How much does a rabbit weigh? Various meat breeds of rabbits

Today, rabbit breeding is considered a profitable and profitable occupation. These animals can be raised with an emphasis on meat production, obtaining fluff, or you can choose a breed suitable for both at the same time. But meat species are most in demand among farmers: everyone knows the benefits of dietary rabbit meat. In addition, you can choose a breed that will give the greatest yield of a valuable product. In the article, we will consider exactly those breeds of rabbits that are most profitable to grow for meat: we will get acquainted with the best representatives of these species today, learn how to cross animals for best results, how to care for and feed rabbits.

Characteristics of domestic breeds, for breeding for meat

As already mentioned, rabbits can be raised for different purposes. There are breeds specifically for meat that have a decent weight and fatness, downy species, which are distinguished by thick soft wool, and combined ones that can equally successfully produce both meat and down. But the meat and fur output of the combined breed will in any case be less than that of monobreeds aimed at the production of one valuable product.

Meat breeds of rabbits are distinguished by the following important characteristics. Highly rapidly rabbit growth. Animals quickly gain weight, becoming quite heavy and well-fed in a short period of time. At the same time, the young "meat" rabbits are born healthy and of a decent size. Their survival rate is quite high.

The weight of the animals is quite decent: on average, a meat rabbit weighs about 5 kg, but some specimens reach 9 kg. Rabbits of meat breeds are distinguished by excellent health. They rarely get sick, easily endure unfavourable conditions content, cold

Breed overview

So, today experts single out several meat breeds of rabbits that deserve the most attention. Consider these types of animals in more detail, find out what are the features of each breed.

This is our domestic breed, widely known abroad. It was bred by selective crossing: scientists tried to get a breed that could equally successfully produce high-quality down, and at the same time have a lot of weight.

What the chinchilla breed looks like can be seen.

This pet is especially suited to our climate, as it is originally adapted to it. Soviet chinchilla can be safely grown in almost any corner of our country. Animals are highly prolific, have a broad-boned physique, a small head, and soft blue fur.

The weight of an adult specimen is, on average, 5 kg. Slaughter yield - 60%.

white giant

This is the most popular breed of meat rabbits with breeders. Animals very quickly gain weight, besides, they are distinguished by a calm, friendly character. This is one of the oldest artificially bred breeds - the birth of the first white giant occurred in the 19th century.

Rabbits have an elongated body, a strong build, a developed, dense chest, and a small head compared to the body. The weight adult, on average, 5.5 kg, but can reach 8 kg.

Find out what the composition of the feed should be.

The rate of weight gain is not too high, however this shortcoming compensated by the excellent health of animals, their rare unpretentiousness and endurance. Animals are very prolific, and the slaughter yield in this case is one of the highest - about 83%.

gray giant

These animals are also loved by domestic rabbit breeders due to their unpretentiousness and very fast weight gain. The gray giant has a muscular, strong body, animals are very mobile, females have a highly developed maternal instinct. The slaughter yield in this case is also high - 83%.

Poltava silver

This is a domestic meat breed of rabbits. The silver rabbit was bred in the middle of the 20th century in the Poltava and Tula regions. Animals of this breed have a wide massive body, a decent size of the chest, a small head. Rabbits are very tenacious and hardy. The average weight of an adult rabbit is 4.5 kg, the maximum reaches 6 kg.

Animals are fertile - on average, a standard round ends with the birth of 8 cubs. After birth, the rabbits quickly gain weight: according to this criterion, the Poltava Silver breed is the best.

Vienna blue

This is an Austrian breed of animals, they were bred by crossing Moravian rabbits and meat flanders. Outwardly, these animals are medium-sized, however, they gain weight very quickly. They are grown not only for meat, but also for the purpose of obtaining soft, high-quality fluff.

You will find information on “rabbit breeding for beginners”.

The average weight of an adult is 4.5-5 kg. At one time, the female gives birth to about 9 cubs. It should be noted that immediately after birth, the young grow rapidly, and at the same time very rarely get sick with something. In addition, Viennese blues have genetic resistance to weather changes, so they can be grown regardless of the climate.

Rex

These animals were bred in France in the 20th century. Rex rabbits are not very prolific, and are of average weight. So, an adult weighs about 4 kg. Their body is not too knocked down and strong: thin bones, a narrow chest. The young are not gaining weight too quickly: by 4 months, the cub weighs about 2.5 kg. For one birth, a rabbit is born, on average, 5 babies.

However, all the disadvantages of productivity are compensated high quality animal meat. It is truly dietary: soft, tender, tasty and low in fat. The skin of the breed is also valuable, it goes to the production of luxurious high-quality products.

Butterfly

This is a Belarusian breed of rabbits. Animals are distinguished by good fertility - the rabbit brings about 8 cubs at a time. The weight of an adult specimen is 4-5 kg.

