By Charlcie Gill, Zodiac Rabbitry – I study with curiosity Mary Kilmer’s article “Gleanings from Woodland Rabbitry” (Countryside – Amount 88/2). I have been breeding and elevating rabbits for meat for 38 years, and I really feel I’ve some notion into why Mary is having problem getting her does to effectively rear their litters. If you’ve been looking out for suggestion on what to feed meat rabbits, I really feel this article will revenue you as properly.
I take into account it is the feed. Mary states, “I mix rabbit pellets with dairy sweet feed that we give to the goats.” It has been confirmed that lactating does (notably with the size litters Mary talks about), need an excellent 18% protein pellet to help ample milk manufacturing. Most folks feed a 16% pellet, which works alright for those who’re not pushing your does too arduous. I want to top-dress the pellets as quickly as a day with a extreme protein complement pellet (akin to Animax or Calf Manna). I give one teaspoon to 1 tablespoon, counting on the breed and explicit individual desires of the doe.
[optin-monster-shortcode id=”wqmf7nrjr7tt6hrmageb”]
I’m guessing the sweet feed Mary is feeding is someplace at 9-10% protein. If she is together with this to a 16% rabbit pellet at a 50/50 ratio, she is providing solely 12.5%-13% protein—far too little for a doe’s requirements. Mary moreover talked about she felt a vitamin E deficiency was involved. In all probability. As soon as extra, it is not likely useful that pellets be decrease with completely different grains or feed. A number of evaluation has gone into formulating rabbit feed in an effort to current the best steadiness for all ranges of a rabbit’s life. Positive, I do know, wild rabbits eat grass, bark, berries, and so forth. Nonetheless, they are not being requested to provide marketable fryers every three months or so each. (A imply rabbit fryer by far outweighs a typical cottontail.)
One different downside with sweet feed (or any extreme starch grain), is that it’s simply too fattening! Analysis have confirmed that does with additional inside fat not solely may need problem conceiving and kindling nonetheless do not lactate properly each. Grains akin to those could also be given as a top-dressed take care of (I give a pinch of rolled oats to my bunnies throughout the morning.) Agreeing with Mary, hay is a ought to throughout the rabbitry. It retains the digestive system in good tone. I feed an excellent top quality grass hay. (There’s a great deal of alfalfa throughout the pellets already.) I really feel Mary’s New Zealands attempt to do an excellent job (with 9-10 in a litter). They merely need the dietary help to take these kits to the weaning stage.
For manufacturing features, crossbreds could also be excellent, with their hybrid vigor. Nonetheless, chances are you’ll solely work with what’s throughout the genetic pool to begin with. The dad or mum stock of that crossbred should possess good meat sort (if that is the purpose), and good productive performance. Like begets like.
The age one decides to breed does rely upon the breed or cross and what your explicit individual targets are. Some good industrial strains do properly at 5 months for first breeding. I presently elevate Satins (a industrial breed), and MiniRex (a compact fancy breed). Meat is a by-product in my situation. I breed to boost the sort and fur on my animals. I’ve loads of pleasurable exhibiting them at rabbit displays spherical my state. All are purebred and all are good producers.
I reside on 40 acres, off the grid, and haul water. I normally breed my Satins at six months of age and my Mini Rex at 5 months. I will alter this within the summertime as I uncover every I and the rabbits can do with out the stress of seeing pregnant does by the summer season season heat, which can be very labor intensive in my current situation. As soon as I lived on the grid, I bred all yr spherical.
Elevating rabbits in winter could also be tough since most mornings, my water bottles are frozen. (I make the most of a semiautomatic system the remainder for the yr.) It’s loads of work, nonetheless I thaw each bottle throughout the morning and fill with warmth water. I don’t like crocks. They take up useful flooring space and youthful bunnies always deal with to utilize them as a bathroom. Water is the one most important ingredient required to take care of rabbits healthful and producing properly. It does not matter what you feed the doe, if she doesn’t have ample water she’s going to fail to provide accurately.
After elevating, exhibiting and breeding meat rabbits for 38 years, I nonetheless (like Mary), uncover I examine one factor new frequently. Elevating rabbits is an efficient pastime or maybe a very good small enterprise. I moreover hope this helps reply the question “what to feed meat rabbits” for anyone who’s new to elevating meat rabbits.
Revealed in Countryside May / June 2004 and infrequently vetted for accuracy.