
00 3does@ P60each 180.
00
Saleof10bagsofrabbi
tmanur
e@P25bag 250.
00 1buck@ P70each 70.
00
4hutchesfor@ P170each 1050.
00
8troughs@ P50each 400.
00
10bagsofpel l
ets@P60perbag 600.
00
Labourcosts@ P300 300.
00
Medicines@ P250 250.
00
TOTAL 5250.
00 TOTAL 2850.
00

 Showwhet
hert
hebusi
nesswi
l
lbepr
ofi
tabl
eornot
.Showy
ourwor
king

Pr
ofi
t/l
oss=Tot
alexpectedincome–Totalexpect
edcost
s
P5250.00–P2850.
00
=P2400.00

 Thebusi
nesswi
l
lmakepr
ofi
t

2|
Page
 Mr
sKei
ght

MANAGEMENTOFRABBI
TS
*Housi
ng *Feedi
ng *Br
eedi
ng
*Handl
i
ng *Sexi
ng

[Link]
ng

Si
gnifi
canceofhousi ngrabbits
*Protectionfrom harshweat hercondit
ionssuchasexcessi
veheat,col
dandrai
n.
*Protectionfrom predat
ors
*Protectionfrom thi
eves
*Facil
itateseasymanagementofr abbi
tsi.e.f
eedi
ngandprovi
sionofwater
*Helpsi ncontroll
i
ngandpr event
ingspreadofdiseasesandpar
asit
es
*Helpst ocont r
olbreedi
ng
*Preventsr abbi
tsfrom goingastray(getti
nglost
)

[Link]
ng

Ty
pesofrabbi
tfeeds
<>Rabbi
tsareherbi
vor
ouswhi
chmeanst
heyf
eedonpl
antmat
eri
als

i
.[Link]
ass,spi
nachleav
es,cabbage,
let
tuce,
carr
ots,hay
i
i
.Concentrat
ese.g.r
abbitpel
l
ets,gr
oundnuts,
soyabeancake,sunfl
owerseeds
i
i
[Link]
[Link]
s

Other
sfeed:bread,bi
scuit
s,cr
ushedoat
s
Youngrabbi
ts:suckl
emilkupto4-6weeks

Donotfeedrabbitswit
h:
*TomatoandI r
ishpotatol
eavesast
heyar
epoi
sonoust
orabbi
ts
*Spi
nachseedlingsbecauset
heymaycausedi
arr
hea
*Bul
bsv eget
[Link]
ons

I
mportanceoff eedingrabbit
s
*Promotesgrowt h
*I
mpr ovesmilkpr oduct
ioninlact
ati
ngdoes
*Reducesmor tal
ityamongy oungones
*I
ncreasesresistancetodiseases
*I
mpr ovesf
ertil
ity.

I
mpor t
anceofpr ovidi
ngrabbit
swithwater
*Formationofblood
*Formationofmi lk
*Helpsindigesti
on
*Coolsandr egul
atesbodyt emperat
ure
*Transportsubstancesaroundthebody
*I
tisamedi um f
orchemical r
eact
ions
*Helpsinexcreti
onofbodywast e
*Maintai
nst heshapeofbodycel l
s

[Link]
i
ng

Rabbi
tsmaybehandl
edf
orsexi
ng,
clawt
ri
mmi
ng,
inspect
ionormov
ingt
hem f
rom onecaget
oanot
her
.

I
mportanceofhandl
i
ngrabbit
scareful
l
yandgent
ly:
*Thei
rbonesarenotst
rong
*Thei
rbackbonecaneasi
lybreakwhendr
oppeddown

3|
Page
 Mr
sKei
ght

*Thei
rear
sareeasil
ystret
chedatthebase
*Theyar
eeasi
lyfr
ightenedbysuddenmovement
sandnoi
se

 NB:
Nev
erl
i
ftr
abbi
tsbyt
hei
rear
sast
hisi
spai
nful
andmayi
njur
ethem.

Met
hodsofhandl
i
ngr
abbi
ts
i
.Pel
vi
cmet
hod i
i
.Scr
uffmet
hod

i
.Pelv
icmethod
I
tisusedinyoungrabbi
ts.
Holdther
abbitbet
weenhipsandr
ibs,
wit
htheheadf
aci
ngdownwar
ds

i
[Link]
fmethod
I
tisusedinadultr
abbit
s.
Holdtherabbi
tbytheski
noftheneckj
ustabov
etheshoul
der
,theot
herhandpl
acedundert
het
ail
tosuppor
tit
s
weight,
headfaci
ngupwards.

Transpor
ti
ngrabbi
ts
<>Holdtherabbi
tcl
oset
oyourbodywi
thi
tsf
acet
uckedi
ntoy
ourar
[Link]
smakesi
tver
ycomf
ort
abl
e.

