Bit keeper or it can be the breeder, must have some Livestock farmers knowledge of the principles of nutrition in order that he can work out his own system from the foods easily and cheaply available. Equally it must be remembered that in K3.5m boost rabb
Composition of feeding stuffs.
TVERY livestock keeper these days has in mind to bring up good animals for sale or for breeding. Today we are able to get dog meal (formulated specifically for these house pets. Fish feed (starter to finisher as in the case with poultry production).
So in this case there is nothing impossible to formulate a feed that would be suitable for our domesticated rabbit. And since it is in confinement it must therefore have the best of the formulated feed to suit its needs as if it were in in the natural field HE of its Sub-Sahara own. Therefore, African the correct Farmers nutrition of Organisation the domesticated rabbit is (SSAFO), the most an importentity ant that aspect empowers of rabbit communities keeping. through There various is no good rabbit so good that poor nutrition will not ruin, nor any so bad that good feeding will not improve. An animal which is not well fed cannot give of its best, and when it is realized that by far the greatest cost of producing rabbits lies in feeding stuffs, the importance of correct feeding is very evident.
Rabbits kept on small scale either in homes or farms, the range of feeding stuffs on which the domesticated rabbit will live is very wide indeed. Here we can use agricultural house grown programmes, foods, the variety has disbursed is very K3.5 wide million indeed. to Under members these in Zambia. circumstances the Over rabbit 3,480 farmer members or keeper benwould efited from be enabled the disbursement to raise rabbits last year through who would the Livestock otherwise Wealth be Investments. unable to do so.
This About means K270, 000 that is the yet to rab- be
Roughages (hays and similar materials)
2. Succulent feedstuffs paid (grass, to 67 members. roots, and all
Munyaradzi green foods) Cedric 3. Muronda, Concentrates the (all cereals SSAFO President, and their said by-products the organisation and had animal been rearing products chickens on behalf such as of fish the meal, investors meat that mainly meal comprise etc.) of youths unAll der these a mentorship feeding stuffs programme men
1.
called Consolidated Young tioned Entrepreneurs contain similar Programme constituents in varying propor
(SSAFO/CYEP)’.
tions. These constituents
Mr Muronda said SSAFO
can be the main source of energy aimed at and promoting heat that large the scale animal or macro-chicken needs. In the production. animal’s body "Since and inception any surplus last year, of these the programme is stored in has the body demonas fat. strated Proteins that poultry are needed farming for the can sake empower of building communities and repairing with household muscle and income hair. from For minerals the comfort they of are their needed homes for as chemical the organisation regulation keeps and for the production chickens on and behalf repair of the of certain members tissues. thus help Vitamins to alleviate are required poverty. in health maintenance. "For the production cost of The K35 food per bird requirements with a bulk of the off take rabbit. market price of K60 per Rabbits bird, investors of earn different K25 weights, per bird over ages, a period and of condi8- 12
tions i.e. resting, in kindle,
weeks," he said in a statement.
suckling etc., will obviously need different rations, both in bulk and constitution. Any food that is to be given to the rabbits at least should be of two types. That is maintenance, this type is used for maintaining the animal without loss or increase in weight, and without production of any sort. The other part of the ration that is required is for growth or production.
When rearing rabbits at every stage or level their nutrition requirements differs. This is the same as the big animals like cattle at every stage of their feed requirements varies e.g. pregnancy or lactating. If it is a carrying
Mr Muronda said the first
doe (female rabbit), for the
cycle started with 240 mem
production of healthy well developed bers and that young 5000 and broilers a satisfactory were grown milk with supply a disbursein this doe, ments her valued nutrition at K300 must 000. be on He a rising said the plane programme throughout had pregnancy. been growing The ever food since, supply reshould cruiting not a total however of 3485 be memfattening bers with for over this K3. will 5 not million give satisfactory being disbursed. results. The diet for "The such programme an animal should is importbe
ant because from inception the organisation has grown from a primary SMALL-SCALE producer to developing an in house brand called Town and Country Organic Farm Rabbits products. kept
"The organisation process
on small scale
es the chickens into cuts, cold
either in homes
meats (polony), chicken sau
or farms,
sages," he said.
