To
fulfill the food demand for growing population, we
have to find out different ways of food production.
The rabbit known as "Micro-Livestock" can be a great
source of food production.
There is a great opportunity of rabbit farming in
our country. Rabbit needs small place and less food
for survival. Rabbit meat contains high ratio of
protein, energy, calcium and vitamin than other
species of animal.
The cholesterol fat and sodium is less than other
meat. The meat of rabbit is very testy, easily
consumed and all religious people can eat it. They
grows very fast and the female rabbit produce 2-8
baby every time.
They eat very low quality food and make high quality
of meat. Raising rabbit can be a great income source
to the unemployed people and landless farmers. So,
we have to raise rabbit to meet the demand of
protein as well as to reduce poverty from our
society.
We generally raise rabbit as pet. But if we raise
them commercially then it will be a great source of
income and a smart way of employment. The annual
demand of meat in our country is about six million
tons. But only one million tons of meat produced in
our country, rest of the meat we import from foreign
country.
According to the demand only 15-20 percent of animal
protein comes from the livestock which is very less
compared to the requirement. Further, this demand is
increasing with population growth.
An adult person needs 120 grams of meat daily. But
we get only 20 grams on an average. So, we can
consider rabbit farming as a potential direction of
animal protein. It is very easy to maintain rabbit
farm than other animals. Every person of the family
can take care of it.
Species of Rabbit:
There are many species of rabbit are available
in our country. Among those Dark Gray (internal),
Fox, Dutch, New Zealand White, New Zealand Black,
New Zealand Red, Belgium White and Chinchilla are
most favorite.
Rabbit Meat Quality
In many research it has found that, young rabbit
meat is very high quality than the adult rabbit
meat. And the meat quality of male rabbit is high
than female rabbit meat.
The quantity of
cholesterol and lipids increases and reduces protein
with the increase of the rabbit age. On the other
hand, female rabbit meat contains more lipid, fat
and cholesterol.
Benefit of Rabbit
Farming:
There are many benefits of farming rabbit. The
main benefits of raising rabbit according to our
country economic and ecological condition are
described bellow.
.The
rabbit is a very fast breeding animal.
.Their
food converting rate is better than other animals.
.One
female rabbit can give birth 2-8 baby rabbit at a
time.
.Rabbit
can be raised in a short place.
.More
production can be made in little cost.
.Rabbit
meat is very nutritious.
.In
meat production it has a place after poultry.
.Wast
material of the kitchen, grass, plant leaves etc.
are favorite food of rabbit. So, we can raise them
using this commodities.
.Family
labor can be successfully applied to rabbit farming.
Method of
Raising Rabbit:
With a small investment we can make house for
rabbit in our house yard or in building roof and
start rearing rabbit. We can make house for rearing
rabbit in two methods.
Deep Litter Method:
This method is suitable for less amount of
rabbit. The floor should well made concrete. 4-5
inches depth litter should make with husk, rice
straw or wood lath. In this method at most 30 rabbit
can be raised. The male rabbit should keep in a
separate room from the female. In this method the
possibilities of being affected by diseases is high.
Moreover, it is very difficult to manage the rabbit
in this system.
Cage Method:
To keep rabbit commercially this method is the
best. In this system the rabbit are kept in a cage
made with iron plate. This cage is very useful for
raising more rabbit. In every cage it have to have
the facilities of necessary space. Male and female
rabbit should keep separate from each other. They
should keep in same rood when thy need mating to
produce baby rabbit.
Food Management
Food consuming rate and nutrient requirements
varies according to the rabbit age and species. For
proper nutrition of an adult rabbit its food should
contain 17-18 percent crude protein, 14 percent
fiber, 7 percent minerals and 2700 kilo calorie/kg
of metabolic energy.
Green leafy vegetables, seasonal vegetable, spinach
greens, carrots, Muller, cucumber, green grass and
vegetable wast can easily used as the food of
rabbit. For commercial purpose poultry food can be
served to feed the rabbit. Accordance with proper
food management they should supply sufficient water
according to their demand. Thus a farmer can be
success in rabbit farming.
Courtesy: Pakagri.blogspot
|
Pakissan.com;
|