JF RABBITS: FOREMOST RABBIT BREEDER IN NIGERIA

   14 MUST KNOW FACTS ABOUT RABBIT MEAT PRODUCTION AROUND THE WORLD   This section will consider particularly those terms which are regularly used in rabbit reproduction that have to bear with the process of bringing forth young ones. Male: The male rabbit is known as the buck. Female: The female rabbit is known as the doe. Gestation: The gestation period of a rabbit is 29-35 days. Litter: The litter size can vary from 4-12 offspring. Continue:

   

Biometeorology is the study of the relationship between the environment and living organisms. In homoeothermic animals, the goal is to maintain a stable body core temperature under most  conditions.      Earth in danger of heating      Environment affect nutrition: Ambient temperature and humidity are the variables that most affect nutrition. Both directly influence the energy equilibrium of the animal, changing the flow of heat between the animal and the environment.

  cuniculture Small body size makes it easier to maintain and a small unit requires limited space.   Rabbit is a prolific breeder and can be bred at any time of the year. With a shorter gestation period of 30 days only, 5-6 litters (births)can easily be obtained in a year from a single female rabbit.   Rabbit matures at an early age and becomes ready for production by 6-7 months.   Rabbit grows fast and attains a body weight of 1.5-1.8 kg within 12-14 weeks and provides nutritious and wholesome meat.       Related: How to run profitable rebbit farm   How to run a profitable rabbit farm  

  Wild rabbit A female rabbit is called a doe. A male rabbit is called a buck. A young rabbit is called a kit (or kitten). Rabbits live in groups. The European rabbit lives underground, in burrows. A group of burrows is known as a warren. More than half of the world’s rabbits live in North America. Rabbits have long ears which can be as long as 10 cm (4 in). Rabbits have a lifespan of around 10 years. Rabbits are herbivores (plant eaters). Rabbits are born with their eyes closed and without fur. Related: 360 Rabbit Facts of all time 

Cuniculture is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising rabbits, usually for their meat, fur, or wool. This differs from the simpler practice of keeping a single or small group of rabbits as companions, without selective breeding, reproduction, or the care of young animals. Some people, called rabbit fanciers, practice cuniculture predominantly for exhibition. The distribution of rabbit farming varies around the globe, and while it is on the decline in some nations, in others it is expanding.

HOW TO MAKE RABBITS REPRODUCE VERY FAST Note to reader: rabbits are prolific in nature and can have up to 8 litters a year. This will require your commitment and resources. So, except you are ready for this, do not keep two mature rabbits of opposite sex together - the doe may end up getting pregnant within minutes of being together with the buck.   When breeding rabbits find out how old they are. The minimum age for breeding depends upon breed: heavy breeds take 9-12 months before they are old enough to breed; Medium breeds like New Zealand Whites are ready to breed at 6-9 months of age; while small breeds mature at 4-5 months Too early breeding puts the doe in a dangerous position because they are not old enough to handle the strain of nursing. One male, or buck, can service as many as ten females but he should not be used more than two or three times a week for best results. HOW TO MATE RABBITS The female, or doe, will probably object to having the buck placed in he

Rabbit breeding tips: Litter   I thought it very important to share with you a list of breeding tips as I am currently writing a book on milking babies from rabbits which I will publish soon. These tips I extracted from the book are worth going through if you are really interested in, or are already breeding rabbits  

How extreme temperature can affect your rabbit’s production: Heat is one of the most important climatic factors, which may affect rabbit production in Africa,  especially in Nigeria. The rabbit is very largely dependent on respiratory evaporation for the regulation of its body temperature and this confers only a limited power of adaption to hot climates. Heat is also dissipated by radiation and convection, but these are somewhat restricted by the rabbit's furry covering. Johnson et al..., (1957) reported that short hair and larger ears helped the cooling process in New Zealand White rabbits. According to these workers, growth and development were impaired at ambient temperatures of 28.3°C and above. Generally the higher the ambient temperature the greater was the disturbance of the rabbit's functions.