Rabbits giants: a complete description of the breeds, breeding, rearing and feeding

Getting meat and soft skins is the main task of rabbit breeding. Therefore, rabbits, called giants, are of particular interest to farmers - animals that have a lot of weight and large skins. Animals are valued not only for their productivity, but also for their phlegmatic nature. The giants include breeds of meat and downy-meat purposes. Consider the popular breeds of large rabbits, the features of keeping and breeding animals.

General Description

The main difference between a giant and his brothers is an impressive body size and weight. The average weight of giants is 5-6 kilograms, the largest specimens reach 10-12 kilograms. Breeders deliberately created large breeds. The first species was bred in Flanders, information about the Flemish rabbit is found in documents of 1860. The full Flanders breed standard was formed in 1893, the giant was entered into the Register.

Now the list of giants has expanded. Representatives of the breeds differ in appearance, coat color, some are bred only for meat, others - for meat and fur.

Common features of giants are:

• strong, strong bones;
• long torso;
• fast weight gain;
• fertility (up to 8-10 per litter);
• low temperature resistance.

Some farmers think that giants eat too much, but in terms of weight, this figure is within the average for ordinary rabbits.

What breeds can be classified as giants

The most popular and favorite breeds of giant rabbit breeders include:

1. The gray giant. Bred by Ukrainian breeders, one of the best breeds of rabbits for cold regions. The usual weight is 5 kilograms, often growing up to 7. The usual color is gray, but other colors are now allowed. Has excellent he alth.
2. White giant. The rabbit was bred in the USSR, belongs to the skin breeds. Elongated body, snow-white skin with dense even fur. Fur perfectly takes paint, millions of children have grown up in fur coats and hats made of rabbit fur. An albino with red eyes, the giant's weight is 5.5 kilograms.
3. German Risen. Weight - 8-10 kilograms, some individuals - 14 kilograms. The colors are varied - from white to black. Meat-fur look with high quality of both products.
4. Flandre (Belgian giant). Real giants among brothers. Weight reaches a record 9-12 kilograms. This species is considered meat, the fur does not shine with special quality.
5. Soviet chinchillas. Large rabbits grow up to 8-9 kilograms. They have a beautiful silvery skin interspersed with white and black. Fur of excellent quality, meat of an average category. Mature at 4-5 months, females are fertile.
6. Giant angora. White fluffy miracle with fur up to 15 centimeters long. Rabbits weigh 5-6 kilograms. Such beauties are sheared every 3 months, getting up to 200 grams of high-quality fluff. The content is complex, the fur requires special care so that it does not fall off.
7. French ram. The name was given for the shape of the skull, similar to that of a sheep. Pleasant to the touch skin, folded ears give the rabbits a cute look. They are often used as pets. Weight - 6-7 kilograms, gray, blue, black, spotted fur color.
8. Russian ermine. Not the largest of the giants (4-5 kilograms) has the color of Siamese cats - dark paws and head. Bred for high-quality fur, similar to ermine.
9. Butterfly. White and black spotted skin is the main difference between medium-sized giants (5 kilograms).

Other famous breeds include Alaska, Viennese Black, Silver, German Sheep.

Interesting: the record holder for size and weight is the giant of the Flanders breed, Ralph the rabbit has grown to a meter in length, weighs 22 kilograms.

The advantages of such rabbits

Farmers who raise giant rabbits note the following positive aspects of breeds:

• large carcasses, meat yield - 55-60%;
• accommodating, non-aggressive nature;
• high quality hide and meat;
• rabbit gives up to 6 litters per year, high fertility;
• females don't leave their rabbits, they feed everyone up to a month;
• early maturity - rabbits can be slaughtered at 3-4 months;
• grow well even in cold regions.

Rabbit breeders who raise regular breeds need to be prepared to arrange special larger cages, properly organize the space.

Features of maintenance and care

Giants are usually kept in individual cages, where the animal will feel free, will be able to rise on its hind legs. The recommended size is 100-120x80x60 centimeters. The house for the female mother is made larger - with an area of 120-170x100 centimeters.

Basic care rules for growing giants:

1. Cages are kept in a ventilated area, but without drafts and direct sunlight.
2. Rabbits of large breeds love to lie down, for exercise it is useful to send them to an aviary where animals can run.
3. The floor in the cage is covered with hay, sawdust. Cellular materials that are considered hygienic are not used. Due to the large weight, the rabbits injure the soft parts of the paws on the mesh.
4. For the winter in cold regions, barns are heated to avoid colds. Note that giants also do not tolerate heat well. Many breeds of giants adapted to Russia are kept in unheated barns, it is necessary to protect animals from frostbite.
5. The litter is changed regularly, the feeders and drinkers are washed, the shed where the animals live is cleaned. Once every six months, cells and equipment are disinfected (a solution of slaked lime, bleach). For infections, disinfect more often.

