Detailed Explanation of Key Points in Rex Rabbit Feeding and Management Techniques
In recent years, the market prospects for Rex rabbits have been favorable. Some provinces and cities in China have actively developed Rex rabbit farming, and after years of propagation and selective breeding, the improved Rex rabbit breeds introduced from abroad have seen their fur and meat begin to enter domestic and international markets. For rural rabbit farming, cages and housing can be adapted to local conditions using locally available materials. This article discusses several insights regarding the feeding and management of Rex rabbits.
1. Breeding
The suitable mating age for Rex rabbit does is 7-8 months, and no earlier than 6 months. The suitable body weight is 2.5-3.0 kg; the mating age for bucks is 8-9 months, with a body weight of 3.5-4.0 kg. The four methods of artificial assisted mating are: repeat mating, which refers to mating the same buck with the same doe twice within the same breeding period, with an interval of 4-6 hours between the two matings. Double mating refers to mating a doe with two different bucks within the same breeding period, with an interval of 30-120 minutes between the two matings. Multiple mating refers to mating the same doe with more than 2 different bucks within one breeding period, with an interval of 30-120 minutes each time. Blood mating refers to mating the doe within the first 3 days after kindling, which results in a high conception rate and can also increase breeding density. Typically, one buck can handle the mating of 10-15 does, and after 2 consecutive days of mating, it can rest for 1 day. The gestation period of Rex rabbit does averages 30-31 days. Spring is an excellent season for doe breeding, and every effort should be made to have Rex rabbits produce more than 2 litters in spring; summer is humid and stuffy, so Rex rabbits should not be bred in summer; in autumn, does are in strong estrus, making it another good season for Rex rabbit breeding; in winter, temperatures in the north are relatively low and green fodder is scarce, but for rabbit farms with access to green fodder, breeding can proceed as usual in winter.
2. Nutrition and Feed Formulation Ratios
Regarding the protein requirements of Rex rabbits, growing rabbits, pregnant does, and lactating does should have crude protein content of 16%, 15%, and 17% respectively in their daily ration. The fat content in the daily ration of Rex rabbits is 2%-3% for growing rabbits, 3%-4% for pregnant does, and 4%-6% for lactating does. The suitable crude fiber content in the daily ration of Rex rabbits is 12%-16%; for young rabbits it can be appropriately lower, but not below 8%. The minerals required by Rex rabbits can be divided into two categories based on their content in the body: the first category is macroelements, mainly calcium, phosphorus, sodium, aluminum, potassium, magnesium, and sulfur; the second category is trace elements, including iron, copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, iodine, selenium, etc. The mineral requirements in the daily ration of growing rabbits are: calcium 0.34%, phosphorus 0.22%, sodium 0.2%, sulfur 0.04%. The vitamins required by Rex rabbits can be divided into two major categories: fat-soluble vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K) and water-soluble vitamins (vitamin C and B-complex vitamins). The daily water requirement of Rex rabbits is generally 2-3 times the amount of dry feed consumed.
The approximate proportions of general feed ingredients are: roughage (hay, straw, vines, etc.) 35%-45%, energy feed (corn, barley, and other grains) 25%-35%, plant protein feed (various oilseed meals, etc.) 5%-15%, animal protein feed (such as fish meal, etc.) 0%-5%, inorganic salt feed (bone meal, limestone powder, etc.) 1%-3%, feed additives (containing trace elements, etc.) 0.5%-1.0%. Precautions are as follows: (1) Feed quality is an important factor affecting Rex rabbits. The use of various moldy and deteriorated inferior feeds in compound feed is strictly prohibited. (2) Make full use of local feed resources. Feed selection should consider economic benefits, making full use of locally available feed resources that are nutritious and low-priced, especially protein feeds, such as using dried alfalfa meal, to reduce feed costs. (3) Conform to digestive physiological characteristics. Rex rabbits are monogastric herbivores that prefer plant-based feeds and also like pelleted feed, but do not like powdered feed. Suitable crude fiber content helps maintain the normal physiological function of the Rex rabbit digestive tract and the digestion and absorption of nutrients. If crude fiber content is too high or too low, it will have adverse effects on the intestinal peristalsis and secretion of digestive juices in Rex rabbits. (4) The formulated daily ration should be relatively stable. The method for evaluating the quality of a formula is to conduct small-scale feeding trials. Once the formulated daily ration is determined to be favored by Rex rabbits, promote fast growth, have high feed conversion efficiency, and low cost, it should be kept relatively stable and should not be changed too much, to avoid adverse effects. If a change is necessary, it should also be carried out gradually, allowing the rabbits an adaptation period.
The feeding of Rex rabbits is mainly based on green and roughage feeds, with green feed generally accounting for 60%-70% of the daily ration, and roughage and concentrate accounting for 30%-40%. Feeding should be diversified, drinking water should be fresh and clean, and feed changes should be carried out gradually. Rex rabbits prefer sweet and vegetarian foods, and do not like powdered or fishy-smelling feed. If feeding powdered feed, it should be mixed with water before feeding, otherwise it is easily inhaled into the trachea and causes respiratory diseases. When feeding, it is necessary to be both regular and quantitative, yet also flexible, and the "seven observations feeding method" can be adopted. First, observe body weight: feed more to those with greater body weight; second, observe body condition: feed less to those in good condition; third, observe feces: if dry and hard, increase green fodder and water intake, otherwise do the opposite, and administer medication when necessary; fourth, observe hunger and satiety: when hungry, appropriately increase the feeding amount; fifth, observe age: adult rabbits are fed fewer times, generally 3 times per day, middle-aged rabbits 4-5 times, and newly weaned rabbits 5-6 times per day, and they should be fed good-quality, easily digestible feed; sixth, observe the number of young rabbits: when there are many nursing young rabbits and the young rabbits have started eating feed, set up more feeding troughs and supply more feed; seventh, observe the season: in hot summer, feed early in the morning, give a small amount of concentrate at noon, and feed to satiety in the evening. In cold winter, feed early in the morning, feed well at noon, feed to satiety in the evening, add night grass at night, and pay attention to supplementing succulent feed. During the plum rain season, feed more hay; during the dry season, feed more green fodder. In addition, the nutritional requirements for Rex rabbits are: digestible energy 10.0-11.3 MJ/kg, crude protein 15%-18%, crude fiber 12%-14%, among which feed for lactating does requires high digestible energy and crude protein content, and relatively low crude fiber content.