Start a Rabbit Farming Business

Rabbit farming business is very profitable. Anyone can start a rabbit farming business with little investment and capital. The profit of rabbit farming depends on the selection of proper rabbit breeds, care and well management. But selecting the suitable rabbit breeds is most important. There are many breeds available around the world. All this breeds are not suitable for commercial farming. Some breeds are suitable for certain area and some are worldwide. The size of rabbit breeds are different. They are of small, medium and large sized. Some breeds are highly meat or wool productive and some are famous for fur or lab production. Some highly productive commercial rabbit breeds are described below.

White New Zealand

The white New Zealand rabbit breed is a most popular and high productive commercial rabbit breeds. It has a great demand around the world. White New Zealand rabbit breed is an American creation which appeared after red New Zealand rabbit. They are highly fur and meat productive. An adult bucks weights about 10 pounds and does 11 pounds.

Californian

Californian rabbit breed is an another highly productive and widely famous commercial rabbit. This breed is also an American creation. This breed was produced in 1923 after long experiment and crossbreeding. Californian rabbit breed is very popular for their meat production. Their body is white colored. Nose, ears, tail and feet are dark gray or black colored. When the bucks gain maturity they weights 9 pounds and the does 9.5 pounds.

Champagne d’Argent

Champagnes d’Argent is one of the oldest commercial rabbit breeds in the world. They are also known as French Silver. Champagne d’Argent has been raised in French for more than 100 years. They become black colored when they born. But when they gain maturity the color of their body turned to silver or skimmed milk color. Mature bucks weights 10 pounds and does 10.5 pounds.

Satin

Satin rabbit breed originated from America. They are highly meat and fur productive and very suitable for commercial farming. They become very beautiful to look and excellent for rabbit show. Adult bucks weights about 9 pounds and does 9.5 pounds.

Commercial Rabbit Breeds: A list of commercial rabbit breeds is shown below.

Size	Rabbit Breeds	Production	Weight(LBS)
Small	Dutch	Lab	3-6
	Himalayan	Lab	2-6
	Posish	Lab	3-4
Medium	New Zealand	Meat	9-12
	American Chinchilla	Fur	9-12
	Californian	Meat	8-11
	Champagne d’Argent	Meat	9-12
	English Spot	Meat & Lab	9-13
	Silver Martens	Fur	6-10
	Angora	Wool & Meat	9-12
	Rex	Fur	8-11
Large	Checkered Giants	Fur	11+
	Flemish Giants	Meat	13+

FEEDING 

Good rabbit feed management is very important for rabbit farming. After constructing rabbit house and buying equipment, feed management is the single largest operating expenses. Rabbit feed management takes about 75% of total production cost. Rabbits are herbivore animal and they can consume different types of plants, leaves, vegetables etc. They can even consume the forage which people do not eat. And convert this forage to valuable meat, wool, fur etc. to meet up our demand. Generally you can feed your rabbit anything from your garden, kitchen or forest. They love to eat peels, corn stalks, papaya, weeds, banana, pineapple corns, leaves, vines from pulses, carrots, lettuce, cauliflower, cabbage etc. This types of feed can easily served to the rabbit but this can’t fulfill the nutrition demand of rabbit. So, small amounts of grains are necessary with their regular feed. If you don’t use compounded feed then add some salt in their feed. An ideal rabbit feed should contain 12-18% crude protein, 7% minerals, 14% fiber and 2700 kilo calorie/kg metabolic energy. If you feed the rabbit at least 8% crude fiber containing feed then additional feeding of hay or fiber will not be necessary. Different types of rabbit pellets for different aged rabbit are available in the market. This types of pellets fulfill all the nutrient requirements of rabbit. This types of pellets are very useful and effective for commercial rabbit production.

Feeding

Feed habit and consumption rate depends on the age and breeds. In an average an adult does consume about 100g feed daily. A pregnant doe consume about 160g and lactating doe 350g feed. Chart of ideal feed ingredients and chemical composition of green grass and different concentrate mixture are shown below.