Animals have a strong skeleton, a downed body, muscular limbs. At the same time, they also have a very beautiful valuable skin with an interesting pattern.

Flanders

This is a purely meat, highly productive breed of rabbits. Along with cultivation for slaughter, they are also used for breeding purposes, improving other breeds with the help of genes.

Animals quickly gain weight, and by two months the rabbit weighs 2 kg. And the maximum weight of an adult can reach 25 kg - you can imagine what kind of giants they are.

Flanders rabbits have a long body with a slightly humped back. In addition to their huge size, they also have very beautiful fur: thick and lush. The color of the skin can be different: from gray to yellow, and all the many variants of these colors. Slaughter yield - 80%.

Riesen

This is also a breed of giant rabbits, like the flanders. But in this case, the maximum weight of an adult is still less - 15 kg. The fur of animals is thick and knocked down, the color is from black to blue and sandy. The slaughter output depends on the feeding and conditions of detention: under favorable circumstances and proper care - 83%.

How to choose

When choosing a rabbit of a meat breed for the purpose of further breeding, several important parameters must be taken into account. In particular, adult size, physique, and how quickly the animal gains weight matter. In addition, you also need to take into account:

the fertility of the animal;
resistance to diseases, features of immunity;
features of care, diet;

If it is possible to keep rabbits in warmer, more gentle conditions, then you can stop at breeding highly productive flanders or rizens.

Crossing features

To get a new highly productive breed of rabbits, the best specimens are selected for crossing. Most often, tribal representatives of their species participate in the selection.

To improve the productivity of meat breeds, flanders are usually used, since these animals are distinguished by the largest weight of all.

Crossing can be divided into two types: introductory and industrial. If the first is intended to eliminate any shortcomings in animals (for example, low weight, low fecundity, low slaughter yield), then industrial crossing is aimed at improving the quality of already existing positive traits.

Animal care

Consider the main points for caring for rabbits of meat breeds: after all, their productivity and rapid weight gain depend on it.

The main thing for the prosperous existence of the animal is its home. Make sure that each individual has enough space: rabbits do not like to live in close quarters and crowding. It is important to avoid extreme heat and high humidity in the room: such conditions are not suitable for rabbits.

As for the diet, for rapid weight gain and the successful development of animals, it is necessary to give them the following food:

Root crops in the form of potatoes, cabbage, beets, carrots. All this, of course, in its raw form.
Compound feed is also necessary for animals: high-quality cereals are very important for the proper nutrition of rabbits.
Give animals and vitamin supplements so that the coat shines and the animals do not get sick.
Can be added to the diet meat and bone meal: This mixture is very nutritious, contains many important minerals, calcium.
Do not forget about salt - rabbits need this substance.
In summer, you can give animals freshly cut grass, and in winter, switch to hay.

Video

This video will tell about best breeds rabbits.

So, we examined the features of rabbits of meat breeds. As you can see, today there is a choice, and quite a decent one: you can focus on animals of domestic breeds, or decide to breed no less attractive foreign specimens. In any case, the meat breed of rabbits will be highly productive, rapid growth, a decent lethal yield, besides fertility and unpretentiousness: the benefits from breeding these animals are obvious. How many years these animals live will help to understand.

The choice of breed of rabbits is the main issue facing novice rabbit breeders. It is important that future pets are adapted to the conditions of the region where they will be bred, have good performance and do not cause trouble in maintenance.

The Californian rabbit fully complies with the stated requirements, which is why these eared rabbits occupy one of the leading places among meat breeds. These charming animals were bred in California as a result of crossing the New Zealand white rabbit, the Soviet chinchilla and the Russian ermine. Having absorbed the advantages of their ancestors, these rabbits are perfect for growing on large specialized farms, and for small farms, besides, the complaisant nature and interesting color of Californians make them wonderful pets.

Description of the breed

Rabbits of the Californian breed are easily recognizable in the photo among other eared ones, largely due to their characteristic color. Their snow-white fur harmonizes beautifully with the dark brown or black color of the paws, ears and tail. There is also a dark spot on the nose of the animal. In high-bred rabbits, the spots have a clear contour, they are clearly visible on the body. However, do not panic if newborn rabbits do not have these characteristic spots, since this is acceptable for young animals, they will definitely appear in a month and a half, when the rabbits grow up a little.

One more distinctive feature in the description of rabbits of the Californian breed is the bright red color of the eyes, which is clearly visible in the photo of the animals. The body shape fully complies with the standards of meat rabbits. Californians have a medium-sized head, short erect ears and a fleshy neck. Legs are short but thick enough rear end rounded and large, since it is there that the main meat and muscle mass is concentrated. The chest of rabbits is wide and deep, there is no dewlap.

