Rabbits
Oryctolagus cuniculus
💡 Fun Facts
- -A single doe can produce 10 times her body weight in meat offspring per year
- -Rabbits practice cecotrophy, re-ingesting special droppings to extract maximum nutrition
Growing Tips
- -Rabbit manure can go directly on garden beds - it is the only livestock manure that does not need composting
- -Provide unlimited timothy hay to maintain gut health and prevent GI stasis
- -Heat is far more dangerous to rabbits than cold - provide shade and frozen bottles in summer
Uses
Economic Information
Globally, rabbit production is a significant, albeit often overlooked, sector of animal agriculture. While not as dominant as poultry or pork, rabbit meat is particularly important in regions like Europe (France, Italy, Spain), China, and parts of Africa, where it contributes to food security and rural livelihoods. China stands as the world's largest producer of rabbit meat, followed by European nations. The total global production volume is difficult to pinpoint precisely due to varying reporting standards, but it represents millions of tons of meat annually.
The market value of rabbit products extends beyond meat to include fur, wool (from Angora rabbits), and laboratory animals. Rabbit meat is gaining popularity in niche markets due to its lean profile, high protein content, and relatively low environmental footprint compared to some other livestock. For smallholder farmers and backyard growers, rabbits offer a quick return on investment, requiring less space and capital than larger animals, making them an economically viable option for income generation and household protein supply, especially in developing regions.
Husbandry Guide
Breeds: Choosing the Right Rabbit for Your Farm
When starting a rabbitry, selecting the right breed is paramount. Rabbits are broadly categorized by purpose: meat, fur/wool, and dual-purpose. For meat production, popular choices include the New Zealand White, Californian, and Florida White, known for their fast growth rates, good feed conversion, and lean meat. Dual-purpose breeds like the Silver Fox or Palomino offer both meat and quality pelts. If you're interested in fiber, Angora rabbits produce luxurious wool. Always consider your local market demand, climate, and the availability of breeding stock when making your choice.
Housing: Creating a Safe and Comfortable Environment
Proper housing is crucial for rabbit health and productivity. Rabbits can be kept in individual wire cages or in colony systems. Individual cages (at least 24x24x18 inches for a single adult) are excellent for hygiene, breeding control, and disease prevention. They should have wire bottoms (1/2 x 1 inch mesh is ideal) to allow waste to fall through, preventing hock sores, and a solid resting mat. Colony systems offer more space and natural social interaction but require more vigilant disease monitoring and predator protection. All housing must be well-ventilated, protected from extreme weather, and secure against predators like foxes, raccoons, and hawks. Provide ample shade and fresh bedding (straw or wood shavings) if using solid-bottomed cages or colony pens.
Feeding: A Balanced Diet for Healthy Growth
A rabbit's diet primarily consists of high-quality rabbit pellets, fresh hay (timothy or orchard grass), and clean, fresh water. Pellets provide concentrated nutrition, but hay is essential for digestive health and preventing dental problems. Feed adult rabbits about 1/4 cup of pellets per 5 pounds of body weight daily, adjusting for pregnant or lactating does who need more. Unlimited fresh hay should always be available. You can supplement with small amounts of fresh, washed greens like kale, romaine lettuce, carrot tops, or parsley, but introduce new foods slowly to avoid digestive upset. Never feed iceberg lettuce, avocado, chocolate, or sugary treats.
Health Management: Prevention is Key
Maintaining good health in your rabbitry relies heavily on preventative measures. Biosecurity is critical: quarantine new animals for at least 30 days, practice good hygiene (clean cages daily, sanitize equipment regularly), and control pests. Observe your rabbits daily for any signs of illness: changes in appetite or water intake, lethargy, discharge from eyes or nose, diarrhea, or labored breathing. A healthy rabbit is alert, has bright eyes, and a clean nose. Consult a veterinarian experienced with rabbits for any serious health concerns. Vaccinations are available for some common diseases like Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHDV) and Myxomatosis in endemic areas.
Breeding & Production: From Kindling to Harvest
Rabbits are prolific breeders, reaching sexual maturity around 4-6 months of age. A doe's gestation period is approximately 31 days. Provide a nest box filled with hay or straw about a week before her due date. Does will pull fur from their dewlap to line the nest. Litters typically range from 6-12 kits. Ensure the doe has ample food and water during lactation. Kits are weaned around 4-6 weeks of age. After weaning, young rabbits grow rapidly, reaching market weight (typically 4-6 pounds) by 8-12 weeks, depending on the breed and diet. Careful record-keeping of breeding dates, litter sizes, and growth rates will help you optimize your production cycle and identify your most productive breeding stock. Humane processing practices are essential for animal welfare and meat quality.
Varieties
New Zealand White
A popular meat breed, known for its fast growth rate, large litters, and excellent meat-to-bone ratio with a good carcass quality.
Californian
Another excellent meat breed, recognized by its white body and distinct black points (ears, nose, feet, tail), offering good growth and meat quality.
Flemish Giant
One of the largest rabbit breeds, often raised for its substantial meat yield, fur, or as a gentle pet due to its docile nature.
Rex
Prized for its unique, plush velvet-like fur, the Rex also offers a good meat carcass, making it a valuable dual-purpose breed.
Angora
Known for its long, soft wool that is shorn and spun into yarn, Angoras require regular grooming but offer a continuous harvest of fiber.
Silver Fox
A heritage dual-purpose breed providing both quality meat and a beautiful, dense fur with silver-tipped guard hairs.
Palomino
A medium-sized meat breed with a distinctive golden or 'lynx' coloration, valued for its good growth rate and lean meat.