<>Atr
anspor
tboxi susedtomov erabbi
tsduri
nglongdi
[Link]
for
atedt
oal
l
ow f
ree
mov
ementofairandpr
eventr
abbi
tsfr
om suff
ocat
ing

[Link]
ngrabbi
ts
Sexi
ngischecki
ngwhet
heray
oungr
abbi
tismal
eorf
emal
e.I
tisdoneat8–12weeks.

<>I
tisdonet
osot
hatbuckscanbesepar
atedf
rom doeswhent
heyar
est
il
lyoungt
ocont
rol
breedi
ng.
4|
Page
 Mr
sKei
ght

Procedureforsexingrabbit
s
[Link]
ttherabbitbythescruff
[Link] l
atsurfaceonitsback
[Link] uraroundthegeni
tal
openi
ngtoexposethesexual
organs.
<>Ifiti
sabuckapeni swillbeseenandavagi
nawil
lbeseenifiti
sadoe.

[Link]
ngrabbi
ts
Rabbitar
ereadyformat
ingatsi
xmont
[Link]
ymat
ewhent
hedoei
sonheat
.

Si
ngsofheatindoes
Doemount sonotherdoes
Doebecomesr est
less
Vul
vaturnsreddi
sh( pur
pli
sh)andenl
arged
Mucusdischargefr
om v ul
va
Doeli
ft
sitstai
l

Car
eforpr
egnantrabbi
ts
 NB: Gestat
ionper
iodf
orr
abbi
tsi
s30day
s.

*Separateapregnantrabbi
tfrom ot
herdoes
*Placeanestboxinsidethedoe’shutch
*Availcl
eanfeedsandwat er
*Placeli
tter(
sawdust )i
[Link]
l
lpul
lfurf
rom herbodyandl
i
nei
tint
henestboxt
omake
apropernest.

Car
efory
oungr
abbi
tsaf
terki
ndl
i
ng

*Remov edeadones
*Remov edeformedandweakki ndli
ngs
*Keepthem inquietenvi
ronment
*Ensurethatthekindl
i
ngssuckle
*Avoidtouchi
ngnewbor nr abbi
tsbecauset
hemot
hercanabandonorki
l
lthem

RABBITPARASI
TES
Aparasi
tei
sanani
mal
thatl
i
vesonori
nanot
heror
gani
sm f
orsur
viv
al

Ty
pesofpar
asi
tes
i
.Int
ernal
par
asi
tes i
i
.Ext
ernal
par
asi
tes

i
.Inter
nalparasi
tes:Theyl
i
vei
nsi
det
hebodyoft
hehostani
mal
.e.
g.r
oundwor
ms,t
apewor
m, cocci
dia,
hai
rworms,
pinworms

i
i
.Ext
ernal
par
asi
tes:
Theyl
i
veout
sidet
hebodyoft
hehostani
mal
.e.
g.l
i
ce,
fleas,
earmi
tes,
ticks

[Link]
ms

5|
Page
 Mr
sKei
ght

i
.Li
fecy
cleofr
oundwor
ms

i
[Link]
fect
sofr oundwor msonr abbits
*Theycausel oweredr esi
stancet odisease
*Theyuseupnut r
ientsintheintestineofrabbit
s.
*Rabbit
slooseappet it
eandgr owpoor ly
*Theycausedi ar
rhea
*Seri
ousattackcanl eadtodeat hofr abbit
s
*Theycausel ossofwei ghtandl owpr oducti
on

i
ii
.Controlandpr eventi
onmeasur es
*Giv
er abbit
sf reshfeedsandcleanwat er
*Avoidgrazingr abbi
tsonwetar eas.
*Keepdr i
nkingandf eedingcontainersclean
*Keept hesurroundingscleanandf reeofwastematt
er.
*Giv
ewor mr emedyt ogetridofinternalpar
asi
tes

[Link]
tes

i
.Li
fecycl
eofearmites
Thecy
cleiscompl
etedin21day
sandt
heent
ir
eli
fecy
clei
sspentont
heearoft
hehost

[Link]
tesmateandfemalel
ayseggs
[Link]
chintolarv
ae
[Link]
aedevel
opsi nt
onymphs
[Link]
opint
oadul
tmi
tes

i
[Link]
ectsonrabbit
s
*Theysuckbloodcausi nganaemia
*Theybi t
eandcausepai n
*Theycauseirri
tat
ion
*Theycausediseaseslikeearcanker
*Theyleadtolossofbodycondi t
ion
*Theyleadtol
owr esist
ancetodiseases
*Theyleadtolowpr oducti
on

6|
Page
 Mr
sKei
ght

i
ii
.Controlmeasures
*I
solateaff
ectedrabbit
stopreventspreadofmit
es
*Quaranti
neofnewl yboughtr
abbitsfor3weeks.
*Cleananddisinf
ecttherabbi
thutches
*Burnthebeddingusedbyaf f
ectedrabbit
s
*Changebeddingr egul
arl
y.