For many rabbit breeders, when choosing a breed, it is important to know the downfall index. In California rabbits, this figure exceeds 60%, which indicates excellent productivity. The animals themselves look well built and sturdy. This breed belongs to medium-sized rabbits. For this category, the weight of an adult rabbit should not exceed 5 kg.

However, Californians rarely gain maximum weight, often the weight of the male is 4-4.6 kg. Many may rightly note that the same white giants and rams are much larger, but you should not rush to final conclusions about the profitability of breeding giants. The efficiency of rabbit breeding is determined not by the weight and size of the pets, but by the characteristics of their performance, taking into account the feed consumed. Precisely because large breeds consume much more food per unit of weight gain, keeping medium-sized rabbits is much more profitable.

Amateur rabbit breeders usually rarely pursue the purity of the breed and pay attention to any inconsistencies in the standards. If in the future you plan to engage in breeding rabbit breeding, then in this case it will be useful to know the unacceptable shortcomings of Californians:

superfluous dark spots on wool;
hanging or too long ears;
rare inelastic fur;
uncharacteristic eye color;
an elongated spot on the nose that reaches the eyes;
the weight of the rabbit is more than 5.5 kg or less than 3.5 kg.

Productivity characteristic

The Californian rabbit is the second most common, which indicates the effectiveness of breeding this breed. Despite the fact that these friendly animals are bright representatives of the meat direction, white fur Californians can also be used in production. Breeding this breed is quite profitable, as animals quickly gain weight. So, the average weight of a newborn rabbit is only 46 grams. Below is a table in which you can track how a Californian is gaining weight by month.

In the future, rabbits recover slowly or completely stop gaining weight. Based on the above data, we can conclude that it is not advisable to keep California rabbits after 5 months. The weight of the carcass after slaughter is about 60% of the live weight of the animal, where the proportion of meat ranges from 80 to 86%. The fat content in the carcass is completely dependent on the diet of the animals and averages about 2.5%.

Breeding rabbits

Breeding rabbits of the Californian breed at home is not difficult for a beginner. Feedback from rabbit breeders suggests that it is best to purchase breeding pets at specialized rabbit farms in order to be sure of purebredness and the absence of family ties. The price of one animal averages 400-700 rubles; to begin with, you can purchase 4 females and one male, which in a fairly short period of time will breed to the desired livestock. Puberty in animals occurs at the age of 5 months, after which they can be allowed to mate. All sexually mature Californians must be selected for the tribe.

Every livestock breeder should know the rules for mating rabbits, and the most important issue is the age of the wards. You should not rush too much, since a fragile animal is not able to give healthy and high-quality offspring.

Experienced rabbit breeders advise waiting a month before mating animals so that the body has time to get stronger. A few days before the intended mating, the animals need to be fed more nutritiously. Hunting for a Californian rabbit usually lasts 4-6 days, during this period she becomes restless, tears down and rushes around the cage. If you let the male into mating for the first time, then for successful breeding, you should choose a calm and experienced rabbit for him. Usually, it is the female who is placed in the cage with the groom, and then observed for some time in order to react in time if the animals start a fight; this method of mating allows the rabbit breeder to know for sure whether mating has occurred or not.

The female gives birth quickly and easily, one litter usually consists of 7-10 rabbits, and about 40 rabbits can be obtained from one rabbit per year. The maternal instinct in female Californian rabbits is well developed. They are high-milk, therefore they are able to feed the entire brood on their own. On average, the life expectancy of California rabbits is about 10 years, and breeding animals used in breeding - 5 years.

Features of feeding

In terms of body weight gain, Californian rabbits are often compared to broilers. The diet greatly affects the productivity and health of eared pets. To get the maximum efficiency from breeding this unique breed, you need to carefully approach the menu of animals. This is especially true for young people. Most rabbit breeds need to be fattened immediately a month and a half before the intended slaughter, however, things are a little different with Californians.

Breeding rabbits of the Californian breed in private household plots Kubik

I REJECTED Californian Rabbits...

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"American" rabbits need to be fed with high quality immediately after the end of the sucking period, only then you can maximize all the advantages of this breed. For rapid increase masses of rabbits are recommended to include protein feed in the menu. It can be dairy products, meat and fish meal, protein supplements. Don't forget that rabbits need constant access to fresh food. drinking water. In the cold season, the liquid should be slightly warmed up.

The basis of the diet of Californians should be hay, root crops, branch and green fodder, compound feed. The summer menu is based on field and meadow herbs. After weaning, young animals need to be fed five times a day, with age this figure is gradually brought up to two times. The correctness of the selected menu is evidenced by healthy look animal hair, good general condition, normal behavior, normal stool.