Health Issues
Common Pests
Mites (Ear Mites, Fur Mites)
These tiny parasites cause intense itching, head shaking, crusty scabs in ears (ear mites), or patchy fur loss and dandruff-like flakes (fur mites).
Management: Isolate affected rabbits. Treat with vet-prescribed topical or injectable medications like ivermectin. Ensure thorough cleaning and disinfection of cages and equipment to prevent reinfestation.
Fleas
Fleas cause itching, skin irritation, and can transmit diseases. Heavy infestations can lead to anemia, especially in young rabbits.
Management: Use vet-approved topical flea treatments safe for rabbits. Regularly clean and vacuum the housing area, treating the environment to eliminate eggs and larvae. Control wild rodent populations around the rabbitry.
Flies (Flystrike)
Flies are attracted to soiled fur (especially around the rear end) and open wounds, laying eggs that hatch into maggots which then feed on the rabbit's flesh.
Management: Maintain impeccable hygiene in cages and around the rabbits' rear ends, especially in warm weather. Trim fur around the tail if necessary. Use fly traps and screens. Immediate veterinary attention is required for flystrike to remove maggots and treat infection.
Predators (Foxes, Raccoons, Hawks, Dogs)
These animals will attempt to gain access to rabbits for food, causing stress, injury, or death to your stock.
Management: Ensure all housing is predator-proof with strong wire mesh (14-16 gauge, 1x2 inch or smaller) and secure latches. Bury wire skirting around pens to prevent digging. Consider electric fencing for colony pens. Keep the area around the rabbitry clear of brush and debris that could harbor predators.
Common Diseases
Coccidiosis
Symptoms: Diarrhea (sometimes bloody), weight loss, pot belly, lethargy, poor growth, and sudden death, especially in young rabbits.
Treatment: Administer coccidiostats (e.g., sulfa drugs) under veterinary guidance. Prevention involves strict hygiene, keeping cages dry and clean, and ensuring feed and water are not contaminated with feces. Good sanitation breaks the parasite's life cycle.
Snuffles (Pasteurellosis)
Symptoms: Sneezing, nasal discharge (clear to thick white), matted fur on front paws from wiping nose, conjunctivitis, head tilt (wry neck) if it affects the inner ear, and abscesses.
Treatment: Antibiotics prescribed by a vet can manage symptoms, but it's often chronic. Prevention focuses on good ventilation, avoiding drafts, reducing stress, and strict biosecurity to prevent introduction. Infected animals should be isolated or culled.
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHDV)
Symptoms: Often causes sudden death without prior symptoms. If seen, signs may include lethargy, fever, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, and bloody discharge from the nose or mouth.
Treatment: There is no treatment. Prevention is critical and involves vaccination in endemic areas, strict biosecurity, and immediate isolation or culling of affected animals. The virus is highly contagious and resilient in the environment.
Enteritis Complex (Diarrhea/Bloat)
Symptoms: Soft stools, diarrhea, bloat (swollen abdomen), lethargy, loss of appetite, and dehydration. Can be caused by various factors including diet, stress, or bacterial infections.
Treatment: Identify and address the underlying cause. Provide supportive care like rehydration fluids and probiotics. Adjust the diet to more hay and fewer pellets. Prevention involves feeding a high-fiber, consistent diet, minimizing stress, and ensuring access to clean water. Consult a vet for severe cases.
Feed & Nutrition
Per 100g edible portion
History
Rabbits, specifically the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), trace their origins back to the Iberian Peninsula, encompassing modern-day Spain and Portugal. Fossil records indicate their presence in this region millions of years ago. Unlike many other domesticated animals, the rabbit's journey into human care is relatively recent and somewhat accidental. The ancient Romans were among the first to appreciate rabbits, not for domestication in the modern sense, but for their meat. They kept rabbits in walled enclosures called 'leporaria' or 'vivaria,' essentially large outdoor pens, where the animals could breed freely.
True domestication is often attributed to French monks in the early Middle Ages, around 600 AD. During Lent, the Catholic Church classified unborn rabbits (fetuses or 'laurices') and very young rabbits as fish, making them permissible to eat during periods of fasting. This religious loophole incentivized monks to breed rabbits in controlled environments, slowly taming them and selecting for desired traits like docility and meat production. This period saw the beginnings of selective breeding that would eventually lead to the vast array of domestic rabbit breeds we know today.
From Europe, rabbits spread globally, often accompanying explorers and settlers. Their introduction to new continents had varied impacts. For instance, rabbits were brought to Australia in the 18th century and later released into the wild for sport hunting in the 19th century. Without natural predators, they multiplied prolifically, becoming one of the most devastating invasive species in history, causing immense ecological damage and threatening native flora and fauna. This serves as a stark reminder of humanity's impact on ecosystems.
Culturally, rabbits hold diverse meanings. In many traditions, they symbolize fertility, new life, and spring, famously associated with Easter. Their quick breeding cycle and burrowing habits have also made them symbols of abundance and hidden networks. However, in regions where they became pests, they are viewed with less fondness, highlighting the complex relationship humans have with this adaptable creature.
Quick Facts
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Climate
- tropical, subtropical, temperate
- Origin
- Iberian Peninsula
- Maturity
- Fryers at 8-12 weeks (2-2.5 kg); breeding from 5-6 months
- Water
- moderate
- Sun
- partial-shade
- Housing
- Wire or solid-bottom cages with clean bedding; colony housing possible with management
- Space Needed
- 4-6 sq ft per rabbit; does need larger cages for litters
- Temperature
- 10-25°C (50-77°F)
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