Welcome to Modern Agriculture!
The following article details about “Rabbit Farming” or “How to start a Rabbit Farm”.
It can be a sustainable way to provide protein-rich high-quality meat to a family. There is little space needed as opposed to a cattle farm, and from a small investment, a rabbit farm can create a decent income, even part-time. Rabbits can be bred for their meat and also their hide and fur to make clothes or other items.
Rabbit production business is for anyone with the desire to raise livestock for a living. A farmer with no land will enjoy this trade as little space is required. Young adults not sure which path to take educationally can benefit from farming life. A stay at home mother can tend to the rabbits and keep her children entertained at the same time.
There are two ways to rear the rabbits. Both systems need a shed or shelter to protect the rabbits from predators and the elements. A Deep Litter System is used when rearing a small number of rabbits.
Rabbit production is another livestock activity with great scope as it is relatively easy, rewarding and takes little space compared to other livestock activities. Rabbit production can also provide a very valuable additional source of income in the hilly areas where opportunities for employment are very limited. Another important consideration is the food production cycle, which shows that the rabbit need not be in competition with a man for its food. For producing high-quality woolen, blending with other fine quality fibers is essential, which are produced in limited quantity in our country. Therefore, currently, we are importing the fine wool. The wool from Angora Rabbits is of very high quality and it’s blending with carpet wool of sheep and silk improves the quality of woolen to a great extent. Rabbit production is affordable. It does not take many rabbits to start a farm. They are excellent breeders and the farm will grow steadily with about 8-12 rabbits per litter. Rabbits are easily fed with available greens from around the yard and waste vegetables and grains from around the house. If compared to other meats, rabbit meat contains more protein and less fat than most. It can be fed to small toddlers and aging adults because it is easy to digest.
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There are numerous breeds available throughout the world. Some of them are highly productive. Some breeds are very suitable for farming in India according to our weather. Most productive and suitable rabbit breeds are listed below. You can choose any of those breeds.
Rabbits can be raised in both the deep litter system and cage system. You can easily make a small shed at the backyard with a very small investment. Good housing or shed is necessary for keeping the rabbits free from weather conditions, rain, sun and various types of predators like dogs or cats, etc.
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Good feed always ensures good health and proper growth. So, always try to feed your Rabbits with high quality and nutritious food. Rabbits can eat and consume all types of grains, legumes and green fodders like Lucerne, Agathi, Desmanthus and various types of kitchen wastes including carrots, cabbage leaves, and other vegetable wastes. In case of raising rabbits by feeding concentrate food, try to provide them some green food. For 1 kg body weight of rabbit, you can feed them about 40 grams of concentrate food and 40 grams of green food. Along with good and nutritious food try to provide them sufficient amount of fresh and clean water according to their demand. See full rabbit feeding management.
Rabbits become suitable for breeding within their 5 to 6 months of age. You should use male rabbits for breeding purpose at their 1 year of age to get quality young rabbits. Always use healthy rabbits for breeding with proper age and body weight. Take extra care of the male rabbit used for breeding purpose and take good care of pregnant rabbits.
For better production, you must have to take good care of your animals. Generally, diseases are less in rabbits. Healthy rabbits become very active with a shiny hair coat. But if anyhow something goes wrong, then you have to take necessary steps immediately.
Marketing is still a big problem for commercial rabbit production in India. Although various govt. and non-govt. organizations are inspiring rabbit farming business. But the marketing problem is not still solved. Rabbit meat has good demand in some areas. You can try your local market and think about exporting in foreign countries.
Angora rabbits are mainly raised for their wool, which is known for its quality. Angora rabbits have their origin from Angora Province of Turkey from where they were taken to different parts of the world and various types of angora rabbits were evolved. The differences between these types of angora are mainly in the amount of wool produced and the percentage of guard hair in the wool. Among the various types, German Angora is the best and annually yields 1000 to 1800 gm of wool under ideal management practices. Angora rabbits require temperate climate and can be adapted to any set of circumstances right from a kitchen garden to a large intensive commercial enterprise. They produce 6.4 times more wool than sheep on per kg body weight basis and do not require vast grazing land. The wool produced by rabbits is the finest, lightest and warmest among all animal fibers and is preferred for manufacturing of high-value woolens which have got very good export potential. Rabbit wool also has medicinal properties and its garments are recommended in arthritis due to its electrostatic properties.
1) Financial assistance is available from banks/NABARD for Rabbit farming business in India.
Read: How to Find the Age of Farm Animals.
After ensuring technical feasibility and economic viability, the scheme is sanctioned by the bank. The loan is disbursed in stages against the creation of specific assets such as the construction of sheds, purchase of equipment and animals. The end use of the fund is verified and constant follow-up is done by the bank.
Repayment period depends upon the gross surplus in the scheme. The loan will be repaid in suitable quarterly/half yearly/annual installments usually within a period of about 6-7 years with a grace period of one year. Quarterly repayments are preferred in angora units as the income is frequent and the interest burden on the borrower is reduced.
The animals may be insured annually or through long term master policy, where ever it is applicable. You can google it to see who are covering the rabbits.
Project cost for a model of 10 female and 3 male Angora rabbits with economics is taken in this project.
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/cage)
625
10
Cost of feeders and waterers (/animal)
20
11
Miscellaneous equipment (/animal)
5
12
Cost of breeders ( /animal)
1,000
13
Insurance – % of breeder cost – for 5 years
9%
14
Salvage value (/animal) – average
400
15
Depreciation on sheds and equipment (% per annum)
10
16
Margin
10%
17
The gestation period (days)
30
18
Weaning period (weeks)
6
19
Inter kindling period (months)
4
20
Mortality
(i)
Weaners (up to 1.5 months)
10%
(ii)
Growers (1.5 to 6 months)
15%
(iii)
Adults (above 6 months) per annum
10%
21
Feed Consumption (grams per day)
Concentrate
Hay
(i)
Breeding does and males
200
80
(ii)
Weaners (1.5 to 3 months)
50
30
(iii)
Growers (4 to 6 months)
70
40
(iv)
Adults (above 6 months)
100
75
22
Cost of concentrate feed for the breeder (/kg)
17
23
Cost of concentrate feed for others (/kg)
16
24
Cost of hay (/kg)
1
25
Vegetables and Kitchen waste
(i)
per grower month
0.75
(ii)
per adult month
1.50
26
Water and electricity (/animal month)
2
27
Veterinary and miscellaneous expenses (/animal month)
2
28
Wool production per shearing (gm per rabbit)
(i)
A grower at the age of 3 months
75
(ii)
A grower at the age of 6 months
175
(iii)
Adult above 6 months
225
29
Shearing of adults is done at quarterly intervals
30
The sale price of wool (/kg)
1,100
31
To maintain the strength of adult wool rabbits at 130, animals are sold after maintaining them for 18 months.
32
The sale price of rabbits (/animal)
800
33
Income from manure per grower
4
34
Income from manure per adult
8
The interest rates will be decided by banks keeping in view RBI guidelines. However, for working out financial viability and bankability of the model project, we have assumed the rate of interest as 12% p.a.
Security will be as per NABARD / RBI guidelines issued from time to time.
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