California rabbits are unpretentious in content, therefore they do not require any special conditions. Often they are kept in spacious cages, the height of which should not be less than the height of the animal if it stands on its hind legs. The size of the cage per pet is about 0.3 square meters. m. When placing animals, try to settle nearby rabbits of the same age, so it will be easier to provide care and organize feeding. A drinking bowl, a feeder and a house are placed in the cage, where the animal can hide from prying eyes, and during the pregnancy of the rabbit - a mother liquor.

The pallet of the pet cage is lined with a bed of sawdust or filler for cat litter which perfectly absorb moisture and do not let smell through. It is necessary to place cages with rabbits in a place without drafts and the possibility of direct sun rays. Many rabbit breeders prefer to breed Californians in holes. In this case, the content of the wards is as close as possible to natural conditions living, besides, taking care of animals in the pits is quite simple.

Arranging a rabbit pit does not require any special skills and knowledge, so the farmer can build a place for the rabbits himself using the video instructions. The rabbit breeder is required to dig a hole of about 2x2x1 m and strengthen the walls with slate. The floor is usually made of plank or mesh. The “dwelling” must be fenced off and a roof made to protect the animals from the sun and precipitation. The pets will do the rest of the work themselves: they will dig holes, begin to breed and raise rabbits.

Care for Californians

The characteristic of Californian rabbits does not provide for any specific care. Like other breeds of rabbits, "Americans" need regular examination of the ears and eyes, monitoring the quality of the wool, cutting the claws. All these activities are aimed not so much at maintaining an accurate appearance how much for timely detection possible problems and diagnosing the disease.

Skin and white wool are the main indicators of the well-being of the animal. Tousled, loss of shine, rolling and the presence of baldness on the coat is a reason to worry. Careful inspection skin should be carried out once a week, reasons to consult a veterinarian may be scabs or pustules, rashes and redness.

If necessary, wipe the eyes with a cotton swab, which can be moistened with boiled water or strong tea. For the care and cleaning of the ears, it is recommended to use special lotions that are purchased in veterinary pharmacies. To prevent the occurrence of dangerous infectious diseases, rabbits must be vaccinated. Vaccinations can be done both in a veterinary clinic and at home.

Rabbits meat direction

In modern rabbit breeding, there are about 200 breeds of these cute animals. Rabbits are raised for skins, fur, just for fun. But the most profitable direction in rabbit breeding is meat. After all, one of the most pressing problems in our time is food. Rabbits of meat breeds stand out active growth, excellent weight gain, good muscles and tasty, dietary meat.

But the meat different breeds has its own differences: different fat content, yield, taste. Rabbits of different species also differ in weight gain with the same feed consumption. How not to make a mistake in choosing and make your own?

Read also:

We are interested in meat

Best meat breeds rabbits are called "broiler". Experienced rabbit breeders distinguish two, the most valuable and productive meat breeds in this direction - the most precocious.

White New Zealand

An adult animal at 5 months gains weight 4-5 kg. Their carcasses are well knocked down and compact, there are no excess fat deposits. This breed comes from America, in our country gained popularity in the 70s of the last century. Adults have a body length of 50 cm, increase the weight of 4-5 kg.

Females of the New Zealand species are the most prolific and caring, they are able to bring 7-8 cubs in one round. Also, these animals have a friendly, calm disposition, take root well in mesh enclosures. The price of animal meat of this breed is one of the highest.

Slaughter meat yield in rabbits of these breeds is also high. Each individual can bring to the owner up to 70% of excellent dietary meat. Representatives of this meat series can happen at the age of 4-5 months (with a weight gain of 3-4 kg).

Californian

California breed

One of the most unpretentious and easy to breed meat breeds. Rabbits have high fertility, they can please you with 8-10 rabbits. Californians lose slightly in live weight than New Zealanders. The weight of rabbits at the age of 5 months reaches 3-4 kg. But on the other hand, they grow faster - at 3 months, the young weigh about 3 kg.

Rabbits of this breed are quite fleshy, but do not have excess fat deposits. Their main advantage is good innate immunity, resistance to diseases and excellent adaptability to the conditions of detention.

The bigger the rabbit, the better?

The biggest mistake novice rabbit breeders make is to assume that the more the rabbit weighs, the more profitable it is. look impressive enough. But they are far from being as effective in breeding for meat as one might imagine. The main disadvantages of these breeds:

Late maturity. To begin to happen giants, it is necessary to wait for them to reach the age of 6-7 months. The weight of males should be at least 5-6 kg, rabbits 4-5 kg.
Need for care. Large animals need cages large sizes which is quite disadvantageous financially.
Such rabbits are less prolific.
More costly diet (they need more protein) to increase meat yield by up to 57%. It is necessary to carefully monitor their diet in order to prevent obesity (this is bad for mating).
When raising giants, you will also have to face problems in the field of their health - their limbs very often hurt due to their large weight. There may be individuals with deformed paws in the litter.
The rabbits of these breeds often experience difficulties in biting; during childbirth, small rabbits often die.

