Rabbits of meat breeds: TOP 10 best for breeding at home

Rabbits of the best meat breeds have repeatedly saved people from hunger and winter frosts. In terms of quality, rabbit meat is superior to pork and even beef. No wonder rabbit meat invariably tops the list of he althy, dietary products. Experienced farmers are confident in the profitability of the enterprise, because breeding eared giants does not require huge expenses.

Pros and cons

Enterprising rural residents are not afraid of financial difficulties. In troubled times, you can breed rabbits for meat at home. Animal husbandry is a good idea, but we must not forget about the intricacies of keeping and breeding meat animals, because this business has its advantages and disadvantages.Positive aspects of breeding:

1. Eared beauties impress with their size. The average weight of a well-fed animal is 5 kg, and representatives of some breeds easily reach 12 kg. The appearance of the giants is the best proof of the farm's profitability.
2. Meat rabbits are growing rapidly. The life path of these animals is short, because only 4 months pass from the moment of birth to slaughter. This feature allows you to get meat of excellent quality. Experts know how the taste of meat deteriorates in older individuals. In addition, due to the precocity of pets, owners can reduce the cost of purchasing feed.
3. By the age of 5 months, the rabbit is ready to reproduce the genus. Each time the female brings the owner up to 12 rabbits. Thus, the number of eared pets is steadily increasing.
4. Due to the thick coat, the animals feel great in all weather conditions. They can be kept in outdoor cages, aviaries or pits.
5. Breeding rabbits for meat is possible even for a beginner. A new farmer will not have to sign up for training courses.
6. Despite their impressive appearance, the animals have a good-natured character.
7. Most handsome broilers boast good immunity. They calmly endure the move and easily adapt to any conditions of detention.

Disadvantages of breeding:

1. Pets need a spacious home. The lack of movement and the severity of their own weight adversely affect the he alth of animals. Deformation of the internal organs and limbs of rabbits can result in infertility.
2. The quality of animal meat directly depends on a properly formulated diet. Purchasing feed mix ingredients is expensive.

Popular breeds of meat rabbits

Some famous breeds of broiler rabbits appeared due to the whim of nature, others were the result of the painstaking work of breeders.Representatives of meat breeds are united by the ability for rapid growth and intensive weight gain. On average, a broiler rabbit gains from 5 to 8.5 kg. The rate of increase in animal weight is about 50 g per day. Each breed of meat animals has its own unique characteristics.

Strokach

Giant rabbits are often referred to as the German Spotted Giant by farmers. The stringers owe their remarkable qualities to their ancestors - the Flanders. From them, eared descendants received a dense, fleshy body and strong paws. The medium-sized head rests on a powerful short neck.

The length of the ears reaches 15 cm. The pet's gray coat is unevenly colored, so the name motley giant is very suitable for the rabbit. Occasionally there are handsome blue and black colors.

The animal grows and develops rapidly. By the age of 5 months, the pet easily reaches 4.5-5 kg.The recommended age for slaughter is 8 months. Strokach rabbits are easy to breed, but often suffer from spinal problems. As a rule, the reason lies in the deficiency of vitamin D. The problem is solved by adding sprouted grains and bran to the pet's diet.

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White pannon

Attractive albinos are famous for their power and endurance. The muscular body is distinguished by an elongated shape, the muscles are clearly visible under thin skin. Powerful long paws and a thick short neck speak of the remarkable strength of the rabbit. The large head is decorated with thick erect ears. A fluffy snow-white coat and red eyes are the hallmarks of the breed. Broilers are large animals. The weight of each individual reaches 5 kg. Pannons are distinguished by rare fertility, each time the rabbit brings up to 9 babies.

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Flandres

The second name of the breed is the Belgian giant. The breed was bred a century and a half ago. Flanders are called the progenitors of many representatives of meat breeds. The calm and friendly disposition of handsome men allows them to peacefully coexist with their furry brothers. Delicious food and a spacious clean cage are all that is needed for the full development of a pet. Compared to other species, flanders mature slowly. The optimal age for rabbit slaughter is 9 months.

From the large family of meat animals, flandres are the largest rabbits. The mass of each individual often reaches 12 kg. A large head, well-defined cheeks, powerful paws, an arched back - this is a portrait of a good-natured giant.

The Flanders' gray skin is not particularly beautiful, so rabbits are more often used as a source of meat. Belgian giants are famous for their excellent appetite. Gluttons eat a lot of food, so keeping flanders can hardly be called a profitable occupation.