Feed Ingredients

Feed Ingredient of Different Dietary Group
Ingredients	Dietary Group (Percent)
	A	B	C
Green Grass	As Much Possible	As Much Possible	As Much Possible
Wheat Bran	25	30	30
Wheat	59.85	59.48	34.48
Gram	–	–	35
Til Oil Cake	15	–	–
Soybean Meal	–	10	–
Embavit WS	0.02	0.02	0.025
Salt	0.5	0.5	0.5

Chemical Composition

Chemical Composition
Ingredients	Dietary Group (Percent)
	A	B	C
Dry Matter	90.05	89.87	89.35
Ether Extract	4.32	4.76	4.14
Crude Protein	16.22	16.11	16.13
Crude Fibre	4.57	4.46	4.67
Ash	5.82	5.09	4.9
Total Phosphorus	0.69	0.65	0.53
Calcium	0.39	0.10	0.14
Nitrogen Free Extract	69.05	69.18	69.94
ME kcal/100 gm DM	26.01	26.53	26.13

Nutrition

For keeping healthy and growing well rabbit needs proper nutrition. Because due to lack of any nutrient ingredients the growth may hamper. Chart of proper nutrition for rabbit is shown below.

Nutrient Requirements of Rabbit
Nutrient	Different Group of Rabbit
	Growth	Maintenance	Gestation	Lactation
Crude Protein (%)	16	12	15	17
Crude Fiber (%)	10-12	14	10-12	10-12
Fat (%)	2	2	2	2
Calcium (%)	0.4	c	0.45	0.75
Phosphorous (%)	0.22	c	0.37	0.5
TDN (%)	65	55	58	70
Digestible Energy(Kcal)	0.22	c	0.37	0.5

Good rabbit housing for rabbit farming is very important. because rabbits always stays in their house. As the rabbits can’t tell you about their problems and needs in housing so you have to fulfill all their requirements in housing. It would be better for commercial rabbit farming if you build an enclosed building which has the proper management of ventilation, cooling, heating and lighting systems. Care more about heating and ventilation systems because rabbit can’t tolerate extreme chance of temperature.

Inside the rabbit house good ventilation is very important. Ensure entrance plenty of fresh air without any draft. Draft is very harmful for rabbit. Because a draft may cause colds and the rabbits can get infected by pneumonia. Make a drain inside the house. If possible make proper use of natural shade and prevent excessive winds. Make a fence around the house area to keep the rabbit free from other harmful animals. Keep different aged rabbit separately because they often fight with each other and injure themselves. Sometimes they kill or injure the younger.

Rabbit house needs more carefully protected during winter season and cold areas than those in milder areas. For controlling excessive hot and cold, make the house with insulated roofs. Insulated roofs helps to reduce excessive heat in summer season and winter condensation. In bellow zero climates supplemental heat may necessary for sustained rabbit production. But it costs very high. Every house should have sufficient roof overhang for preventing the house from driving rain water. Make solid wall in windward and back side. Use an adjustable damper in the house. Open all the vents during summer season and close them partially in winter season. Use small adjustable center ridge ventilation and it will help to escape excessive moisture from the house. Fan-type air controlling system is recommended for commercial rabbit housing. In this regard you can contact with a nearest extension poultry specialist or with your county extension agent.

Different types of cages can be used for rabbit farming. The design of the cages varies by the manufacturers and the breed which you want to raise. However if possible try to use metal cages. Because metal cages helps to prevent unsanitary condition. Which can occurs many health problems. The floor of the cage should be made of 0.5-by-1 inch mesh. And 1-by-2 inch mesh for the top and side. In single layers the cages hanging from the ceiling is very easy to manage for the farmer. Every adult does and bucks should keep in individual cages. Every single cages should be at least 30 inches deep, 20 inches high and 30 inches wide. This measurement can be different according to the breeds. Non breeding does, angora, small does and castrated bucks may be kept in one house in a small group. In the outside of the cage every cage should have attached hopper of feed and a watering system. Keep some straw or this types of materials in the cages of doe during their delivery time and winter season.

Always maintain a sanitary operation. This types of tasks will help for preventing diseases. Porous pits bellow the cages with layers of gravel, drainage tile and sand are the best waste management methods. Earth and concrete floors can be used. But it needs to clean frequently. Keep a concrete walkways between the cages. It will help to remove accumulated manure. Clean the manure at least once a month. Clean and sanitize the cages after every use. Burn the hair from the cages. Keep the newly bought rabbit separately. Because they may infected by disease or carry the germ of disease or misbehave with others.

Light is a very essential elements for rabbit. Moderate light management helps the rabbit to grow well and it is very essential for their breeding. Always use 12 hours lighting and 12 hours darkness period to keep them productive and breeding well.

Under the hutches of rabbit worms can be raised. It is possible in both indoor and outdoor operations if the climate become moderate. Spilled feed and manure of rabbit will be consumed by the worms. This system can be an extra income source. Composted manure of rabbit can be used as fertilizer in the crop fields.