Among the advantages, one can single out resistance to diseases, a good offspring, a calm, friendly, phlegmatic disposition of giants. These breeds of meat-skin direction. Apart from good meat, the skins of meat rabbits are also in demand (for fur and felt production). because of big size the price of the skins is quite high.

White giant. Their weight can reach 7 kg, carcass length up to 65 cm. Females are very prolific, they can bring 10-15 cubs in one round. Meat yield 54-57%.

Gray giant. Body length up to 66 cm, weight reaches 7.5 kg. Females can bring up to 7-11 rabbits. Meat yield 55-57%.

Flanders (Belgian giant). The largest of the giants. The weight of an adult male can reach 12 kg, body length up to 75 cm. But females are less prolific, they bring up to 5 rabbits. The case of rabbits of this breed is possible only at the age of 9 months. Meat yield 54%. .

More profitable meat-skin breeds

Burgundian

In our country, this breed appeared only two decades ago. Burgundy rabbits are distinguished by a slightly elongated, muscular body and a red color. But in fur production, the skin of individuals of this breed is not very high price due to Bad quality hair density. These animals are more suitable for the meat direction. An adult male reaches a weight of 5.5 kg.

But the fertility of females is very good - it can bring up to 12 rabbits. The Burgundy breed is precocious. At the age of 4 months (reach the weight of an adult male). Animals of such breeds are distinguished by excellent immunity, have a powerful body. Meat yield up to 65%.

Chinchilla

Rabbits of this genus with beautiful fur were bred by crossing a white giant with an ordinary chinchilla. Animals of such breeds are famous not only delicious meat, but also high-quality skins that have good price. They are perfectly adapted to our climate, unpretentious. The weight of an adult male reaches 5 kg.

More about the chinchilla breed:

Females have good fertility, bring up to 8 rabbits per litter. The rabbits are growing quite actively, their weight reaches 4 kg by 4 months, and they are ready for mating. The yield of meat is about 59%.

german ram

This breed appeared in England and for a long time was considered decorative. stand out from all especially long ears, which have to be fastened with clamps. The weight of adults reaches 5.5 kg. Sheep have good immunity, are quite unpretentious in care.

The disadvantage of rabbits of such breeds is the poor fertility of females (for one round, she brings only 3-6 cubs). But the rabbits are active in growth, by the age of 3 months they reach a weight of 3-4 kg. Meat yield 55-57%.

Competent choice of meat rabbit breed, proper care and content will make your business highly profitable. Good luck!

The first evidence of rabbits as pets was made a very long time ago, back in ancient times. This was known in Ancient Rome approximately 2000 years ago.

Breeding these animals in industrial scale started only 2 centuries ago.

Today, science knows about 700 breeds of rabbits, but every year this number increases due to various natural mutations or amateur crossing of animals.

The classification of rabbits is based on the weight of the animal, the length of its coat, and also on productivity. It is not difficult to guess that those breeds that are bred for meat are called meat. It is about them that we will talk.

This breed was created by livestock specialists from Novosibirsk and Saratov on the basis of research institute fur farming and rabbit breeding.

N.S. supervised the whole process. Zusman. To create a new breed, white giants were crossed with the chinchilla breed by the method of reproductive crossing.

Scientists wanted to get an animal with a large body weight, excellent quality fluff, which is able to quickly adapt to a changing climate.

The body of the Soviet Chinchilla rabbits is slender and wide, the head is small compared to the body, the ears are erect, of medium length. The coat is soft, shiny, this bluish color. Abdomen, neck, lower tail and inner side thighs are white.

Due to the excellent qualities of the skins and their beautiful color, they are often used without modification.

An adult rabbit weighs an average of 5 kg, the body reaches a length of 57-62 cm, and a chest girth of 37-38 cm. Fertility is good, the rabbit gives at least 8 rabbits in one round. Young animals grow very actively, 120 days after birth they can already gain 3.5-4 kg of live weight. Meat yield is 56-63%.

white giant

These animals have German-Belgian roots. This breed appeared in the distant 19th century.

Animals were selected for a long time and carefully, and as a result, purebred white giants were obtained.

These animals are large, their body is strong, elongated. Their back is straight and long, the chest is well developed. The head is relatively small, the ears are short and erect.

The constitution of these animals is strong, typically mesosomal, but there are rabbits with a narrower body - this is the leptosomal type. The coat is very thick, pure white, as these animals are albinos.

The average weight characteristic of white giants is set at 5-5.5 kg, but sometimes animals gained 8 kg. The body is long, 60-65 cm, girth in the chest area - 37-38 cm.

For one round, the female gives birth, on average, 7-8 rabbits. The young are gaining weight at an average rate. During the day, the rabbit gives 170-220 g of milk. Their mothers are good.