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California

The secret of the popularity of Californians lies in the amazing ability of animals to rapid growth. Already by the age of 4-5 months, rabbits reach 5.5 kg of live weight and are ready for slaughter. Broilers are valued for their excellent skin and meat quality.

Cylindrical torso, thick short neck and large head give the pet an impressive look. The dense snow-white fur coat of the Californian is decorated with brown marks. The paws of rabbits are protected by a dense hairline, so the animals are not afraid of the mesh floor of the cage. Rabbits are prolific, each litter brings the owner from 8 to 10 cubs.

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Grey giant

Rabbit refers to animals of the meat direction with rapid weight gain. High productivity, unpretentiousness and endurance are the main features of the giant.In length, the animal reaches 55-60 cm. A muscular, heavy body and a massive head give the appearance of a giant monumentality.

The circumference of the pet's chest is 37-39 cm. The rabbit quickly gains weight, by the age of 5 months it easily reaches 5.5-6 kg. Farmers value the skins of giants because of their large size. Thanks to the unpretentiousness of the animal, even beginners can breed gray giants.

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White Giant

Large albinos impress with the beauty of their snow-white fur coat and powerful physique. Giants cannot be called precocious; they reach full maturity only by the age of 6-7 months. The weight of an adult animal is 5-5.5 kg.

The stocky body of the pet is organically combined with a strong neck. The large head is decorated with straight ears. Red eyes and a white coat without a single mark are the hallmarks of the famous breed.Breeding white giants brings a guaranteed profit, as animals serve as suppliers of a large amount of dietary meat and valuable fur.

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Soviet chinchilla

Unusual cold-resistant rabbits are successfully bred even in the harsh conditions of Siberia. Chinchilla is a rapidly growing, unpretentious animal. The rabbit is often confused with the representative of the gray giant breed, however, the Soviet chinchilla significantly outperforms its competitors in size and weight.

The animal has a large physique, the pet's chest volume reaches 42 cm. The back of the giant is curved in the form of an arch, the legs are straight and strong. The chinchilla has an unusual coat structure and a beautiful silver-bluish color. By the age of 6 months, the rabbit is gaining 4.5 kg. Females are very prolific, each litter brings to the owners 8-10 rabbits.

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New Zealand Red

This chubby dandy is famous for his red thick coat and unpretentiousness. Distinctive features of the breed: a strong muscular body, a wide chest, a small head crowned with erect ears, and red eyes. Thanks to woolly paws, the pet feels good in a cage with a mesh floor. New Zealanders quickly gain weight, by the age of 5 months, pets easily reach 4.5 kg.

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Burgundy

Red-haired handsome men are distinguished by a rare resistance to diseases. The strong, muscular body of the animal has a rounded shape. Small paws and a neat head are successfully combined with the pet's torso. The dense, dense fur of the Burgundian is highly valued by experts. The average weight of an adult rabbit is 4-4.5 kg.For 1 year, the female brings from 25 to 28 rabbits.

I like it 5 I don't like itFinal ranking tableCalifornianeightBurgundian5StrokachfourGray giantfourSoviet chinchillafourwhite giant3New Zealand red3White pannonFlanders

How to choose?

When choosing a breed for breeding, it is necessary to take into account some nuances:

• the ability of rabbits to live in given climatic conditions;
• maturing dates;
• fertility;
• demanding to the quality of feed and conditions of detention;
• productivity.

Rabbits of the White Giant, Flanders and Gray Giant breeds are perfect for breeding in a small farm. For a large farm, Californians and New Zealanders are ideal.

Content Tips

Animals are kept in large cages, aviaries and even in pits. The pet housing is installed so that the broilers do not suffer from direct sunlight. The largest individuals require more space. The floor in the cage is covered with boards. Otherwise, the giants risk injury or illness. Pet apartments are cleaned regularly.

The daily diet of pets consists of 700 g of fresh grass, 80 g of grain mixture (or feed), 200 g of hay, 200 g of vegetables or fruits. As a he althy treat, rabbits are given twigs of fruit trees.

Crossing features

The best individuals are selected to produce he althy, productive offspring. Each rabbit should have pronounced signs of the breed. Before mating, animals are carefully examined, paying attention to the condition of the coat and eyes. Of great importance is the fertility of the female. According to the observations of specialists, the best results are shown by rabbits from spring litter.

Diseases and treatment of rabbits of meat breeds

Eared giants suffer from diseases such as listeriosis, coccidiosis or myxomatosis. In addition, animals often become victims of poisoning or pneumonia. As a rule, troubles arise as a result of poor pet care. If animals show signs of illness, call the veterinarian immediately.

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