Raising rabbits in Nigeria
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Rabbit farming in Nigeria
Raising rabbits has been a long standing tradition in Europe, North America and Asia. Africa however, in Nigeria precisely, we are yet to see the type of large-scale type industrial rabbit farms we can find in England, China, US and Italy. On a small-scale platform however, Nigeria with its 100,000,000 population was known to be the leading rabbit meat producer in Africa decades ago. In recent times, countries including Kenya, Egypt and Burundi have taken leading positions in curniculture business while Nigeria with its massive population follows reluctantly.
The United Nations Organization in the past has sponsored a number of curniculture researches and projects in more than a dozen African countries (Nigeria included) for the following reasons:
- 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 supply 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.
- Rabbits can produce large amounts of healthy 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.
- Rabbits are easy to raise at home -- whether home is in the city or the countryside: Rabbit hutches do not take up a lot of space, and rabbits are clean, quiet and easy to care for.
In addition, gardeners and farmers can use rabbit manure as a fertilizer. The manure of rabbits contains nitrogen and phosphorus. This manure can be mixed directly into the soil to help the growth of farmers' crops; it is also eco/plant friendly. 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 types of fertilizer and to those who are very critical about the survival of earth.
I have outlined three simple rules to follow in order to raise rabbits successfully in Nigeria:
1. Build good hutches.
2. Begin with healthy animals.
3. Give the rabbits good care/nutrition.
1. Build good hutches.
2. Begin with healthy animals.
3. Give the rabbits good care/nutrition.
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:
How much room do you have for raising the rabbit rabbits? With a few hutches (32x26"), say four, you can raise up to six rabbits. If you have an open space that is well fenced and has trees to provide protection from heat of the sun, you can raise more than hundred rabbits. This also depends on the size of the land. You also have to consider the weather/climate when choosing what material your cages will be made of.
What kinds of breeds of rabbit are available? Some breeds of rabbits mature more quickly; some are better for meat 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.
What feeds are available for feeding the rabbits? Rabbits will eat a variety of feeds, some of which are considered more important for rabbits. Some will lead to faster growth, some are more expensive, some are free, and some are homegrown.
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 this blog before taking any steps. Successful rabbit farming depends upon setting up the project 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. Generally, rabbits can be put into three main groups:
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.
There are over sixty breeds and varieties of rabbits in the world. Generally, rabbits can be put into three main groups:
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.
You may like to also read Ultimate guide to rabbit farming. It is a manual that focuses on raising rabbits to produce meat for the table, or even for profit.
For the purpose of commercial curniculture, medium-breed rabbits, which grow rapidly, are the best choice - they will yield more meat from the amount of food fed to them.
Choosing breeding stock
In the honest opinion of my unknowledgeable self, this is the best time to consider starting curniculture business in Nigeria. The world is in turmoil [food crisis], and the government has been talking of diversifying the economy. It’s time for action!
In the honest opinion of my unknowledgeable self, this is the best time to consider starting curniculture business in Nigeria. The world is in turmoil [food crisis], and the government has been talking of diversifying the economy. It’s time for action!
breeding stock
Extreme temperature
feeding
forage
Problems affecting rabbit production in Nigeria
Raising rabbits
ultimate guide to raising rabbits in Nigeria
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Abuja, Nigeria
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