For white giants unpretentiousness is characteristic. They quickly get used to the weather conditions of the area.

The white giant is widely used to create new breeds of rabbits because of its excellent physical qualities.

Rabbit silver

To create a new breed, Champagne rabbits were subjected to careful selection. In 1952, livestock specialists from the Tula and Poltava regions managed to breed a new breed. The number of "new" rabbits was greater than their predecessors. In addition, they differed in better viability.

In appearance, these animals are compact, the body is wide, expanding closer to the hips. The head is small, the ears are erect, the chest is voluminous, the back is even, the croup is wide, slightly rounded.

The legs are strong, the muscles on them are well developed, set correctly. The eyes are brown. The constitution is of the mesosomal type, the body is 57 cm long, and the girth of the sternum is approximately 36 cm. The average weight is 4.5 kg, sometimes it can reach up to 6 kg.

Fertility is good, 8 rabbits at a time. Young growth is gaining weight at an accelerated pace, due to which they are brought in for slaughter. The meat comes out very tasty and tender. Young rabbits are well fattened. From rabbits aged 120 days, you can get 57-61% of meat by weight.

The coat is thick, silver-gray in color. The guard hairs are white, the down is blue, and the guiding hairline is black.

Initially, rabbits are born black, after a month the fur begins to acquire a silver hue. 4 months after birth, the coat color becomes the same as in adults.

The older the rabbit becomes, the more radically the color of the coat will change. The hairs will either lighten or turn brown. After processing, the color of the skin is quite peculiar, moreover, not very thick.

Vienna blue rabbit

These animals were bred in Austria from Moravian rabbits and Flanders. They are not too big, rather medium in size. The direction is meat-skin, but because of their decent weight they are often bred for slaughter.

The body is slender, elongated, the bones are strong, the legs are well muscled. Mesosomal constitution.

The average weight is 4.6 kg, the maximum weight is kept at 5 kg. The body is 57-58 cm long, and the girth of the sternum is 36 cm. The rabbit usually gives birth to 8-9 rabbits at a time, each weighing approximately 72 g.

Milk production in females is good, they are caring mothers. For 2 months of life, young animals gain weight of 1.7 kg, for 3 months - 2.6 kg, for 4 - 3 kg. Viennese blue rabbits endure strong weather changes, in winter they can keep their young.

The skins from these animals are excellent, very beautiful color. The pile is very soft thanks to a large number down. This material is widely used in both natural and processed form.

Rex rabbit breed

These animals have French roots. They were withdrawn in the 20th century, but they came to the territory of the present CIS from Germany.

An adult animal is large - weighing 3-4.5 kg, with an elongated body 40-54 cm long. The body is not knocked down, of delicate construction, the skeleton is light and thin. The chest is deep, but narrowed, there is a small dewlap.

The back is straight, with a narrow croup. Legs are thin. The young are gaining weight at an average rate. For the first month of life, they gain 700 g, for the second - 1.7 kg, for the third - 2.2 kg.

By the time they reach the age of four months, the animals manage to gain 2.4 kg of weight. Rabbits are not particularly prolific, a single offspring usually consists of 5 - 6 rabbits. Meat turns out dietary, very tasty, gentle.

The skins of these animals are also valuable. Coloring can be very different - black, brown, white, blue. The size of the skin can also be different. Due to the small length of the hairs, it seems that the cut is between. These skins do not need coloring.

Description of the breed "Butterfly"

This Belarusian breed was created by crossing English butterfly rabbits with local individuals.

The bred offspring were crossed with flanders, and their born animals were bred with the Belarusian butterfly. Thanks to source material, rabbits of this breed are able to give a large offspring (up to 8 rabbits) and a lot of milk.

The body of these animals reaches a length of 54 cm, and the girth of the chest is 36 cm.

The body is eirisomal type. The average weight is 4.3 kg, the maximum is 4.9 kg. The structure of the body is strong, the head is medium in size, the ears are of medium length. The chest is voluminous, sometimes there is a dewlap. The back is wide, oblong. The croup is wide, rounded.

The limbs are strong, straight, muscular. The wool is thick. The body is white, black, blue, chinchilla spots. The shape of the spots does not change: a symmetrical butterfly forms on the cheeks and nose, there is a broken belt on the back, there is also a rim around the eyes, the top of the tail and black ears.

Rabbits of this breed are able to quickly get used to the climate of the area, they can be fed with local food.

California rabbit

From the name you can understand that America is the birthplace of these animals. They were introduced to Europe in the 1970s. California rabbits are able to quickly adapt to poor living conditions, and are also easily produced on an industrial scale.

