Demystifying rabbit farming

The rabbit industry in Zimbabwe is slowly developing and is currently composed of many backyard farmers.

THERE is a significant number of hobbyists with some very active in social media groups. Rabbit farming is a business and has a great potential to create sustainable livelihoods for many families in the country.

This is supported by the movement towards the healthier choices of meat, high prolificacy and easy integration with other farming systems and many other advantages.

There are key pillars that enable a farmer to realise profit from a rabbitry.

These are market, technical knowhow, quality breeding stock, rabbitry setup and feed costs.

In this article, I demystify rabbit farming by discussing these pillars and the current efforts and challenges and solutions in developing the industry.

Market

The world production of rabbit meat is over 2 billion kgs. The four biggest world’s producers are China, Italy, Spain and France.

Consumption of rabbit meat continues to grow worldwide with Africa not legging behind.

The demand is being driven by the movement towards healthier choices of meat where rabbit meat compared to other meats has been found to be highest in protein, lowest in fat, lowest in sodium, highest in calcium, highest in phosphorous and lowest in cholesterol.

The United States Department of Agriculture has declared rabbit meat as the most nutritious meat known to mankind.

In our country, the interest in lower fat diets and healthy food has led to an increased demand for rabbit meat.

The demand was triggered a few years ago after rabbit growers came together to form the first association for breeders - Rabbit Breeders and Producers Association.

It is pleasing to note that the association has penetrated the retail outlets with the brand Rabbitos. Contracts have been signed with major chain stores and Rabbitos is now available only in selected outlets.

RBPAZ works with its members with regards to supply of breeding stock and buying progeny.

In 2017, RBPAZ is conscientizing consumers on the benefits of rabbit meat as well as ensuring its availability at arm’s length. This, we believe will drive demand for meat and breeding stock.

Technical know-how

There are considerable constrains to the development of the rabbit industry in Zimbabwe.

Training on management, research and development on rabbit health and diseases is key.

RBPAZ conducts free training for its members as an induction into rabbit farming.

The training covers breeds, breed selection, nutrition, management, health, reproduction and economics of production.

Various workshops will be held throughout the country as well as refresher courses for existing farmers.

Quality breeding stock

Many new farmers mistakenly believe any female rabbit is a breeding doe (seed).

This is not true and has significantly affected the profitability of many new rabbitries.

Rabbit breeding or the production of breeding stock is a branch of animal science which requires a basic understanding of genetics and breeding systems.

RBPAZ breeders go through a full day training on how to breed rabbits for production.

This is to ensure a quality breeding stock is distributed to farmers.

Some of the phenotype and genotype breeders aim to include feed conversion efficiency, good mothering ability, high growth rate and high meat to bone ratio.

Breeding stock is selected on the basis of health, adaptability, genetic quality and earlier mentioned qualities.

The Department of Research and Specialist Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanization and Irrigation Development is conducting research on rabbit farming to help the industry.

Rabbitry setup

Rabbit producers should ensure their animals are raised in a conducive environment for optimum growth and production.

Narrow and long structures are recommended to ensure good ventilation and elimination of ammonia and other gases.

It is highly recommended to raise rabbits in cages with self-cleaning floors than a deep litter system. RBPAZ is working with various suppliers of housing and cages to reduce initial start-up costs.

Maximum rabbit productivity should be achieved all-yearround. This can only be necessitated by maintaining a conducive environment for growth and reproduction.

A good environment will protect rabbits from possible physical or biophysical and pathological aggressions.

It is highly recommended that farmers research on weather pat- terns of their areas.

It is not recommended to put solid walls on cages as this can make necessary adjustments to suit environmental conditions a challenge.

A rabbitry is divided into two sections - breeders and growers.

The breeders’ section houses all breeding does and bucks in individual cages.

The individual cages are meant to avoid fighting and pseudo-pregnancy.

Does’ cages should allow space for nest-boxes. Some breeders prefer a separate water supply for this section to allow for the use of drugs and nutritional supplements.

Growers’ section houses rabbits for 60-90 days during fattening or until they reach suitable slaughter or selling weights.

Weaners are raised in group cages at the density of about 12 per m2.

Other rabbitries have included does in this area for a few days after weaning to reduce weaning stress.

Production/Feed costs

Less knowledgeable farmers are incurring high feed costs.

Feeds constitute 75-80% of production costs, therefore farmers need to ensure a proper feeding regime without compromising the growth of their rabbits.

This means for every $10 spent on production, $7.50 represents feed cost.

There are two approaches to rabbit nutrition and feeding, adlib feeding and restricted feeding. The latter is highly recommended for commercial production. A combination of adlib good quality hay, adlib water and restricted pellets reduces production costs while ensuring optimum growth of the rabbits.

Rabbit farmers should, however be careful not to restrict feed at the expense of growth and reproductive performance.

A kilogram of rabbit pellets is going for 0,60cents.

The total cost of raising a rabbit up to selling point should not exceed $3,00 per kilogram when following the above regime.

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