Rabbits silver Poltava: breed description and characteristics, content

Rabbit breeders appreciate the breed called Poltava silver for the thickness of the fur and the taste of the meat. The breed exhibits high rates of frost resistance, tolerates sub-zero temperatures without loss. The peculiarity of this species is the presence of silver-colored fur. Rabbits Poltava silver became the result of selection and took a leading position among other breeds.

Origin of the breed

Poltava silver is a breed that appeared in the second half of the 20th century after the work of Soviet breeders. The ancestors of the breed were 2 types of animals:

Champagne silver is a breed bred in France. The breed got its name from the province where silver-furred individuals, Champagne, were bred. The disadvantage of this breed was the small size of males and females, as well as inability to frost.
Poltava rabbits from Ukraine did not have a beautiful silver color, but showed frost resistance.

Since 1952 the breed has been officially registered in the Register. Until now, it is in demand from private breeders or small farms.

Description and characteristics of silver rabbits

Feature of the breed is the color of the fur. It has a silver tint. The fur belongs to the rollback category. This is a type of fur that has quality characteristics. The fur is thick and elastic, so the rabbit coat always looks neat.

Characteristics of the breed:

The weight of one rabbit reaches up to 7 kilograms, but usually it is 5-6 kilograms;
commensurate addition, strong bones;
body length is 55 centimeters;
one litter brings up to 9 individuals;
claw color - brown;
ears stand straight, in proportion to the body, not too long;
meat yield is about 60%.

Interesting! Rabbits are born with black fur. It turns silver after 4 months of the animal's life.

Main pros and cons

The breed is in demand. The main advantage of Poltava silver rabbits is the quality of the skins. On the market, silver pelts are valued much more than other breeds.

Frost-resistant, well-behaved in outdoor cagesNeed to control the composition of the diet High quality fur Great taste of dietary meat High fertility rate Eating easy Individuals reach sexual maturity by 4 months of life

Help! Silver Poltava rabbits are very balanced, do not show aggression towards each other.

Breed Varieties

There are variations of silver coins. Poltava silver is called Soviet silver. The remaining varieties differ in the type of fur and some physical characteristics:

European silver or large light silver. A breed created on the basis of a breed from the province of Champagne. The tone of the fur in individuals is light, liquidish, inelastic.
Hungarian blue. Unlike BSS, Hungarian rabbits, bred in Austria, are dark. The silvery fur is noticeable on the back.

Help! The BSS breed is very popular in Europe.

How to keep and care for animals

After buying young animals, it should be borne in mind that rabbits are characterized by a rapid achievement of puberty. This means that after the acquisition of animals, it is necessary to keep them in different cages and control the behavior of females.

To grow he althy animals, you must follow the basic requirements for keeping. Cages for animals must be high, that is, rise above ground level at a height of 80 centimeters to 1 meter. Cages are made of wood or plywood, equipped with gratings.

Content requirements:

Due to the structure of the respiratory system, rabbits need constant ventilation.
Rabbits need natural sunlight.
A layer of straw 7 to 10 centimeters thick is laid at the bottom of the cage.
The feeder and drinking bowl are placed inside the cage so that the animal has free access to food and drink.

Rabbit diet

Especial attention is paid to the nutrition of rabbits. Despite the fact that the Poltava silver breed is unpretentious in food, individuals need to receive a varied, vitamin-rich food.75% of the diet is hay. Rabbits eat burdock, nettle, clover, thistle. Young branches of fruit trees are suitable for eating. Branches are necessary for rabbits to sharpen their teeth.

Leafy green vegetables are added to the diet seasonally. The norm of leafy greens daily is 200 grams. Rabbits digest cabbage leaves, beet tops, carrots and salad mix well.

Summer menu:

hay - 200 grams;
meadow grass - up to 700 grams;
vegetables - 150 grams;
solid food - 200 grams;
concentrates - up to 200 grams.