Vaccination of livestock helps eliminate infectious diseases. From a month old, young animals begin to be vaccinated.

What to feed giant rabbits

Many breeds of giants tend to constantly chew, so they are obese. It reduces sexual functions. Choose a balanced diet and dose portions.

For feeding use:

1. From the beginning of spring they give herbs - burdock, clover, plantain, nettle, alfalfa. Cut grass is left to rest, fed dried.
2. Hay is given when there are no fresh herbs.
3. Tree branches.
4. From cereals - barley, oats.
5. In winter, animals are fortified with spruce and pine needles.
6. Beans are a source of protein needed by large breeds.
7. Vegetables, fruits, gourds - root crops, apples, mixed vegetables.
8. Special compound feed, cake, bran.

To maintain he alth and strengthen immunity, especially in winter, vitamin supplements and bone meal are included in the diet. It is not recommended to feed giants with wheat and wheat products.

Rabbits are fed 2-3 times a day, preferably at the same time. This stabilizes digestion, helps to avoid problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Rotten, stale food is not used. When feeding with premixes and other ready-made products, the expiration date is taken into account.

In winter, they make sure that water and succulent food do not freeze through, that they are without ice. Clean water should always be in the drinkers. Heavy rabbits often knock over light dishes, it is better to choose heavy feeders or fasten them to the wall or floor.

Breeding Method

Puberty of giants comes a little later than in small breeds. Rabbits are capable of mating at 6-7 months, but it is better to wait until the female is 8 months old so that the animal reaches full condition. The rabbit, in anticipation of the kids, equips the nest, she is transferred in advance to a larger cage. The average litter is 7-8 babies, but sometimes 10-12 babies are born.

Female giants do not eat children, despite their large size, they do not trample, they treat young animals carefully. Up to 90% of the litter survive.

Baby weight at birth is 80-95 grams, they grow quickly, at the age of two weeks the most developed babies leave the nest.The rabbit feeds babies for 30-45 days, then the young are transferred to separate cages. By 4 months, active growth ends, they become sexually mature by 7-8 months.

Giants live 6-8 years, decorative pets usually live to this age. In farms, most of the livestock are slaughtered at 3-4 months, leaving only producers.

Diseases and their treatment

Most breeds of giants have average immunity, they get sick no more often than other types of rabbits.

Reference: vaccinations, proper care and housing conditions prevent the development of diseases.

The most common infectious and parasitic (contagious) diseases of giants include:

• myxomatosis - no treatment, rabbits are slaughtered, premises and inventory are disinfected;
• spirochetosis, pasteurellosis - antibiotics;
• infectious rhinitis, stomatitis, mastitis - flushing of mucous membranes and skin, antibiotics;
• helminthic infestations - removal of parasites in rabbits with special preparations, disinfection;
• ringworm - antifungal agents, ointments;
• fleas, scabies - antiparasitic treatment of rabbits.

Non-communicable diseases arise due to nutritional errors, injury. Rabbits catch colds in drafts, lack of heating in winter, due to damp cold bedding. It is necessary to insulate the premises, include fresh vegetables in the diet, carry out fortification.

In case of constipation, diarrhea, colic, other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, rabbits are transferred to high-quality food, the diet is carefully controlled, and they are put on a diet.

Selection and purchase

It is better to buy giants from trusted breeders, in breeding farms.Otherwise, the rabbit may turn out to be an ordinary medium-sized eared fluffy. When choosing, take into account the characteristics of the breed - meat, fur, decorative. Most farmers prefer meat and fur species, which have a high quality skin and meat. Rabbits from purebred parents will cost more, but show the best characteristics of the species.

After checking for compliance with the requirements of the breed, the rabbits are examined, taking into account the following parameters:

• smooth fur without bald spots and piles;
• size and weight by age;
• mobility;
• upper teeth condition;
• he althy eyes, no nasal mucus and salivation.

Check the cleanliness of the ears and the absence of parasites. Before joining the livestock, new rabbits are placed in quarantine.

Outstanding size, good-natured nature make giants easy to breed. The meat of such animals is tasty and nutritious, the skins are larger than usual.High productivity ensures profit in rabbit farms, non-aggressive disposition and friendliness often turn giants into beloved pets.

Recommended