Posted by Jane Okinedo on January 13, 2010 at 8:00pm
Rabbits are monogastric animals. They are medium-sized hopping mammals with long legs, long ears and short tails. A marked rise in rabbit projects in developing countries has been observed within the past 15 years.Let the Web Work 4 ! You Affordable Online Marketing & A.d.v.e.r.t.i.s.i.n.g on http://www.9jabook.com call oremail:info@systemini.nettwitter:systeminilinkedin:systeminitel +234-0806 495 0565,234-07083793511,234-0705888839444-7894214683,The expansion may be attributable to an increased awareness of the potential of small scale rabbit production for the majority of the world's subsistence rural and semi urban inhabitants. Rabbits were first introduced into many developing countries such as Tanzania, Nigeria, Egypt, China and Mexico by their colonial settlers and missionaries. The common breeds of rabbit are Angora, chinchilla, Flemish giant and white New Zealand.Benefits of rearing rabbitsThe main reason rabbits are now being preferred by some farmers for rearing purposes is because it is easy to house. They have a short gestation period of 30 to 31 days and they are very prolific animal, that is they can produce many litters. In this category, they are next to pigs. Other advantages are that they are efficient converters of a wide range of vegetables matters into meat, they have a rearing period of six to eight weeks and they have a high rate of disease resistance. Rabbits are reared for their meat and the meat is generally regarded as white meat. They make good quality meat, which is averagely more delicious and more nutritious than that of the chicken. They also readily adapt to any environment.Rabbit meat is a good source of protein. The meat quality is good and it is a white meat that is tender, palatable and not fatty. This type of meat is presently being recommended for patients with cardiac problems, diabetes and high blood pressure. Apart from the meat, the rabbit skin can be used for making jackets, head gear, carpets and rugs and other decorative household ornaments. High graded furs have a place in the international market. Already several importers in some countries in Africa, are known to patronise the Nigeria rabbit market, as it is of high demand in such countries.Protecting rabbitsLike other livestock specie, rabbits need protection from adverse environmental conditions, including protection against predators, while ample sunlight and ventilation are important, either conditions may limit production.Air quality is also of major concern in the control of respiratory diseases, such as pasteurellosis and pneumonia. Ambient temperature and humidity levels likewise are particularly relevant to tropical and arid environment. It is well established that high ambient temperature can cause infertility in breeding rabbits. Hence, breeders are expected to take basic measures to ensure greater comfort for their breed. Rabbit needs basic shelter to sustain modest production. It is fortuitous that the building materials required for construction of simple sheds, hutches, nest boxes, and watering equipment are generally in the tropical countries.The following measures must be adopted in the rabbitry, by cleaning the floor of the rabbitry daily, disinfect the rabbitry at regular intervals to keep it free from germs, clean the feed and water troughs to prevent contamination, isolate any sick animal for treatment, de-worm the rabbits at regular intervals, keep the rabbitry weed free, and provide a disinfectant bath or foot dip at the entrance to prevent the introduction of germs into the rabbitry. Precautions must be taken against predators, though some look friendly or harmless yet they can attack terribly. No matter where you live, predators are a potential problem to your rabbitry, so you must embark on preventive measures before the predators strike, rats, snakes, cats, dogs are examples of such predators.Next week we shall look at the economic significance of rabbit in Nigeria.
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