RABBITDISEASES
*Cocci
diosis *Earcanker *Mast
it
is(
bluebr
east
)
*Ri
ngwor m *Bloat(enter
it
is) *Weepyeyes(conj
unct
ivi
ti
s)
*Vent(r
abbitsy
phi
li
s) *Urinehutchburn

Commondi
seasesandt
hei
rcauses

DISEASE CAUSE
Coccidiosis Prot
ozoa
Bloat Eati
ngalotoff
reshgr
eenl
eav
es
Mast i
ti
s Bacter
ia
Vent Bacter
ia
Earcanker Earmites
Ringwor m Fungus
Urinehutchbur
n Bacter
ia

[Link] di
osis
Cause: Protozoa
Transmi ssion:spreadt hr oughcont aminateddr opping
Sympt oms: *Smel l
ywat erydr oppings
*Dul l
ness
*Potbel ly(swollenst omach)
*Lossofwei ght
*Lossofappet ite
*Roughf urcoat
*Stagger i
ngwhenmov ing
*Suddendeat h
Treatment : *Treatr abbitswi t
hcoccidiostats
*Addsul phamet hazinesoluti
ont odrinki
ngwat
er.
Control:*Av oidcont ami nat i
onoff oodandwat erbyfaeces.
*Cleananddi sinf ecthut ches
*Isolatesickrabbi t
st oav oidspreadofpr ot
ozoa
*Bur nbodiesofdeadr abbi t
stoki l
lpr
ot ozoa
*Bur nthebeddi ngusedbyaf fectedrabbits

[Link]
Cause: Eati
ngtoomanyf reshgr eenleaves
Transmi ssi
on:
Cannotbet ransmi tt
ed.
Sympt oms:Swol l
enstomachf il
ledwithgas
Treatmentandcont r
ol:*Allowt herabbitstoexer
ciseoutsi
det
orel
easet
he
gas.
*Injectsoapywat eri
ntotheanus.

7|
Page
 Mr
sKei
ght

[Link]
Cause: Fungus
Transmi ssion:Contactwi thi nfectedrabbi
t
Sympt oms: *Br ownpat chesont heskin
*Scalyskin
*Scratchingt hebody
*Lossoff ur
Treatment :ApplyTer ramy cinonaf f
ectedparts
Control:*Isolatesickani mal s
*Burnt hebeddi ngusedbyaf fect
edrabbi
ts
*Cleananddi sinf
ecthut ches

[Link]
Cause: Earmi tes
Transmi ssion:Mi t
es
Sympt oms: *Redpat chesont heears.
*Headshaki ng.
*Earscr atching.
Treatment :Applyearmi teointment
Control:*Isolatesickani mals
*Bur nthebeddi ngusedbyaf fect
edrabbi
ts
*Cleananddi sinfecthutches

[Link]
it
is
Cause: Bact eri
a
Transmi ssion:Bacteriapasst hroughtheteat
s
Sympt oms: *Swol lenteat
s
*Mot herdoesnotwantt heyoungonest
osuckl
e
*Breast smayt urnbl
ackorpurpl
e
*Hight emperature
Treatment :Antibiot
icse. [Link]
amy ci
n
Control:*Pr acti
cegoodhy gi
ene.
*Isolatethesi ckrabbit
s.

RABBI
TPRODUCTSANDBY-
PRODUCTS

PRODUCTS BYPRODUCTS
*Meat *Manur
e *Bones
*Fur *Bl
ood

Meat:Whit
emeati sri
chi
nprot
eins,mineral
sandvit
aminsandit
’sgoodf
orpeopl
esuf
fer
ingf
rom gout
.
Fur
:Iti
sprocessedtomakeexpensiv
eclothessuchashats,
glov
esandcoat
s.
Manure:Afer
ti
li
zerusedt
oimprovesoilfert
il
it
y.
Bones:Theyareusedasfoodforpetssuchascats.

8|
Page
 Mr
sKei
ght

Pr ng/dr
ocessi essi
ng/sl
aught
eri
ngr
abbi
ts

[Link]
her abbithar dbehindheadt okil
li
t.(
Kill
i
ng)
[Link]
[Link] hebackl egssoast odrainoutbl
ood(
bleedi
ng)
[Link] hehockj oi
nts.
[Link] eskinf rom thebody( ski
nning)
[Link] eoffals( evi
scerat
ion)
[Link] hecar casswi thcl
eanwat er(cl
eani
ng)
[Link] hecar cass
[Link]
nar ef
ri
ger ator

Mar
ket
ingr
abbi
tpr
oduct
sandby
-pr
oduct
s

*Rabbi
tsaresoldli
veorasdr essedcar
casses(meat)
*Rabbi
tmeatcanbesol dt oconsumerssuchashotelandr
est
aur
antowner
s
*Furi
ssoldtoindustr
iesthatmakepeltgarment
s.
*Manurei
ssoldt ovegetabl
egr ower
s
*Bonesaresol
dt opetowner s

*
**THEEND*
**

9|
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