California rabbit: description of the breed and keeping at home

For breed connoisseurs, the California plump rabbit is at the top of the list of the best animals for breeding. A permanent supplier of meat and fur, the Californian does not require special care and vigilant attention. For animal lovers, a rabbit can become a family pet. His meek, cheerful disposition and playfulness will make even a complete pessimist smile.

History of the breed

The first mention of wonderful rabbits appeared in the 20s of the last century. The founder of the breed was a talented American scientist, George Weston. The breeder's homeland was sunny California, so no one was surprised by George's desire to name the breed after his native state.The path to success was long, selection work was carried out for several years. The scientist faced a difficult task - to breed a special breed of rabbits that can serve as a source of dietary meat and valuable fur.

Time after time the scientist crossed representatives of the best breeds. The participants of the experiment were rabbits of the chinchilla giant, New Zealand white, Russian ermine breeds. George's efforts were crowned with success, and in the mid-20s the breed saw the light.

Eared beauties received official recognition in 1828. From that moment on, Californian rabbits began to be considered a separate breed. However, the animal came to the territory of the Russian Federation only in the 70s of the last century.

The breed did not immediately gain popularity among Soviet specialists. It was believed that Californians are pampered animals, so it is difficult to breed them in a harsh climate. Over time, farmers have become convinced that animals adapt well to any living conditions.Today it is hard to imagine farming without Californian pets.

Description and characteristics of the Californian rabbit

The rabbit's well-knit torso resembles an even cylinder. The short neck and small head with erect ears give the pet a compact, neat appearance. Strong, thick paws reliably support a well-fed body. The main part of the rabbit's thick coat is dyed white. Brown spots adorn only the area of the nose, paws and tail of the animal. In rare cases, there are individuals of a blue, smoky suit.

Newcomers often confuse Californians with representatives of the Butterfly breed. Resolving doubts is simple: California beauties are the owners of red eyes, while the butterfly has dark eyes. Little rabbits acquire spots gradually. Initially, the color of the fur coat of babies is close to a light blue tint.

California is the perfect pet. Calm, docile disposition and unpretentiousness are the hallmarks of the American breed.

The animal develops evenly, the growth of its mass is calculated literally by months. If at the age of 1 month the rabbit weighs 0.9-1 kg, then after 30 days the mass of the animal increases to 1.8 kg. By adding 700-800 g every month, by the age of six months, the pet is gaining 4-4.2 kg.

Despite the fact that Californians are industrial animals, rabbits can be kept as a pet. The playful nature and friendly disposition of the eared handsome man invariably arouse the sympathy of people. But the habit of chewing on everything that is within reach is a big disadvantage of the animal.

Main pros and cons

The legendary breed consists of a lot of advantages, but even Californian rabbits have their drawbacks. Positive qualities of animals:

1. Short time to full maturity.
2. High rate of weight gain.
3. Female Californians are very prolific and child-loving. These features allow the female to bring and feed more than 30 young rabbits a year.
4. Genetic failure in animals is extremely rare.

The disadvantage of American rabbits can be called a special sensitivity to the feeding regimen and the quality of the feed mixture.

Rules of maintenance and care

Californians are famous for their ability to instantly adapt to any conditions of detention. However, to achieve a good result, it is necessary to provide animals with spacious housing and a place to walk.

For mobile pets, they enclose an aviary in which they can warm up and take a walk. To do this, use a metal mesh. The size of the cells should not exceed 5 cm. Considering that rabbits are unsurpassed masters in the construction of tunnels, the grid is buried in the ground at 0.5 m. From above, the aviary is closed with the same mesh. This will help protect animals from sudden predator attacks.

The floor in the walking area is poured with cement. For 5 adults, the optimal enclosure area is at least 5 square meters. m. The minimum height of the arena is 1 m. Once a week, the animals are scrupulously examined. He althy rabbits are combed out with a special brush. The tangles are carefully cut.

