Rabbit Production and Management
Rabbit Production and Management
M. T. Banday H. P. Shrivastava Henna Hamadani
NEW INDIA PUBLISHING AGENCY New Delhi – 110 034
NEW INDIA PUBLISHING AGENCY 101, Vikas Surya Plaza, CU Block, LSC Market Pitam Pura, New Delhi 110 034, India Phone: + 91 (11)27 34 17 17 Fax: + 91(11) 27 34 16 16 Email: info@nipabooks.com Web: www.nipabooks.com Feedback at feedbacks@nipabooks.com Š Authors, 2014 ISBN : 978-93-83305-39-1 All rights reserved, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher or the copyright holder. This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author/s, editor/s and publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or the consequences of their use. The author/s, editor/s and publisher have attempted to trace and acknowledge the copyright holders of all material reproduced in this publication and apologize to copyright holders if permission and acknowledgements to publish in this form have not been taken. If any copyright material has not been acknowledged please write and let us know so we may rectify it, in subsequent reprints. Trademark notice: Presentations, logos (the way they are written/presented) in this book are under the trademarks of the publisher and hence, if copied/resembled the copier will be prosecuted under the law. Composed, Designed and Printed at Jai Bharat Printing Press, Delhi
Contents
Foreword ...................................................................................................... Preface ...................................................................................................... 1.
2. 3.
4.
v vii
Introduction ..................................................................................
1
1.1. History and Origins of Rabbits ........................................
1
1.2. Special Features about Rabbits .........................................
6
1.3. Mechanism of Adaptations in Rabbits ...........................
7
Breeds of Rabbits ........................................................................
11
2.1. Classification of Rabbits ....................................................
11
Housing of Rabbits .....................................................................
21
3.1. Ideal Environmental Conditions Needed for Rearing of Rabbits ..............................................................
21
3.2. Housing Systems ...............................................................
24
3.3. Equipments Required in Cages .......................................
33
Nutrition of Rabbit .....................................................................
39
4.1. Digestive System of Rabbit ...............................................
39
4.2. Mechanism of Digestion ...................................................
44
4.3. Digestive Tract and Caecatrophy ....................................
45
4.4. Feeding Behaviour .............................................................
47
4.5. Principle Components of the Rabbit Diet .......................
48
4.6. Feed Regimes during Different Life Stages ....................
52
4.7. Feeding Schedule ................................................................
54
4.8. Feed Consumption .............................................................
55
4.9. Nutrient Requirement for Rabbits ...................................
55
4.10. Feeding of Rabbit ............................................................... ix
55
Contents/x
4.11. Homemade Feed for Non Breeding Rabbit ...................... 56 4.12. Homemade Diet for Pregnant Rabbit ................................ 56 4.13. Homemade Diet for Lactating does ................................... 56 4.14. Time of Feeding ..................................................................... 57 4.15. Composition of Standard Pellet Mixture .......................... 57 4.16. Some Consideration on Feeding ........................................ 57 4.17. Utensil for Feeding ................................................................ 58 5.
Reproduction in Rabbits .............................................................. 59 5.1. Anatomy of the Genitals ...................................................... 59 5.2. Male Reproduction Physiology .......................................... 60 5.3. Female Reproduction Physiology ...................................... 62 5.4. Fertilization and Gestation ................................................. 63 5.5. Pseudo Pregnancy ................................................................. 64 5.6. Kindling ................................................................................. 64 5.7. Artificial Insemination in Rabbits ...................................... 64 5.8. Lactation ................................................................................. 65 5.9. Aspects of Milk Production ................................................. 65 5.10. Reproduction and Environment ......................................... 66 5.11. Rates of Reproduction .......................................................... 67
6.
Management of Rabbitry ............................................................. 71 6.1. The Production Cycle ........................................................... 71 6.2. Mating ..................................................................................... 71 6.3. Determining Pregnancy ....................................................... 72 6.4. Kindling .................................................................................. 73 6.5. Fostering ................................................................................. 73 6.6. Weaning ................................................................................ 74 6.7. Stock Renewal ....................................................................... 74
Contents/xi
7.
6.8. Castration of Young Male Rabbit ......................................
75
6.9. Handling Rabbits .................................................................
76
6.10. Identification ........................................................................
77
6.11. Record Keeping ....................................................................
79
Diseases of Rabbit ........................................................................
81
7.1. Skin Diseases ........................................................................
82
7.2. Diseases of Reproductive System ......................................
94
7.3. Diseases of Urinary System ................................................ 100 7.4. Diseases of Respiratory System ......................................... 107 7.5. The Digestive System .......................................................... 111 7.6. The Musculoskeletal System .............................................. 130 8.
Angora Rabbit Production .......................................................... 137 8.1. Reproduction ........................................................................ 137 8.2. Mating ................................................................................... 137 8.3. Gestation ............................................................................... 138 8.4. Kindling ................................................................................ 138 8.5. Weaning ................................................................................ 138 8.6. Sexing .................................................................................... 138 8.7. Identification ........................................................................ 138 8.8. Harvesting of Wool ............................................................. 139 8.9. Angora Wool Quality .......................................................... 140 8.10. Wool Grading and Marketing ............................................ 141
9.
Clinical Examination and Laboratory Procedures .................. 143 9.1. Handling ............................................................................... 143 9.2. Examination .......................................................................... 144 9.3. Oral Medication ................................................................... 146 9.4. Injection Techniques ........................................................... 147
Contents/xii
9.5. Catheterisation ..................................................................... 147 9.6. Pre-Anaesthetic Preparation .............................................. 147 9.7. Premedication ....................................................................... 148 9.8. Sedation ................................................................................. 148 9.9. Inhalation Anaesthesia ....................................................... 149 9.10. Induction ............................................................................... 150 9.11. Maintenance of Anaesthesia .............................................. 151 9.12. Endotracheal Intubation ..................................................... 151 9.13. Anaesthetic Monitoring ...................................................... 152 9.14. Post-Operative Care ............................................................ 152 9.15. Surgical Procedures ............................................................. 153 10
Rabbit Behaviour .......................................................................... 155 10.1. Territorial Behavior ............................................................. 155 10.2. Social Behavior ..................................................................... 156 10.3. Sexual Behavior .................................................................... 156 10.4. Maternal Behavior ............................................................... 156 10.5. Feeding Behavior ................................................................. 157 10.6. Aggressive Behavior ........................................................... 157
11
Slaughter and Skinning of Rabbits ........................................... 159 11.1. Slaughtering and Dressing ................................................. 159 11.2. Collection, Preservation and Storage of Pelts .................. 160 11.3. Curing and Glossing of Pelts ............................................. 162 11.4. Sorting and Grading Pelts .................................................. 163 Annexures ...................................................................................... 165 Index ............................................................................................... 181
Fi r s tf e wp a g e so ft h i sb o o ka r ep u b l i s h e d o nk i s a n . c o mb yi t sp u b l i s h e r . I fy o uwi s ht op u r c h a s eah a r d c o p y o ft h i sb o o k , p l e a s ec o n t a c tt h ep u b l i s h e r .
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