Any beginner farmer who plans to work with these animals should know how much the rabbit weighs. The demand for meat will be guaranteed, because legends literally go about the benefits of rabbit meat, but it is important to be able to calculate which parish to count on and which breed to start in order to ensure a profitable business.
Meat: general information
Rabbit meat is a dietary product that is beneficial to human health. It is easily absorbed by the digestive system, has high nutritional qualities. Already from six months it is recommended to start feeding babies with the use of rabbit meat, rich in protein, mineral and vitamin complexes.
By the concentration of nitrogenous substances, only a turkey and a rabbit are better than a rabbit, ducklings and pork dominate in fatty substances. Dietary indicators of meat from a rabbit carcass will be close to chicken, but in quality will be better. Up to 20% of the total mass - protein structures, fat - no more than 18%. In terms of concentration and a set of vitamins and minerals, rabbit meat is better than experts, as experts say, there is practically nothing.
Where to get it?
Indeed, having found out all the advantages of rabbit meat, everyone will want to know where to get such a unique product to their table. Owners of rabbit farms are sure for sure: you need to buy from them. In total, about two hundred species of animals are known, but not all meat ones. Most of the famous rabbits are a source of delicious meat and beautiful skins, but some are too small to use for food.
The most delicious and healthy meat can be obtained from meat breeds. There are several of the most popular rabbit farms currently bred. They are presented on sale.
Californians
Many farmers know how much a Californian rabbit weighs - this species is currently one of the most popular. On average, the carcass pulls more than 5.5 kg, sometimes reaching six. The breed is suitable for our climate, it is well cultivated in industrial conditions, has a relatively small size, and the meat quality is excellent. One of the main advantages of Californians is early maturity. By the age of five months, females mature, bringing each time a dozen rabbits.
California rabbits are a source of tender and tasty meat, which became the basis for ranking the breed as broilers. In comparison with other varieties, the rabbit carcass here provides the greatest useful yield. Animals are distinguished by developed muscles, a short skeleton.
New Zealanders
Many farmers also know how much a rabbit of this breed weighs - along with the California New Zealand in our area, they breed most actively. The average live weight is up to 5 kg, the body length reaches half a meter. Distinctive features of the structure are a cylindrical compact body, a wide back, rich in meat. Especially vigorous growth is observed at an early age. Females of this breed are very prolific, dairy, one okrol gives the farmer up to 8 rabbits.
Industrial cultivation of a rabbit of the New Zealand breed allows you to get meat of perfect quality. The muscles are mainly located near the spine, the ribs are rounded, the shoulder blades are quite large. Muscle fibers on the lower back and sides differ in the highest density, although the density throughout the entire body is sufficient to speak of high quality. The yield from one rabbit is up to 60%.
White and German Giants
Both of these breeds are considered quality, and their meat is delicious. White is good for its performance. They belong to the meat-and-pellet breeds of meat rabbits. The female in one breeze brings up to 15 cubs. A distinctive feature of the breed is its unpretentiousness, undemanding conditions. The white giant perfectly survives in the climate of our country.
The German giant is known among specialists under the name "Riesen." This is a large animal. The answer to the question how much a rabbit of this breed weighs may surprise - sometimes the mass reaches 12 kg! The body is massive, quite wide, and up to 70 cm long. A distinctive feature is a powerful skeleton. Like the whites, German giants give a rich litter - up to 12 rabbits at a time.
Gray giants
This breed of rabbits for breeding for meat belongs to the number of meat-skins. Animals are quite large, and their meat is rated as nutritious and tasty, of high quality. Fertility of females is one of the reasons to choose this type of rabbit for your farm. On average, one okrol gives 12 cubs. A distinctive feature is the high-quality feeding of the young by the female.
At a young age, gray giants grow rapidly, fatten efficiently and in a short time. On average, the weight reaches 7 kg, and the animal reaches full maturity by the seventh month of life. The weight of the rabbit is about 3.5 kg; in fed animals, the slaughter yield is up to 61%.
Soviet chinchilla
This breed of rabbits for breeding for meat enjoys well-deserved respect: it is characterized by a powerful skeleton and an impeccable constitution. Animals are distinguished by round croup, wide, even back and developed chest. The head of the rabbit has an average size and a somewhat non-standard, elongated shape. The ears are small, stand upright, and the legs are low and powerful.
The average weight of a rabbit of this breed is 6 kg. Dimensions of the carcass: in the chest, the circumference is 37 cm, the length is slightly greater than 60 cm. At a young age, Soviet chinchillas grow very quickly and actively, they are energetic, and are in good health. Positive qualities of meat of this breed are noted: a large yield, good fecundity and a decent slaughter yield. With proper cultivation, Soviet chinchilla can give even better results than Californians, New Zealanders.
