JF RABBITS: FOREMOST RABBIT BREEDER IN NIGERIA

Cuniculture Have you ever considered rabbit farming as a top business opportunity?   Though rabbit meat may not be as common as chicken, beef or pork, there is no doubt it is a very lucrative business; every year, over one million tons of rabbit meat is consumed worldwide.   In Africa, the consumption of rabbit meat is speedily taking off and many farmers on the continent are already enjoying the benefits of this niche business.     Rabbit meat contains the highest amounts of digestible proteins and the lowest cholesterol and fat of all types of meat. In addition, rabbits are easy to raise; they are clean and require little capital, labor, time and space to manage.   Currently, China, Italy, Spain and France are the leading producers of rabbit meat, which has earned a reputation as a ‘ super meat ’ due to its nutritional and health benefits.

Rabbits are the most productive of domestic livestock. A rabbit only takes 6 months to mature. Their gestation period is only 30 days and on average, a female rabbit gives birth to 30 young ones per year. They are very cheap and easy to feed as they mainly feed local weeds and water. You can as well feed them on rabbit pellets if you can afford them. They occupy little space hence suitable for most rural farmers who are small scale. They are quiet animals that can be raised in any environment. They rarely get sick unless kept in unhygienic conditions. Their meat is white, high in protein and low in fat and cholesterol. Its health advantages make it high on demand especially in institutions such as restaurants and hospitals.

3 Females + 1 Male = 3000 rabbits! Four out of many that have turned pairs of rabbits into thousands of rabbits Africa already boasts of a few rabbit farmers who started from nothing but have built remarkably successful rabbit farm businesses. Their success in spite of capital and skill challenges will inspire and encourage you to take action on your. Four successful African Rabbit Farmers you need to know Let’s meet them!    

Here is how rabbit farms become profitable. When farmers begin planning their rabbit farms, they will need to formulate a plan, which will often need to be submitted to an agricultural or planning board in your area in which you wish to set up this venture.   Rabbit meat is very high in protein and low in fat. Being low in calories per weight, it's not ideal for sustaining hard labor, but it can definitely do in a pinch. Rabbits also have one of the most efficient feed-growth ratios, keeping feeding costs way down. You could get about 70 lbs of fryer meat a year out of each doe, and one buck can service 8-10 does. In addition to meat, rabbits also provide great nitrogen-rich fertilizer, and their pelts are very soft and supple.   Most rabbit farms have 2 litter pens per doe, a cage per buck, and a few other extra cages for raising replacement breeders. Litter pens are ideally a minimum of 30x30 inches. I recommend 24x24 cages for bucks and replacement breeders. Ca...

QUESTION ASKED: What breeds of rabbit are best for fur ? Angora and Rex are some of the best for fur production.  Rex Related: Best rabbit breeds for meat production