In cages

At home, pets live comfortably in a cage. A home for a handsome eared man is made of wood or mesh. The height of the rabbit apartments should allow the pet to stand up freely on its hind legs. For a comfortable existence of 5 adults, a cage with an area of 0.5 m is enough. The bottom must be covered with a thick layer of straw or sawdust.

For females, a separate uterine house is built. In this corner, the rabbit will bear and raise numerous offspring.The cage is equipped with a feeder and drinker. The home for pets is regularly disinfected with a bactericidal or blowtorch. In sunny weather, it is advisable to dry the cage in the air.

In the pits

Followers of the natural conditions of keeping rabbits will like the method of raising animals in a pit. This method is more often used for industrial rearing of rabbits. To do this, they dig a large hole, 221 m in size. The earthen walls are reinforced with slate. The floor is covered with the same mesh or boards. The pit must be covered with a roof. In order to avoid the attack of predators, a fence is being installed around the home of Californians.

This type of content saves the strength of the owners, in the pit the pets live almost independently. People can only bring food and water to the rabbits. To prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases, pits are periodically cleaned.

What to feed California rabbits?

Animal diet should be varied and nutritious, because Californians quickly gain weight. Pets Needed:

1. Grains, legumes and oil plants.
2. Root crops.
3. Leaves and twigs of permitted plants (ash, maple, linden, fruit trees).
4. Herbs (meadow, field, forest). In winter - hay, silage.
5. Fruit and vegetable treats.
6. Fish or meat meal.
7. Vitamin supplements.

Adults need to be fed 2-3 times a day, small rabbits need to be fed 5-6 times a day.

Breeding

Animals of different breeding lines are chosen for breeding. Rabbits must have pedigree characteristics, so not all individuals are suitable for breeding. Californians reach childbearing age as early as 5 months.From this moment, the female is ready to mate and can bring offspring 4-5 times during the year.

Pregnancy lasts about 30 days. Each time the rabbit gives birth to 8-10 rabbits. In order for the female to actively breed, you need to monitor the diet of the animal. An obese rabbit is not suitable for breeding. For mating, the female is placed in a cage with the male.

The first month the rabbits feed on mother's milk, at the age of 3 weeks the rabbits begin to give a small amount of food for adult animals. After the rabbits reach 45 days, the offspring from the mother are planted.

Diseases, their prevention and treatment

Eared pets are prone to viral hemorrhagic disease. The disease is accompanied by bleeding, diarrhea, rapid heartbeat and fever.

Animals refuse food and soon die. The disease is transmitted through contact with sick individuals. Unfortunately, the disease is not curable.

The death of the entire livestock is threatened by a disease called myxomatosis. An infection is signaled by the lowered ears of the animal, swelling and rolling of the hair around the eyes. The carriers of the disease are ubiquitous insects. In case of spread of infection, all animals are destroyed.

Diseases such as pasteeriosis and coccidiosis can be treated with antibiotics. Preventive measures will help to avoid tragic events:

• keep the cage clean;
• timely vaccination;
• weekly checkup;
• quality food;
• regular disinfection of the cage, feeders and drinkers.

When to slaughter for meat?

The optimal age for slaughter is 6 months. By this time, the rabbit reaches a mass of 4.5-5.5 kg. After this age, keeping the animal becomes unprofitable, and the quality of the meat deteriorates.

Prospects for breeding

The California rabbit is the perfect animal to grow your own business. The universal purpose of the breed allows you to get the maximum profit from animal breeding. For the initial stage, it is enough to acquire a herd of one male and 4-5 rabbits. Animal productivity is undeniable, as Californians quickly gain weight and breed easily.

Where and how best to buy a Californian rabbit?

It is better to buy rabbits in large farms specializing in breeding Californians. It is important to purchase animals of different breeding lines. Pets must not be closely related to each other.

Choose rabbits in good condition, with pronounced signs of the breed. The well-being of the pet is evidenced by fatness, shiny coat, clear eyes. A he althy rabbit actively shows interest in others, moves a lot and eats well.

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