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How to Start Rabbit Farming?

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How to Start Rabbit Farming

How to Start Rabbit Farming? Rabbit farming, like cattle farming, has become a popular micro-livestock farming company. Despite the fact that it involves hard effort and attention, it has the ability to create a good primary income as well as supplementary revenue sources.

It is also quite advantageous for both farmers and young entrepreneurs, as they can start this endeavour as a profitable agricultural business activity. In most parts of the world, rabbits are regarded pets and may not be deemed acceptable for killing for their flesh; as a result, they are frequently classified poultry rather than livestock in such countries.

What is a Rabbit Farm?

Cuniculture, or rabbit farming, is the agricultural technique of rearing domesticated rabbits as micro-livestock for meat, wool, and fur production. Wood and fur production is quite profitable, and their meat is regarded as the best after poultry birds.

An prospective rabbit farmer should be aware that good quality rabbit breeds, a housing, and good quality food are required. Following these measures will lead to a prosperous rabbit farming enterprise.

How to Start Rabbit Farming?

Rabbit Farm

1. Select a Space For Your Rabbitry

One advantage of rabbitry is that it can be done at home if you have adequate space; it does not require big acres of land even if you move into commercial farming. Rabbits can be raised free-range, but it is best to confine them to a housing or cage. The majority of rabbit breeders prefer an outdoor living area to provide them with fresh air and sunshine at all times, but the environment may not always enable them to do so.

Experts in the field say that rabbits profit more from being indoors than outdoors. This is because they are safer in cages than outside on free-range ways, where they can be easily ensnared by predators such as snakes, canines, and bugs that can hurt them.

2. Get a Mentor to Start Rabbit Farming

You will need a rabbit mentor who will advise you and provide basic information to ensure a successful farming procedure. Incorrect management of rabbits can result in their death or health challenges due to a lack of knowledge in this farming. As someone interested in rabbit farming, you should understand the whys and wherefores involved, which you may learn from an experienced farmer who has been in the business.

Before you build your rabbit cages or buy breed stock, make sure you have a mentor who can teach you everything, including how to feed. A mentor is someone who understands what you are about to embark on and to whom you can always turn if you encounter any difficulties along the way. You can easily locate a mentor by joining a rabbit club or hiring a rabbit farmer. You can also obtain the best breeding stock of rabbits from breeders who are members of these clubs.

3. Know The Breeds of Rabbit to Start Rabbit Farming

Know The Breeds of Rabbit - to Start Rabbit Farming

There are various breeds of rabbits. According to research, there are over 305 domesticated breeds in more than 70 nations worldwide. Domestic rabbit breeds include the European rabbit, the grand chinchilla, the lionhead rabbit, the English Angora, the mini lop, the English lop, the English Spot, the jersey woolly, the silver fox, the New Zealand white, the harlequin, the beveran rabbits, the continental giant rabbit, and many others.

Examine the breeds thoroughly before deciding on a breed. To avoid mismanagement, it is always best to start with one rabbit breed and then add others afterwards. Furthermore, selecting the breed of rabbit you wish to farm necessitates the consideration of a pet rabbit. You can use a large breed, such as an English lop or silver fox, if you have enough area for a cage twice the length of the rabbit. If not, consider a smaller breed such as lionhead.

4. Choose The Right Cage Size to Start Rabbit Farming

Choose The Right Cage Size - to Start Rabbit Farming

You must get a suitable sized cage for your rabbit because overcrowding can pose health hazards and cause stress. One thing to remember about rabbits is that they need to stretch their body after eating to get rid of gas traps that accumulate in their intestine while eating and while they are at rest. This animal’s stocking density is determined by the type of housing provided and the breed.

People frequently wonder, “How many rabbits can be grown in a cage?”

Putting two or more rabbits in the same cage necessitates a large suitable cage with adequate area allocation per rabbit. They can be raised in a cage, which is ideal for subsistence farming, or in a deep litter system, which is ideal for commercial farming since it allows them to walk freely and gives them access to grass, which is their primary source of nourishment.

5. Feeding Of Rabbits

Feeding Of Rabbits - to Start Rabbit Farming

Feeding rabbits is not difficult and will not cost you much money. Because they are herbivores, they can eat grass, but you can also feed them rabbit pellets and supplements to augment their regular diet. Rabbits fed premixed feed are said to reach the slaughter stage faster than those fed only herbs and hay. The premixed feed rabbit is ready for slaughter between 10 and 14 weeks, whereas the other can take up to 30 weeks.

In contrast, the fur of rabbits fed hay and vegetables will be mature and significantly superior to that of rabbits fed a premixed food. As a result, vegetables and leftovers are favoured over pellets for feeding rabbits. Make sure you have an enough supply of high-quality hay. Certain items, like as avocados, should be avoided because they can be detrimental to the rabbits’ health. Conduct thorough research to determine the list of foods that are harmful to rabbits and the ones that are best for them.

6. Rabbits Need Fresh Water Daily

Rabbits Need Fresh Water Daily

We all know that every living species, including rabbits, requires water to survive. The rabbit’s diet would be inadequate without freshwater. Get a clean plastic or metal bowl to place water in for these pets. To avoid bacteria growth, change the water your rabbits consume on a daily basis. Always keep in mind that rabbits are quickly dehydrated. On a daily basis, provide them with clean water in the water container that works best for them.

7. Environmental Care

Environmental Care

Keeping the surroundings clean at all times is critical because rabbits are susceptible to common infections and health issues. Coccidial infection, mite and lice infestation, and various viral and bacterial illnesses are among the diseases that affect rabbits. And they are readily attacked when the environment is contaminated or they are fed tainted food. As a result, it is critical that they disinfect and cleanse their environment thoroughly in order to keep it clean and dry at all times. A clean environment is an important tool for preventing rabbit diseases.

8. Establish A Ready Market

You do not need to be concerned about selling your rabbit; all you need to do is raise awareness of whether you are supplying for consumption or for trade. You can also offer rabbits to pet stores where they can be sold as pets, or you can open a pet supply business where you can sell them online or in-store, as well as to individuals and others who may require it for meat or fur. Getting your target market ready is critical from the start, regardless of whether the end product is fur, wool, or meat.

Conclusion

Rabbit farming is incredibly profitable and does not require as much infrastructure as chicken farming, making it a better choice if you are not financially secure. Most significantly, they reproduce and mature faster. Female rabbits may give birth to 5-9 kits every birth after only a month of gestation, which implies they can give birth to up to 40- 50 kits per year.

Another advantage of rabbit farming is that they require less room than other animals, resulting in the highest meat production per area. Taking the measures outlined above will assist you in achieving these benefits from a rabbit farming business.

Also Read: How Much Does it Cost to Start a Poultry Farm?

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