Hello, welcome to this hall on the characteristics of rabbit, meaning and Importance.
Table Of Contents
- Meaning of rabbit.
- Terms used for rabbit.
- Characteristics of rabbit.
- Breeds of rabbits.
- Uses and Importance of rabbits.
- Revision Questions.
Meaning and Characteristics of Rabbit
Meaning: Rabbit just like pigs are monogastric or non-ruminant animals. They are medium size hopping Mammals with long legs, long ears and short tails.
Terms used for Rabbits
- Buck – An adult male rabbit
- Doe – An adult female rabbit.
- Kitten/Warren – A young or baby rabbit.
- Hutch – The house of rabbit.
- Kidding – The act of parturition in rabbit
- Pelt – The skin of rabbit.
- Littler – All the Young ones (rabbit) produce at the same time by one Doe
- Sucking – Feeding of young ones on the mother’s breast milk.
- Dam – The mother of set of young rabbits.
- Sire – The father of a set of young rabbits.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RABBITS
Below are the various characteristics of rabbit:
- They have small medium size body.
- Another characteristics of rabbit is that they are easy to house.
- Rabbits are very prolific animals or can produce many litters.
- Rabbits have a short gestation period of 30 to 31 days.
- They grow fast and reach maturity weight in about five to six months.
- They efficient converter of wide range of vegetable matter into meat.
- The fur-covered skins can be processed as pelts for sale.
- Rabbits are easy to handle or manage.
- They have a weaning period of six to eight weeks.
- They make good quality Meat, more delicious and nutritious than that of chicken.
- They are susceptible to stress.
- The rate of cannibalism is very high.
- They have high rate of disease resistance.
BREEDS OF RABBIT
The followings are the common breeds of Rabbit;
- California white
- California red
- Flemish Giants
- Chinchilla
- New Zealand white
- Champagne d’ Argent
- The crosses
- Angora
- Lop
- Blue beveren
- New Zealand red
1. The chinchilla: It is a grey bodied animal and it can weigh up to 5 kg at maturity. It is one of the best fur or pelt producers and also a meat producer.
2. The New Zealand white: This is the most popular breeds of rabbit in use. It is a fur breed and can attain a mature weight of 4.5 kg in eight months. It is a good converter of feed to meet with a high dressing percentage. It is also a fast maturing breed.
3. California white: It is a lighter breeds of rabbit and the adult may attain a mature weight of 3.5 kg to 4.5 kg. It is characterized by black markings on the ear, feet, tail and nose. It has a high growth rate and good flesh to bone ratio.
4. The New Zealand red: This breed is bright red in colour and weighs over 3kg. It has a high growth and feed conversion characteristics.
5. The giant Flemish: This breeds of rabbit can weigh over 5 kg and it is the largest of all the breeds. It is dark still Grey in colour and produces a dense and hard pelts. It is a good meat producer.
6. Angora: This breeds of rabbit requires a lot of care and attention. It is the only rabbit reared for it wool. It’s most common colour is white. It has tuft of wood on it’s ear and feet.
USES AND IMPORTANCE OF RABBITS
Below are the importance of Rabbits: they includes the following:
- For Meat: The meat of rabbit is white, find grained, tender and nutritious. The meat of rabbit is even more nutritious than that of poultry chicken.
- Rabbit skin of pelt: This can be used for making jackets, head gear, carpets or rugs and other decorative households or ornamentals.
- Manure: It has been discovered that rabbit manure is high in nitrogen and phosphorus and therefore can be used to improve the fertility of the soil.
- For research purpose: At national veterinary research institute (N,V,R,I), Vom, rabbit are kept largely as laboratory animals.
Revision Questions for Students on the Characteristics of Rabbit
- What is rabbit?
- Outline any five characteristics of rabbit.
- Mention ten breeds of rabbit listed above.
- State and explain four uses and Importance Of rabbits.