BUYING BREEDING STOCK - LEARN THE EASY WAY

Put in simple terms, breeding stock are the initial rabbits you will use to start a rabbit production project. This may consist of just a male and female rabbit or several females and few males depending on the scale of the project.

Breeding stock or foundation stock is to me the most important factor to consider when going into rabbit production, the quality and quantity of which will determine to a large extent the profitability of the venture.



Don’t get your fingers burnt!



How do I select?

Selecting the breeder that you will buy from is as important as selecting the breeding stock. Different breeders breed for different reasons. some breeders breed for colours. Some emphasize on gain. Some focus on growth rates and some specific desirable traits. Finding a breeder whose goals are the same as yours will boost your chance of getting the right stock that suit your purpose. It is also a good idea to buy only from one breeder at first for the following reasons:

Rabbits coming from farm A, Bwari-Abuja and from breeder B, Rumola-Portharcourt will have different traits or characteristics and different level of resistance to infections. One rabbit might introduce to the others a disease that it can resist but the others cannot. In addition, having different traits, they may introduce hidden undesirable traits e.g. an undesired body type or colour may show up when bred together.

You will have greater success if you buy rabbits from one breeder and breed them together until you really understand rabbit farming. Then if you need to fix certain traits as you go along, you can introduce rabbits from different breeders.

In addition, you save yourself money and stress by not having to travel around town, and finally, you can always go back to that same breeder whenever any problems arise from the stock you bought from him/her.



checking the nails



Check the rabbits very well before you take them home

If you are able to see and touch the rabbits before purchasing them, check for signs of illness. Ask about the rabbits parents/relatives. Ask if the rabbit has had health problems in the past. Ask to see their pedigrees, although i doubt many a breeders in Nigeria are keeping such vital records

Make sure that you buy healthy rabbits with bright eyes, dry noses and clean ears and feet.

The rabbit’s fur should be smooth and clean and its teeth in line.

Do not buy a mature female because you cannot always know how old she is. She might for instance have reached the end of her productive life and will be of no use.

Select your rabbits from parents which have a good breeding record. A female that does not perform well will also have poor offspring.

Buy breeding stock when they are about 6 months old.

Long toenails indicate that the rabbit is older.





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Where do I find breeding stock to buy?

When buying you have the option of shipping/transporting your breeding stock from a far distance, as far as abroad or from the breeder near you. The best procedure is to go to your nearest producer and select from his younger stock even if you have to feed the animals a while before they mature (at six months). They need time to get used to you and their new home. The thick issue is that one has to be cautious, this can be done with the help of a trusted breeder, who will help you to select quality start up stock from the stock they have for sale. Most often, you will have the opportunity to see, touch and feel the rabbits or see photos of them before purchasing them.

What will it cost?

Now talking of the price, having made sure that everything is okay with the rabbits you can now discuss price with the breeder. Usually it is just best to give the breeder what they ask for their rabbits.

If you have found high quality rabbits from a breeder that is willing to help you out, you can usually trust that the price is fair. Offering the breeder less than they asked can be disrespectful if they have taken a lot of time to show the rabbits to you. You can, however, ask if they offer a quantity discount if you’re buying a trio of rabbits at a time. The usual price for live rabbits totally depends on the breed and whom you buy from. Pet rabbits usually cost N3,000- N5,000. Breeding stock for meat usually costs from N2,500 - 4,000 per bunny, or perhaps a little more for a high quality herd buck. Show rabbits are usually more expensive. A good purebred rabbit usually costs at least N4,000 for breeders.

Free advice

you can always take along a friend who has a fair knowledge on rabbits whenever you go to purchase a rabbit for the first time just so that you do not get your fingers burnt.

If a friend or breeder who has initially refused to sell their rabbits suddenly wants to sell them, i urge you to be extra cautious - those rabbits may be sick or unproductive.

Extra caution:

Look for broad heads, heavy bones, large feet, and light color. Examine the ears for pests and the feet for raw wounds. A three month-old’s live weight should be one or two kilogram. A good start for a beginner is a buck and two or three does.

have fun buying your first stock!

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