The females of this breed very prolific and are excellent mothers, thanks to which the young are well preserved. The body of these animals is small, but weighty - 5.5-6 kg. Females begin to breed at 5 months of age, at a time they can give birth to 9-10 rabbits.

The meat of rabbits of this breed is very tender and tasty. They can quickly gain weight suitable for slaughter.

The muscles throughout the body of these rabbits are well developed, although the skeleton is thin and short. The neck is almost invisible, it is very short. The fur cover is very thick, rough, without fluff. The hair is white, shiny, the bottom of the limbs, ears, tail and tip of the nose are very dark. The ears are small and erect.

Reddish-pink eyes. The animals are calm but active.

By the age of 2 months, small rabbits can weigh 1.8 kg, and the most well-fed animals - all 2-2.3 kg. By three months, live weight can be 2.6-2.7 kg. The meat yield is 60%.

About rabbits "Flandre"

These Belgian animals appeared in the 19th century. Their bodies are long and their bones are strong.

The head is large, rounded. The ears are long and wide, diverging towards the end.

The sternum is well developed, the girth behind the shoulder blades is more than 37 cm. The back is wide, even, sometimes there is a slight deflection. The croup is wide. The body length reaches 67 cm or more.

The average weight of an adult male is 5.5 cm, and the maximum is 8-8.5 kg. Fertility is average, 6-7 rabbits can be born at a time. A newborn animal weighs 60-65 g. 4 months after birth, the weight is 2.1-3.3 kg.

Wool happens different color. If the animal is agouti, but it has a reddish-gray body, the lower part of the tail and belly are white, the rim on the ears and the top of the tail are black. If the animal is dark gray, then the guard hairs throughout the body are evenly colored in black and gray, the undercoat is dark blue, and the belly is light.

Thuringian rabbit

These animals belong to the meat and skin, but due to a decent weight of 3-5 kg, they are grown specifically for slaughter.

The meat is very tasty, healthy, and the skin is very soft and beautiful. The homeland of animals is German Thuringia, and they appeared at the beginning of the 20th century.

To breed a new breed, Russian ermine rabbits, Argents and Flanders were crossed.

The body is knocked down, dense, the neck is shortened, the legs are with large quantity muscles, medium in length. The coat is light brown in color and there is a black veil on the nose, thighs, ears and flanks.

The fur is shiny, very smooth to the touch. The color may change throughout the year.

Breed "Black-brown"

The wool of these animals is dark brown, hence the name of the breed. In general, the coat color is very heterogeneous. On the sides, the hair is black-brown, on the head and back - black.

The down is light blue, the outer hair is gray-blue. To breed this breed in the middle of the 20th century, Flanders, the White Giant and the Vienna Dove were crossed.

Animals are characterized high productivity, actively gaining weight, mid-season. High quality wool and meat.

The average weight is 5 kg, but often a rabbit can eat 7 kg. The body is knocked down, strong, the head is large, the sternum is voluminous, the limbs are oblong, fleshy.

Little rabbits weigh about 80 g, and at the age of three months - already 3 kg. The female gives 7-8 rabbits at a time. The fur is soft due to the large amount of down.

New Zealand white rabbits

The dimensions of these animals are medium, the coat is pure white.

These albinos were selected from red New Zealand rabbits in America in the first half of the 20th century. Subsequent selection was aimed at highlighting more intensive growth, obtaining more quality meat.

To get a greater meat yield, selected individuals were crossed with Flanders.

They acclimatize well. The weight of an adult rabbit ranges between 4 and 5 kg. The constitution of the body is strong, the trunk is proportional, short, the muscles are well developed, the back is wide, the legs are strong.

Young growth very quickly eats up a mass, which is characteristic of this breed. For 2 months, rabbits, which are born at a weight of 45 g, reach 2 kg, and 3 months after birth, they weigh 2.7-3 kg.

The meat is low-calorie due to the highly developed muscles. The fur is of the same quality as the meat. The hairline is thick white color. Females give birth at a time from 7 to 12 rabbits. Often rabbits of this breed are raised as broiler animals.

It is better to raise rabbits yourself for good meat than to buy them in a store. So you will know that there are no antibiotics and other chemicals in the meat product that can only cause harm.

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For a farmer, the weight of rabbits is the main indicator of production productivity. Among other domestic animals, they are the fastest growing. On average, by 4-5 months, pets grow by 65%, and after about 8-10 months, eared ones gain the maximum mass characteristic of a particular species. What are the rates of development in different breeds, how much should rabbits weigh at certain periods of life, and what weight is considered the norm for adults - you will learn from this article.

Livestock growth dynamics

Newborn eared rabbits of different breeds can weigh a rabbit, depending on age. Being born blind and hairless, thanks to mother's milk, in the first 25-28 days of life (about 4 weeks), the weight of the rabbit increases by about 10 times. Then the growth rate slows down a bit. But the next three to four months, there is still an intensive weight gain.

