The color of rabbitmeat is bright pearly white with lean, juicy slightly sweet taste and a fine texture.
Rabbits can produce from 4-8 times depending upon the circumstances of feeding, housing and management. In Nepal, we have been producing 6 litters from a doe in a year.
A rabbit doe can produce 5-12 bunnies at a time. In an average of 6 bunnies at a time with 6 litters, a doe can produce up to 36 bunnies in a year.
Rabbits can produce bunnies in 28-31 days of mating (gestation period).
A doe and buck can be used till 2 years for mating purpose, productively.
Rabbit can be raised in open areas by taking into consideration of the management aspects (like-inbreeding, hygiene of the animals). They are raised in the hutches constructed outdoors for a small scale and inside the shed/rabbitry for a commercial scale.
Rabbit farming requires small space, investment cost is very low whereas the return is high because of high breeding rates. It can be taken care by even children and old people in homes and requires very few time for management.
Rabbits can be raised in special type of commercially made ready-made cages or inside the cages made by using the locally available bamboo, wooden logs. Cost of locally made hutches are low whereas, commercial cages will cost high.
It depends upon your budget and the scale of rabbit farming. If you are planning for the start-up of a rabbit farming, starting from the locally made cages will be cheaper. In Indonesia, Vietnam and other developing countries up to 300 does have been raised in rabbit units made from locally available materials. Once your farm goes bigger and incomes are secured, there are always options to go for commercial cages.
It depends upon the type of structure you want to build and the scale of the rabbitry. For a 50 doe rabbitry, you need in total 155 cages, the tentative investment might be 3-10 lakhs depending upon the type of materials used in construction.
Sub-Tropical and Temperate climatic zones of Nepal are best for rabbit production. It can be even produced in Tropical region by taking proper considerations in shed construction.
Rabbit breeds available and being used for commercial meat production are New Zealand White, Soviet Chinchilla and California Hyaline.
Rabbit hutches can be constructed by using bamboo, woods and straws and local dried hays for roofing.
For rabbit production at the household level: rabbits can be fed with well cleaned fodder and forages, remains of some vegetables in a household scale. In commercial scale, rabbits should be fed with balanced forages and properly made feed mix to get expected yield.
Feeding, Sanitation and Hygiene, Management and record keeping are the most important aspects to be taken care of in rabbit farming. Proper feeding, timely mating, weaning and care gives you expected yields.
By raising 3 doe (female rabbits) and a buck, a family can produce at least 60 rabbits in a year, assuming 10% mortality, 54 rabbits in a year 4.5 rabbits can be consumed in a month. By adding extra number of doe, those households make a way for income.
Rabbits can be used for mating after it reaches the age of 6 months and weight of 3.0 Kg.
Rabbit reaches slaughtering age at the age of 3-5 months depending on type of breed, feed and management.
Rabbit meat has high percentage of protein, least fat, cholesterol and calorie and is rich in calcium, phosphorus and omega-3 fatty acid. It has a great nutritional and medicinal value for younger and elderly and also for heart patients, diabetics and asthma patients.
Yes, rabbit skin and manure have a great value. Rabbit skins produces great leather products. Rabbit manure possess high percentage of Nitrogen and Potassium and thus very helpful for organic farming/sustainable agriculture.
The color of rabbitmeat is bright pearly white with lean, juicy slightly sweet taste and a fine texture.
Rabbit meat doesn’t have any flavor, it is great in its tastes. It can be cooked as many ways like Chicken and needs to be cooked more than Chicken. Rabbit meat tastes great in roasted, fried and stew form.
Himalayan Rabbits are fed with naturally produced forages and feed ingredients without using antibiotics, hormones and additives.
USDA Circular #632 has revealed- “Rabbit Meat is the Healthiest and Most Nutritious Meat Available to mankind”. It is produced naturally and by characteristics rabbit meat is healthy.
Rabbit rank fifth in the world production of meat, the importance of rabbit meat is increasing because of its high nutritious value and health dietic, taste and prohealth value compared to other meat.
Rabbit meat is proved to be healthy for heart patients, diabetics and asthma. Ketotifen, a chemical contained in rabbit meat is proven to have a medical value as revealed by some research. It can help solve throat infection, antibodies, liver/heart fertility, and cholesterol, Virility (penis and testicles).
|
Meat Type |
Protein |
Moisture |
Fat |
Energy Cal/Kg |
|
Beef |
16.3 |
55.0 |
28.0 |
3168 |
|
Chicken |
20.0 |
67.6 |
11.0 |
1782 |
|
Lamb |
15.7 |
55.8 |
27.7 |
3124 |
|
Pork |
11.9 |
42.0 |
45.0 |
4510 |
|
Rabbit |
20.8 |
67.9 |
10.2 |
1749 |
|
Turkey |
20.1 |
58.3 |
20.2 |
2618 |
Rabbits produces manure, skin pelts. If utilized properly rabbit bones, blood and feet can also be used. 