Belgian flanders
This is such a breed of giant rabbits, the distinctive features of which are indefatigable appetite and rich fluffy fur. However, despite the love of food, rabbits are extremely picky in their choice. On average, the weight of an individual reaches 12 kg, the trunk grows to a meter in length, and the length of the ears is almost 20 cm.
Due to their impressive size, rabbits are considered beneficial for farm breeding, as they give a lot of meat. However, there are also weaknesses. For example, the offspring, although numerous, the rabbits give much later than many other varieties. The wool of Belgian flanders comes in many different shades of gray. Often it is used to simulate expensive fur.
Giant rabbits: butterflies and rams
Butterfly is a subspecies that appeared around the eighties of the last century. Nowadays, it is rare, has a beautiful color with spots, thick white fur, valuable and soft. Spots are scattered randomly across the sixth. Despite belonging to the giants, the butterflies are quite small: up to 60 cm in length, up to 4 kg in weight. An important feature is the ability to reproduce quickly and productively. Animals grow very fast too.
But the ram has not only a beautiful, but also a very unusual look, especially in comparison with the rabbits familiar to us. His nose is decorated with a kind of hump, and his ears and skull have a non-standard shape. Around the end of the first half of life, ears gradually begin to sag. Rabbits of this breed are distinguished by poor hearing, they are not afraid of external sounds. Good-natured, calm individuals are undemanding to the conditions of detention and easily adapt to the climate and other features of the area. Soft and thick, their fur is valued quite highly. The color of the rams is diverse. On average, the weight of one individual is up to 8 kg.
Blue royal giant
This is a rabbit, characterized by a dense coat of a unique blue color. Beautiful individuals are valued not only for their fur, but also for meat. On average, the weight reaches 5 kg, and in length the animal grows to half a meter. They say that it is the blue royal giant that has the most delicious meat. The advantages of the breed include rapid growth and the ability to bring rich offspring.
Meat quality: important factors
The breed is not the only important factor determining how high the quality of rabbit meat will be. Much depends on the feed, on the conditions in which the animal lived. Currently, the largest volumes of rabbit meat are provided by China. According to experts, despite numerous kilograms, raising rabbits for meat in this country leaves much to be desired: the finished product is not too good.
The Hungarian manufacturers supplying environmentally friendly product to the markets of other countries have a good reputation. Quite active demand for domestic goods. In our country there are several large and small farms, the owners of which know from their own experience how much an ordinary rabbit weighs, how to feed him, so that the meat is of high quality. Products can be bought either in specialized company stores, or in large supermarkets. Rabbit meat is available to everyone, so it is worth serving it regularly to the table - this is a useful product that is excellently suited even to dieters.
Giant Rabbits: Curious Features
Representatives of several breeds belong to this category, united by one feature - large sizes. But their color can be very different. As a rule, giants breed excellently, grow quickly, have good productivity, and quality meat. Giants in the territory of the former Soviet Union are believed to have first appeared in Poltava lands as a response to the crisis and lack of food in the post-war period. At that time, breeders set themselves the task of creating a healthy, large breed. It was decided to cross individuals brought in from other countries of especially large sizes with local rabbits, well accustomed to the climate and living conditions. Success led to the solution of the problem of a lack of meat at first among the local population, and supplies to other regions were gradually adjusted.
At present, giants are one of the most popular breeds in our country. However, they are in demand in other powers. Distribution has led to the emergence of several productive subspecies. For example, there are giants now - these are rodents whose sizes are even larger than standard giants, that is, the yield of meat from each individual is more substantial.
Is it worth starting a business?
Breeding giants is considered a promising area for business, but novice farmers recognize that this is not an easy task. Rabbits live in cages, so it is necessary to choose such a capacious structure, inside which the individual can rise on its hind legs. The presence of free space is one of the most important conditions for the qualitative growth of any breed.
To make the rabbit comfortable, half the cage is covered with sawdust, straw, hay. At times, you need to lay fruit branches so that the rabbit can nibble on a solid object. To regularly feed the animal, it is necessary to provide a feeder, a large drinker. The fluid is changed daily - this is the key to the health of individuals. Bowls for rabbits are more suitable for heavy ones, as animals can crank their nose.
In order for the female to give a normal okrol, one of the corners must be equipped with a heating system - it is she who will choose it for childbirth. The fertility of modern breeds is quite high, birth control is not required, and small cubs at birth weigh no more than one hundred grams, but their number often reaches 7, and sometimes even more. In just a month and a half, the weight of the young will increase to one and a half kilograms. To avoid diseases, it is necessary to monitor the purity of the cell - bacteria are dangerous not only for humans, but also for rabbits.