Viennese blue rabbit: description and characteristics of the breed, care rules

Viennese blue rabbits are considered very popular animals. They are grown by many farmers to get delicious meat and beautiful skins. Animals are characterized by undemanding care and high fertility. They grow and develop rapidly. At the same time, rabbits have strong immunity. To achieve maximum productivity parameters, they need to create the right conditions.

Origin story

The breed was bred by the Austrian scientist Johann Konstantin Schultz. It took the breeder 2 years. He was engaged in crossing Flemish and Moravian rabbits.The result of the work was the beautiful rabbit presented at the exhibition in 1897 - the Viennese blue giant. The animal weighed more than 7 kilograms.

However, further work showed that growing such large animals is not required. Because the breed has been adjusted. As a result, the Viennese blue rabbit was bred.

Description and characteristics of Viennese rabbits

Viennese rabbits are medium in size. The length of their body rarely exceeds 55 centimeters. At the same time, animals have a strong body, well-developed muscles and a wide back. Females are characterized by a strongly protruding sternum.

Rabbits have a rounded head and a furry muzzle. All individuals have a dark blue or blue tint of the iris. The ears are rounded and do not exceed 15-17 centimeters. Animals have powerful limbs of medium length. They are covered with developed gray-blue claws.

The skin is considered a distinctive feature of animals. It has a uniform gray-blue color. The characteristic shade of the rabbits is obtained after the second molt. Newborn babies have lighter fur.

Rabbits have a large area of the skin, which is suitable for dressing, because they are usually referred to as fur breeds. The advantage of these rabbits is their livability with people and other animals. They are non-aggressive in nature and quite calm. That is why rabbits can hardly stand the influence of stress.

Pros and cons of growing

The main advantages of animals include the following:

1. Precocity. With proper nutrition, rabbits develop quickly and reach the ripeness phase. It is permissible to send animals for slaughter as early as 4.5 months.
2. Minimum feed costs. Such animals eat relatively little. Moreover, due to precocity, animals live relatively short.
3. High quality fur. Among meat breeds, these animals are distinguished by the highest quality skins. They are characterized by thick and beautiful fur.
4. Unpretentious care. Representatives of this breed do not require special conditions or specific feed. In addition, rabbits are characterized by strong immunity.

These animals have no obvious disadvantages. When breeding rabbits, there is a risk of such problems:

• possibility of developing depression or stress;
• retaliatory aggression as a defensive reaction;
• hair graying in individuals older than 4-5 years.

Nuances of maintenance and care

The breed is considered very unpretentious. Therefore, animals can be settled in a rabbitry or a barn. It is best to make cages for them. This will make it easier to manage your he alth and diet.

Every day for 1.5 hours it is recommended to let the rabbits out for a walk. Otherwise, there is a risk of developing various pathologies. When creating a rabbitry, you should follow these rules:

• animals should not be exposed to direct sunlight;
• place plywood or wood at the bottom of the cage, and then a bed of hay;
• control humidity parameters - they should be 60-75%;
• monitor the temperature - it should not exceed +30 degrees or be too low, as this is fraught with death;
• provide artificial lighting in winter;
• avoid exposure to drafts and extreme temperature fluctuations.

It is recommended to clean the cages once a week. Periodically, it is worth disinfecting all inventory. It is important to ensure that the drinkers are always filled with fresh water. In this case, the bowls should be fixed to the wall. It is recommended to clean the feeders every day. They often contain food, spoilage of which can provoke various diseases.

With an interval of 2-3 days, it is recommended to completely change the bedding so that the room is dry.

What to feed the breed

Rabbits need the following foods to thrive:

• cereals;
• hay or straw;
• fresh fruits and vegetables;
• fish or meat and bone meal;
• cottage cheese, cheese and other dairy products;
• compound feed;
• vitamins and minerals.

Equally important is the mode of eating. Rabbits should be fed at the same time. Meals should be frequent and fractional. It is not recommended to give animals too high-calorie foods - in particular, boiled potatoes or high-fiber food. Such food will negatively affect the quality of meat. There is also a risk of flatulence, which will adversely affect the he alth of animals.

Rabbit breeding

For breeding rabbits, it is recommended to correctly select animals that will be slaughtered and individuals for subsequent breeding. The choice is made in several stages:

1. First - at the moment of jigging the rabbits from the female. This occurs on the 28-60th day of life.
2. Second - at 3 months.
3. Third - during the onset of puberty. This moment comes at 5 months.

It is worth checking that pairs are not formed from representatives of the same litter. Otherwise, the degeneration of the breed will begin. To select a parent pair, you should focus on the following criteria:

• good he alth;
• attractive appearance;
• no birth defects;
• full development;
• developed mammary glands in rabbits.

Mating is allowed for animals older than 7 months. With high birth parameters, a couple is able to bear offspring for 5 years. If problems arise, it is worth changing partners. Bearing cubs takes 35 days, and feeding them - a maximum of 2 months. It is allowed to separate rabbits from their mother after 1 month. More than 5 rounds should not be allowed during the year. Otherwise, the he alth of the female will suffer greatly.

Frequent diseases and prevention

For the prevention of diseases and epidemics, it is worth creating optimal conditions for rabbits and a balanced diet. Timely vaccination is important. It is important to vaccinate animals against viral infections. These include myxomatosis and hemorrhagic disease.

The first time the vaccine is given at 1.5 months, the second - at 3. Subsequently, animals are vaccinated annually. If the rabbit lives as a pet, it is recommended to vaccinate against rabies.

How much does this breed cost

You can buy Viennese blue rabbits from amateur breeders, on special rabbit farms or through online stores. Delivery of animals from Europe is also possible. 1 rabbit will cost 800-2000 rubles.

Viennese blue rabbits are popular with farmers. They are characterized by rapid development and high productivity. The excellent quality of the skins makes it possible to use animals in the fur industry. In order for rabbits to stay he althy and grow quickly, they need to create the right conditions.

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