Do you know the New Zealand rabbit breed? If not, then this article is for you. From it you will learn that there is not only a New Zealand red rabbit, but also a white one. We also give some tips on breeding these animals.
Description
New Zealand rabbits are domesticated small animals with short hair. These animals are an object of meat-and-peel direction. For the first time, representatives of the breed were bred in America in 1910. Then they first appeared at the exhibition. They began to breed in Europe since 1919. New Zealand rabbits have a strong constitution, easily adapt to different climatic conditions, are unpretentious for food. Females are fertile - in one litter an average of 7 rabbits. Due to the high milk content, the rabbits feed the young without any problems, which, in turn, quickly gain weight and grow. Such animals appreciate their short fur. It is thick and tough, but durable.
Red breed standard
Such a rabbit has a muzzle and neck with short, wide, long ears (twelve centimeters) of scapular shape with rounded tips. The eyes are dark brown. The body is cylindrical in shape, compact, and the muscles are strong. The chest is wide, the lumbosacral region is well developed. Paws are straight massive. The fur is short, thick, the length of the villi is about three sentiments.
Rabbits of this breed are completely covered with golden red wool. The areas of the abdomen, eyes, mouth and tail are lighter. The body length is about 48 cm. On average, the New Zealand red rabbit weighs 5 kg. Note that this breed of female has more males.
New Zealand White Rabbit
It is very similar to red. The only difference is the coat color and eye color. The body is also cylindrical, the chest is wide. The coat is white, uniform color. The eyes are red. There should be no fringing on the muzzle, tail or tips of the ears - a similar phenomenon is considered marriage.
Choose a good individual
You need to buy a rabbit at the age of three months. During this period, it is easiest to detect defects, if any. Before buying, you need to inspect the animal. Healthy New Zealand rabbits are active, well-fed, mobile. The muzzle is dry, there is no discharge. The ears are clean, without crusts. The eyes are clear, not swollen. The fur is resilient, shiny. External genitalia without rash and deformity.
Festering eyes, a wet face, lethargy, dirt under the tail, swollen eyelids are obvious signs of the disease. If you notice such symptoms, it is best to purchase animals from another seller. Immediately after the purchase, a sharp change in diet should not be allowed.
Content
In order for New Zealand rabbits to breed well, the cubs grow quickly, you need to properly place them, feed them, and also keep their cells clean.
It is better that in the summer the animals were in the fresh air. For these purposes, you can use light portable cages without a bottom. They are lowered onto the grass, after which the eared eats greens with pleasure. When the grass is gone, the cages can be moved to a new place. It is especially useful to eat such weed young.
In winter, rabbits are kept in multi-tiered cages. Note that animals of different ages must be kept in different sections. In the room where the rabbits are, there should be a good ventilation system. The optimum temperature is about twenty degrees.
Feeding
It must be uninterrupted and complete. Food is used only high class. The daily diet includes:
- compound feed;
- hay;
- branch feed;
- roots;
- seasonal feed.
It is necessary to ensure that New Zealand rabbits do not ate swamp or poisonous plants.
Care
It is necessary that veterinary examinations be carried out systematically. If you keep rabbits according to the method of Mikhailov (a famous academician), then do not use vaccinations and medicines. The scientist believes that animals have good immunity, which will protect them from diseases, provided that there is moderate heat, cleanliness and round-the-clock access to water (fresh), as well as high-quality feed.
When caring for New Zealand rabbits, you need to remember that they do not like bright lights, loud sounds, as well as sudden movements, etc. Such actions can cause animals to become depressed or even get sick if such irritants act on them constantly.
New Zealand rabbit fur is easy to care for, as it is tough and short. It needs to be combed and smoothed with a brush and a comb. To remove the felled wool, use a slitting cutter. If the owners have a desire, you can buy special air conditioners for rabbits that prevent the formation of warlocks.
What to do when eared dirty? Of course, it needs to be washed, but after this it is necessary to make sure that the animal does not fall under the draft. This is dangerous for rabbits, even those with dry hair.
Breeding and reproduction
Since these rabbits are precocious, that is, they grow and gain weight quickly, they are excellent for breeding in order to obtain meat and skins. At the age of five months, rabbits can begin to breed. You need to buy three to four month old rabbits for future offspring. Note that it is not necessary to take less in age, since the animals have not yet formed immunity, and they can die.
If you plan to breed rabbits, it is important to remember that you need to take young animals from unrelated lines. It is best to contact the farm. The rabbits of this breed are prolific. They are well taken care of their offspring. In one litter there can be from seven to twelve rabbits. Cubs are growing fast. Already in two months they weigh about two kilograms.
Reviews
People say that the New Zealand rabbit breed is excellent in every way. The meat is very tasty, while the skins are also good, although they are a secondary product. Those who breed such rabbits note that they are very prolific.
Now you know what New Zealand rabbits are. Breeding them is a rather difficult process, but with the right approach, you will succeed. Good luck