New Zealand rabbit: breed description and characteristics, history and care

The New Zealand universal rabbit has rightfully taken pride of place on the farms of experienced and novice breeders. It's hard to find a more useful creature. The pet is widely known as a reliable source of tasty, lean meat and valuable fur. The animal does not require round-the-clock care and invariably pleases its owners with its unpretentiousness and complaisant character. Even a debutant will cope with breeding fluffy beauties.

Origin story

Contrary to the misconception of many breeders, the rabbit is not related to New Zealand. Charming animals owe their appearance to American breeders.Enterprising farmers sought to combine the best qualities in one individual: a fleshy body and a beautiful skin. By crossing a wild New Zealand rabbit with a Belgian hare, specialists obtained the first New Zealand rabbit. The breed was officially recognized in 1910.

In the future, eared handsome men were repeatedly crossed with representatives of the best breeds. The pedigree of modern New Zealanders keeps references to kinship with the Flemish giant, giant chinchilla and American white. Since the end of the 20th century, New Zealand beauties have received worldwide recognition.

Description and characteristics of the breed

Beginner breeders often choose New Zealand rabbits for self-breeding. The animal is distinguished by a strong, fleshy back, developed strong paws and a short neck. The average height of a pet is 48 cm. The weight of a rabbit rarely exceeds 5 kg. The plump body of the rabbit is covered with thick fur. Depending on the variety, there are handsome white or reddish-red suits.

Pros and cons of New Zealand rabbits

The popularity of New Zealanders among farmers is not surprising. Broilers have a lot of advantages:

1. Females are prolific, each litter brings the owner up to 10 newborns.
2. Rabbits are rapidly gaining weight.
3. The breed is universal. Animals regularly serve as suppliers of skins and meat.
4. Due to the characteristics of animals, the costs are instantly paid off.

The disadvantages of the New Zealand breed include the high cost of breeding individuals.

Varieties

Despite the common name of the breed, rabbits are divided into 2 types:

• reds, referred to by experts as NZK (New Zealand Reds);
• White, known by the acronym NZB, (New Zealand White).

The owners of the red-orange suit are much smaller than their snow-white counterparts. With good care, an adult grows to 49-51 cm. The weight of a pet, on average, is 3.9-4.5 kg. The animal is distinguished by a strong body build. Its small head is crowned with a pair of straight ears. The rabbit's velvety fur coat is dyed a rich brick-red color. The region of the eyes, mouth, thighs, abdomen and tail of the animal is marked with a lighter shade. The red New Zealander is unpretentious and easily adapts to any conditions of detention.

The white representative of the New Zealand breed grows up to 47 cm. The female is slightly larger than the male and is able to grow up to 49 cm. A short, round muzzle and small reddish eyes give the pet a charm.

The main decoration of the New Zealander is soft, thick, silky white wool. The presence of a silvery undercoat and a correct bite indicate that the pet belongs to the breed. Albinos are distinguished by a calm, docile disposition and unpretentiousness.

The black New Zealander is rare on farms, so experts do not mention him. Thanks to his shiny charcoal coat, the long-eared handsome man is often confused with a representative of the Viennese breed.

Subtleties of keeping and caring for animals

A spacious cage is suitable for keeping pets. In their new home, animals should move freely. The ceiling in the cage is made high so that, if necessary, the rabbit can stand on its hind legs.

Pets do not tolerate heat and loud sounds, so the dwelling is installed in a secluded corner protected from bright sunlight. Comfortable temperature for New Zealanders is 15-16 degrees. In a closed room, rabbits need to be provided with access to fresh air. This will help avoid a bacterial outbreak.

It is advisable to equip the cage for New Zealanders with a mesh floor. This trick will not harm the owners of paws densely overgrown with hair, but it will make life easier for the owners. Removing waste from a mesh cage is much easier than cleaning out a traditional rabbit hutch.

The cage is equipped with a piece of wood for grinding teeth, a convenient feeder and a drinker. Animals need constant access to water and food. Each dwelling contains several rabbits of the same sex and age. In a cage intended for females, a house is installed. In it, the rabbit will feed the offspring. Once every 10 days, pets are carefully examined, combed out and neatly cut out mats.

Nutritional nuances

New Zealanders are unpretentious in food, but need a balanced diet. The daily ration is based on the season, age, gender and life cycle of the pet.

Rabbit food should include succulent feed (silage, carrots, beets), roughage (straw, hay, willow and fruit tree twigs), concentrates (grain mix, compound feed), green feed (fresh grass, cereals and legumes culture). Vegetables and fruits are introduced into the diet of animals in small pieces, gradually.Otherwise, pets risk getting sick. The water in the drinker is changed frequently.

How to properly breed rabbits

Already 5 months after birth, the females are ready for mating. Males reach "marriage age" a little later. They are ready to breed at the age of 7 months. Individuals with excess weight or drooping ears are not allowed to mate.

The readiness of the female for the appearance of offspring is calculated by age and behavior. In anticipation of the offspring, the rabbit equips the nest, lining it with her own fluff. Each time a young female brings 8-9 rabbits. Cubs are born tiny, their weight does not exceed 45 g.

Rabbits of the New Zealand breed are born mothers, they conscientiously feed their offspring until the babies are weaned. Thanks to full-fat mother's milk, newborn rabbits are rapidly gaining weight. Already by the age of 2 months, the average weight of the cub is 2 kg. By 3 months, the animal is gaining from 3 to 3.2 kg.

Diseases and vaccinations

A frivolous attitude to compliance with the rules for keeping pets often leads to a sad outcome. New Zealanders can become victims of an insidious disease called myxomatosis. Tumors appear on the head and paws of the animal. Over time, they merge into one swelling. Small rodents and insects carry the infection. Unfortunately, sick animals cannot be treated. All infected rabbits are destroyed. Cages, drinkers and feeders are thoroughly disinfected.

Coccidiosis lies in wait for young individuals. At risk are pets aged 2-4 months. Rabbits suffer from diarrhea, lethargy and yellowing of the mucous membranes. Only a veteran can handle the problem.

For adult rabbits, the danger is viral hemorrhagic disease. Animals lose their appetite, become lethargic. The disease is accompanied by convulsions and involuntary tilting of the head.Unfortunately, there is no cure for adversity. All infected rabbits will have to be destroyed. A lot of trouble is given to the owners by such unpleasant diseases as rhinitis (treated with a solution of furatsilina) or infectious stomatitis. Preventive measures and routine vaccination will help to avoid dangerous diseases. Clean cages and good nutrition are the key to the he alth of eared pets.

What to look for when choosing?

The right choice of animals for further breeding is the main task. A mistake can ruin all the undertakings of a future livestock breeder. Experienced farmers advise buying a rabbit at the age of 3 months. The grown pet is no longer dependent on mother's milk and will easily get used to the new conditions of detention.

A he althy animal pleases the eye with fatness, shiny silky fur and clear eyes. Good condition is indicated by the mobility and curiosity of the pet. A conscientious seller provides the buyer with information about the vaccinations made and the diet of animals.

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