What issues need attention in Rex rabbit farming?

Rex rabbit farming requires little investment and shows quick returns, making it a good small-capital startup project in rural areas. Though small, Rex rabbits are not easy to raise, so Rex rabbit farming what issues need attention?

1. Pay attention to breeding stock selection

Rex rabbits are an introduced breed and can be divided by bloodline into American, German and French lines. American line Rex rabbits have strong adaptability, disease resistance and a high reproduction rate, but the individuals are smaller and the population varies greatly; German line Rex rabbits have a large body size and fast growth, but slightly poorer disease resistance and reproduction rate; French line Rex rabbits share the advantages of both the American and German lines, but have been introduced for only a short time, and the population still needs further propagation.

For farmers, which strain is specifically chosen is not important; what matters is that it can produce good pelts. Choosing average-to-slightly-above individuals and breeding them over 3~5 generations will form an excellent Rex rabbit population. Conversely, if you start by choosing superior individuals but do not focus on breeding selection, serious degeneration will appear after 3~5 generations.

2. Pay attention to nutrient supply

The main value of Rex rabbits is their fur, and fur growth requires large amounts of nutrients, especially protein, which is required at a much higher level than for meat rabbits. Many farmers only feed Rex rabbits grass and no feed, resulting in poor pelt quality, so in the end they can only sell at meat rabbit prices, which is worse than raising meat rabbits.

3. Pay attention to mold poisoning

Rex rabbits are relatively sensitive to mold and prone to mold poisoning; in mild cases they develop diarrhea and slow growth, and in severe cases it can lead to death. First, strictly control feed quality and prohibit feeding moldy feed; second, feed in fixed amounts and remove feed that cannot be eaten clean, to avoid mold developing over time.

4. Pay attention to disease prevention

Many farmers feel Rex rabbits are difficult to raise and prone to illness; this problem should be solved at its root by doing good disease prevention work to reduce the incidence rate. At 30 days after birth, young rabbits need injection of the triple vaccine against rabbit plague, Pasteurella and Clostridium welchii; at 37 days, injection of coccidiosis vaccine; at 45 days, injection of the bivalent vaccine against Bordetella and Escherichia coli; Rex rabbits kept for breeding at 4 months of age need injection of the triple vaccine, coccidiosis vaccine and bivalent vaccine, with an interval of 5~7 days between each vaccine; breeding rabbits need injections three times per year (three vaccines each time, with an interval of 5~7 days between each vaccine).