ULTIMATE GUIDE TO RABBIT FARMING IN NIGERIA 1

Ultimate: The only manual you need to GUIDE you to success in Rabbit farming within Nigeria.

Ultimate guide to rabbit farming in Nigeria manual presents an overview of the entire process of raising rabbits in Nigeria--from selecting healthy animals to preparing proper foods to treating disease. A separate section of the manual includes step-by-step procedures for the construction of a hutch unit to house two does and one buck.

Introduction: Raising rabbits in Nigeria

Raising rabbits is very popular in Europe and North America. In England, over one million families have rabbits. In America, people eat 30 million pounds of rabbit meat each year.

There are a number of reasons why raising rabbits is becoming a more and more important activity throughout the world:

1. Rabbits can produce large amounts of delicious meat. Although rabbit meat is firmer, it tastes very much like chicken. Rabbit meat contains a lot of protein and is low in calories and fat. Therefore, rabbit meat is both good to eat and is a very healthy food.
2. Rabbits multiply quickly. A rabbit raiser can start with two females and one male and produce fifty, or more, rabbits in one year. Even a small backyard project in which two to three females and one male are raised can furnish meat to strengthen the family diet. On the other hand, 50 to 150 females can mean a business which provides part-time employment and perhaps extra income.
3. Rabbits are easy to raise at home -- whether home is in the city or the country: Rabbit hutches do not take up a lot of space, and rabbits are clean, quiet and easy to care for.
4. Rabbit skins are also valuable; they can be made into hats, fur-trimmed collars, slippers, pillows, small rugs, etc.

 

In addition to these reasons, gardeners and farmers often use rabbit manure as a fertilizer. The manure of well-fed rabbits contains nitrogen and phosphorus. This manure can be mixed directly into the soil to help the growth of farmers' crops. Other manures, such as chicken manure, cannot be used this way. This is especially important to farmers and gardeners who cannot afford or find other fertilizers -- and to those who wish to make the best possible use of all the natural resources of their farms.
 
There are only a few simple rules to follow in order to raise rabbits successfully in Nigeria:

• Build a good hutch.
•  Begin with healthy animals.
• Give rabbits good care.

For me, this is the best time, this is the best time to consider starting rabbit farming business in Nigeria as presently the economy is in a turmoil, and the government in earnest, is looking for ways to diversify and boost the economy.

 

Preparing to Raise Rabbits in Nigeria

Most people who decide to raise rabbits, especially in Nigeria want to produce meat. And they want to produce this meat as quickly, and cheaply, as possible. Therefore, before beginning any part of the project, it is very important to decide on these three issues:

1. How much room there is for raising rabbits? If there is only room for a few hutches, there is a limit on the number of rabbits which can be raised.
2. What kinds of breeds of rabbit are available? Some breeds of rabbits grow more quickly; some are better for eating and some cannot succeed under the Nigerian climate. In other words, it is necessary to check the sources of rabbits to see if a good breed is available. In addition, the breed will determine the size of the hutch.
3. What foods are available for feeding the rabbits? Rabbits will eat a variety of foods, but some are more important for rabbits than others are. Some will lead to faster growth; some are more expensive; etc.

It is always best to begin any project by studying and understanding all parts of it. Therefore, it is a good idea for a prospective rabbit raiser to read through all the information in episode 1, 2, 3…. Ultimate guide to rabbit farming in Nigeria manual before taking any steps. Successful rabbit raising depends upon setting up the effort so that few problems are likely to occur, and upon managing the project so that any problems which do come up can be handled quickly and easily.
 

Choosing the Breed of Rabbit

There are over sixty breeds and varieties of rabbits in the world. These breeds, or different kinds of rabbits, can be put into three main groups, according to size:

Small breeds. The Polish rabbit, for example, weighs a little more than 1 kg as an adult.
Medium breeds. The New Zealand, California and Palomino breeds have an average adult weight of 4 1/2 kg.

Heavy breeds. The Flemish Giant can weigh over 6 1/2 kg as an adult.

This manual focuses on raising rabbits to produce meat for the table, or even for profit. For this purpose, medium-breed rabbits which grow rapidly are the best choice -- they will yield more meat from the amount of food fed them.

  

The Hutch

The hutch which is detailed in this manual is ideal for medium-breed rabbits. It was designed and used successfully by the author. The following discussion presents some of the major factors to keep in mind while building a hutch; for example, protection from wind, rain and sun.

Hutches can and do look very different from one area to the next. There are no critical measurements which say that a hutch must be just so high or so long or it will not work. There are size ranges which are better for certain types of rabbits. And there are design differences. For example, a hutch in a cold climate may have completely closed sides; a hot humid climate may suggest more open sides and greater overhang on the roof to increase ventilation. All hutches, no matter how they are different or similar, should provide:

plenty of air
sunlight to the inside of the cages
protection from rain and winds
a quiet home (undisturbed by dogs)
a self-cleaning floor
a good roof that does not leak
a cage for each medium-breed rabbit
a water container for each rabbit
a manger(s) for grass

Most people prefer to build a hutch for one male and two females, but some two-rabbit hutches (one male and one female) are also built.

It costs only a little more to build a hutch for three rabbits than to build a hutch for two. Two females will produce more young (and therefore increased meat yield), and the male will not become lazy.

Each adult rabbit must have its own cage. This is very important. Each compartment (cage) for a medium-breed rabbit should measure about 75cm (2 1/2 ft) wide, 1m (3 ft) deep, and 60cm (2 ft) high. 

Materials

Many different kinds of materials can be used to build a hutch, especially in Nigeria where you can find a lot of scrap materials that can be used. The hutch pictured on the next page was made using:

packing cases
four eucalyptus poles
14 strips of pine
1 cm (1/2 in) square wire netting
one flat sheet of galvanized iron
binding wire

Hutches can be made of many other woods and materials, including bamboo.
 

Protection from weather