Vitamin complexes are prescribed to rabbits as needed when they are diagnosed with diseases.

Attention! Do not give rabbits potatoes, parsley or mustard.

Breeding Rules

Poltava silver is a breed that reaches sexual maturity by 4-4.5 months. Features of the breeding process:

The male must be older than the females. Breeders recommend choosing a male older than 6 months.
One male is selected for 10 females.
The male is not worn with the female.

Rules that allow you to get he althy offspring:

Mating individuals of the same breed. Breeding is considered offspring when the blood of one breed does not mix with the blood of other breeds for 4 generations.
Pets should not be bred if they show signs of diarrhea or other illnesses.
Mating is excluded at air temperatures above +22 degrees. During this period, males become sterile.

When selecting males and females for mating, they are guided by different characteristics.Well-fed individuals are selected from two rounds. It is customary to repeat the mating of one female with a male 2 times: first, the female is placed with the male for the first mating, then after 5 days they are brought for the second mating. If the female is already pregnant at this point, she will refuse to mate.

A rabbit's pregnancy lasts from 28 to 32 days. During this period, she needs additional nutrition, adding vitamins to the diet. 3 or 5 days before birth, the female begins to build a nest for offspring. She makes a haul out of straw up to 6 centimeters high.

Diseases and their prevention

The most common diseases of the species are infectious diseases. In second place, according to statistics, are invasive diseases.

Coccidiosis. This disease is caused by the coccidia parasite. Up to 70% of animals die from this disease. Coccidiosis has 2 forms: hepatic and intestinal. The liver form lasts up to 50 days, with the intestinal form the rabbit dies in 10 days.
Cysticercosis. The cestode larva infects the liver. If treatment measures are not taken, then peritonitis begins. There is no cure for this disease.
Pasteurellosis. It affects livestock, birds or rodents can be carriers of the disease.
Myxomatosis. A dangerous disease characterized by the formation of neoplasms on the body of an animal. There is no cure, the sick rabbit is eliminated, and the livestock is placed in quarantine.
Tularemia. The carriers of the disease are small rodents. Rabbits become ill with tularemia if basic sanitary standards are not observed.
Listeriosis. Diseases are susceptible to pregnant rabbits. Listeriosis is acute, affecting livestock in a chain. There is no cure for listeriosis.
Pododermatitis. This is a disease that is characterized by the formation of wounds on the paw pads. Open wounds get infected. The cause of pododermatitis is the content in unsanitary conditions.
Gastrointestinal disorders. Domestic rabbits are prone to digestive disorders. Animals react to dietary errors with constipation or diarrhea. Violation can be caused by separation of the young from the mother, the transition to solid food.

Disease prevention is regular vaccination. Vaccinations begin to be done starting at 1.5 months of age. After 6 months, revaccination is done.

In addition to vaccination, breeders recommend special events and adhere to the rules.

Prevention measures	Features
Regular processing and disinfection	Cages, drinkers and feeders are washed weekly. If the rabbit is sick, the cage and surfaces are completely disinfected.
Quarantine	in quarantine for 3 weeks.Those individuals that have been in contact with a sick animal are also placed in quarantine. carefully inspect animals weekly.

Information! It is necessary to observe the terms of vaccination, to monitor the quality of the vaccine.

How to choose the right silver coin

Poltava silver is a breed that is common in Russia. Breeders are advised to purchase animals in proven farms that specialize in breeding this breed. The fur of a young rabbit is thick and dense. If there are scratches or bald patches on the skin, the statement is true that the animal is unhe althy.

When examining silver coins, it is recommended to pay attention to the color of the eyes. The eyes of the animals of the tribal breed are hazel. If the eyes of the animal have a different shade, then this is a mixture of breeds. Silvers are happy to make contact with people, they are calm and balanced.Young growth does not bite and does not show aggression. Breeders recommend selecting individuals at 3 or 4 months of age.