By 4-5 months, the animals reach sexual maturity, gaining approximately 65-70% of the average adult weight of a rabbit. At this age, individuals weigh about 3.5 kg.

Eared give the maximum number of kilograms by 9-10 months of life. There are minor differences depending on the breed. They must be studied in order to achieve the goal for which the farmer organizes a rabbit farm.

What determines the quality of body weight gain

The productivity of a farm is directly related to the rate at which animals gain weight. This component of success can be influenced by considering the following parameters:

natural features of the breed;
hereditary qualities of livestock;
maternal qualities of the female;
living conditions created for animals;
quality and diet;
correctly carried out perinatal and infantile periods.

When planning farming activities, the owner needs to decide for what purpose the rabbits will be raised. If the direction of the economy is only meat, meat species of animals are needed.

If the farmer is planning a meat and skin direction, then the livestock for breeding must be selected appropriately. Giant breed rabbits show the best mass gain results at the lowest cost.

What are the largest rabbits

Giant rabbits grow faster than others: flandre, white giant, French ram, Californian and New Zealand white. Breeding these species is cost-effective for several reasons. The first is the precocity of these breeds and fast, in comparison with others, growth rates.

In addition, giants easily adapt to any conditions of detention, even endure adverse cold weather. With powerful immunity to a wide range of diseases, these rabbits can breed well. In one round, a giant female usually has from 10 babies.

By the age of 3 months, giant rabbits have a mass of more than 2.5 kg. An adult rabbit of giant breeds weighs 5-7 kg.

Of course, each variety of eared is characterized by its own developmental features by month. Below is a table with detailed information on how much a rabbit weighs depending on age:

Characteristics of different breeds

Certain types of eared can be used for different result in production. There are only meat ones - their weight is large, they gain it quickly and easily. If the rabbits are downy, then the indicators of weight gain are not so important. But there are also mixed breeds. They perform well in the meat direction, while successfully giving fluff or a good skin.

The minimum weight of adult meat individuals is 4.5-5 kg. The maximum weight of representatives of this species is 10-12 kg. On average, adult animals raised for meat grow up to 6-7 kg. At the same time, at the age of three months, the live weight of rabbits is approximately 40-45% of the weight of an adult, which is 2.5-2.7 kg.

Adult representatives of meat-down breeds weigh an average of 5 kg, reaching by three months approximately the same indicators as meat breeds - 2.5-2.7 kg.

Downy breeds are the lightest. Adults hardly reach 3.5-4 kg, at 3-4 months they barely reach 2 kg.

What can affect the growth rate

There is a relationship between the time of year and the mass of animals. Rabbit breeders have come to the consensus that the time of birth affects the growth rate of the rabbit. It has been observed that individuals born in winter or early spring develop much faster than those born in the summer-autumn period.

Different types of rabbits develop in different ways. But on average, from about the 80th day of life, the cost of feed begins to increase significantly.

Representatives of absolutely all varieties of the hare family stop growing, gaining maximum weight after 10 months. As a rule, only fertile females and breeding males are kept until this age. The rest of the individuals end their existence by 4 months.

How does rabbit milkiness affect growth?

The growth rate of rabbits is affected by the milkiness of the female. If the rabbit has enough quality milk, if she responsibly approaches the process of feeding the offspring, then the intensity of the weight gain of the rabbits will be very high. And not only during the lactation period, but also after separation from the mother.

Summer okrol gives more complete milk to the rabbit than spring. In the first birth, the female's milk production will be lower than in subsequent ones. The highest rates can be shown only in the third lactation.

The best indicators of milk production are in the Californian breed and the Soviet chinchilla. The worst are the New Zealand whites.

The milkiness of rabbits can be determined in comparison with other individuals of the species. Visually in females with best performance chest girth is larger by about 7%. And the trunk is longer by 2% with a body weight reduced by 700-800 g.

Relationship between health and weight gain

An important factor for rapid weight gain is the health of rabbits. The physical data of the eared differ from other types of farm animals. normal temperature the body of lagomorphs can vary from 37 to 41 degrees, dropping in winter and rising in the summer heat.

Pets of rabbit farms feel comfortable at temperatures environment from 15 to 22 degrees. But they can withstand frosts down to -30, and heat +30 degrees.

Dampness and drafts can provoke diseases, which will adversely affect the growth of livestock. Therefore, provide your pets with acceptable living conditions, a balanced, complete diet, clean cages and a calm psychological environment.

Subject to all these conditions, the health of the eared will be in order. They will quickly gain weight, and the cost of care and quality nutrition will quickly meet your expectations. In the article "How long do rabbits live" you will learn all the details about the life expectancy of eared.

Please write in the comments what breeds you prefer to breed on your farm. How fast do they grow.

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