Why rabbit breeding?
Rabbit or rabbit husbandry is the art of raising and taming rabbits. You may be asking yourself the question: “Why should I raise rabbits?” Rabbit breeding should be encouraged for the following reasons.
Rabbits are very rapidly growing herbivores, reaching maturity between 6 and 8 months of age, depending on the breed used, and can produce 3 to 7 litters each year with each litter being born of approximately 5 to 9 young. Rabbit production is prolific, especially with a well thought out rabbit breeding plan.
Rabbits have a good feed-to-protein conversion rate compared to other forms of livestock farming. In efficient production systems, rabbits can convert 20 percent of the protein they eat into edible meat. Comparable figures for other species are 22 to 23 percent for broilers, 16 to 18 percent for pigs, and 8 to 12 percent for beef.
Rabbit breeders can easily grow and produce pesticide and chemical free rabbit food for their animals. As such, it is easier to produce “green” and organic animals since you are sure of the rabbit food source.
The cost of setting up a rabbit farm is inexpensive compared to other forms of livestock farming. You can easily start one in your own backyard.
Rabbits are calm and “quiet” animals, making them better for suburbia than chickens, turkeys, geese, or ducks. They can also be tamed just about anywhere without being a nuisance to the neighbors. However, you may need to seek clarification from local councils and authorities on animal husbandry in certain areas. Since many government agencies do not consider them livestock, they are allowed where other animals would not.
An essential point of meat production is to convert vegetable proteins of little or no use as food for people into high value animal proteins. Rabbits can also easily convert available proteins into cellulose-rich plants, while it is not economical to feed these to chickens and turkeys, the only animals most energy and protein efficient.
Rabbit meat is high in protein and low in fat, cholesterol and sodium compared to most other forms of animal protein consumed in the US and other parts of the world. It is a better and healthier source of meat protein. Rabbit meat is much more suitable for people with heart problems, obese and obese. With the current worldwide desire for a healthier diet, rabbit meat is presented as an excellent substitute for red meat and other types of meat.
Rabbits are quite easy to breed. Because female rabbits or female rabbits care for young on their own, there is no need for any special equipment or hand-rearing, such as an incubator or brooder, as is had in other forms of livestock farming, such as poultry. . There is rarely a need for intensive care on site.
The butchery is pretty simple and straightforward. A skilled person can take a rabbit from the cage to the freezer in a very short period of time.
Also, space is often not an issue because the cages can be stacked. Especially when compared to larger meat animals like cattle or pigs, rabbits are much more efficient users of space.
A rabbit farming business costs little to set up, little to maintain, and is highly productive, with rabbit products in the form of low-cholesterol rabbit meat and rabbit pelts for the fur trade.