As part of value addition, he
the range of feeding stuffs on which the domesticated rabbit will live is very wide indeed. Here we can use house grown foods, the variety is very wide indeed.
Water requirements rabbit.
Water is part of the required nutrient. Therefore, the question as to whether domestic rabbits should be given water or not should the said, SSAFO had developed
not arise. Water is life. It is possible a distributor to maintain program rabbits which without allowed the free members water if to suffibe cient distributors green of food the or various roots are Chicken fed. products The rabbits under can Town be maintained and Country on Organic a green Farm food diet products. which contains considerable Mr Muronda water. This explained can come that mainly the programme's from the foods aim was which to are macro easily produce and cheaply various availagriable cultural – from produce the gardens. for export and Rabbits to assist can in timely lose nearly paying all out the of investors fat from returns. their bodies, and "The more organisation than half the has proalso tein called and on remain the public alive, to but take a loss interest of one-tenth in Agriculture of the as waone ter can of still the be body formally will employed result in death. and still The be rabbit a successful can live farmfor a er relatively without long conflicting," time with Mr
solid food, but lack of moisMuronda said.
ture very quickly produces harmful effects.
Water is essential as a constituent of all parts of the body, and without it no food could be digested. The maintenance of effective elimination of harmful products via the urine is dependent upon sufficient water.
The water requirements of the rabbits are variable. It is relatively a good deal higher in the young rabbit than in the old, and thus a shortage of water in early life has much more serious effect and even a restricted amount of water may seriously retard growth.
Finally, some foods are definitely harmful to domestic rabbits. Under commercial conditions it is not likely that these will often be used, but for those probably feeding a large proportion of home collected foods may encounter them. Potato leaves and tomato haulm are harmful to rabbits. And so when it comes to feed from the garden greens one has to be careful.
To those who want to start keeping livestock as a form of livestock production, start with rabbits then grow. By the way the market is available, so it is not a waste of one’s time. Equally you are able to supply your kitchen with meat from your own effort.
between 16 and 18% protein and with a mineral content of 5 to 6%.
of
THE Department of Fisheries and Livestock in Kabompo district in North Western Province has cautioned farmers to report any livestock movement from other areas as there is an outbreak of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) disease.
District Veterinary coordinator, Geshom Chungu said movement of any type of livestock should be reported as the disease is capable of wiping out the districts livestock population in a very short time.
Dr. Chungu said this in Kabompo yesterday during a stakeholders IDP validation meeting.
"We have an outbreak of CBPP livestock disease which has affected almost the whole district, thus all movement of animals should first be reported to the department of veterinary", Dr. Chungu said.
He said the veterinary department is currently encouraging to slaughter any animal found being suspected to have CBPP as a way of reducing the further spread.
Speaking at the same event, District Commissioner, Patrick Kasoka cautioned the general public to look out for unscrupulous people coming in the district with unauthorized livestock empowerment programmes as they are likely to be swindled.
"I am aware of organizations that are coming in the district through individuals that have come with unknown livestock empowerment programmes and soliciting for money, kindly report to my office as people are being swindled," Eng. Kasoka said.
He said he is aware of certain organizations currently in the district soliciting people to contribute money and in return receive various livestock such as goats and village chickens.
Eng. Kasoka therefore, appealed to the general public to report such individuals or organizations to the police as many people have reported to be swindled through such activities.
He also gave a two weeks ultimatum to Kabompo residents through the traditional leadership to ensure that all animals were confined to reduce the increased number of stray animals in the township.
"Let me take this opportunity to appeal through the traditional leadership to ask our people to confine their cattle, pigs and goats to help us reduce the number of stray animals in the district as well as the CBPP livestock disuse," Eng. Kasoka said.
Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of Kabompo public health office, Mahongo Kabanda said the local authority in collaboration with the fisheries and livestock department will soon conduct an animal cropping exercise for stray animals roaming in the township.
"The local authority together with the fisheries and livestock department will soon conduct a cropping exercise for stray dogs and animals if people do not adhere", Mrs. Kabanda said.
She said various sensitizations have been carried out thus it is expected that the general public will adhere to public health regulations by confining their livestock in the district. -ZANIS/