Key Technical Points for Rex Rabbit Farming, Detailed Explanation of Scientific Feeding and Management Methods
The Rex rabbit is a fur-type rabbit. Its fur is dense and fine, similar to that of the otter, hence the name Rex rabbit. The Rex rabbit originated in France. China has a history of raising Rex rabbits for over 80 years. In the 1950s, Rex rabbits were introduced from the former Soviet Union and the United States for breeding, and now Rex rabbit farming has spread throughout the country. The fur of the Rex rabbit has six major characteristics: “short, flat, dense, fine, beautiful, and strong.” Rex rabbit fur can be made into various fur-trimmed coats, scarves, hats, and more. At present, domestically produced Rex rabbit fur is mainly for export and is in short supply. Rex rabbit meat is nutritious and tender, a high-protein, low-fat, low-cholesterol nutritious meat product that is widely popular.
Feeding and Management of Breeding Bucks
The purpose of raising breeding bucks is mainly for mating and obtaining numerous, high-quality offspring. To make breeding bucks robust, well-developed, with strong libido and excellent semen quality, years of practice have shown that protein feed should account for over 15% of the breeding buck's diet, mineral feed such as bone meal, stone meal, and eggshell meal should account for 2% of the feed, and an appropriate amount of vitamins should also be supplemented, such as high-quality green succulent feed or multivitamins. In addition, breeding bucks should not be mated too early; generally, Rex rabbit breeds are mated at 7 months of age. In spring and autumn, mating is mostly done in the early morning or evening, while in winter, mating is mostly done at noon when temperatures are higher. When mating, the doe in estrus should be placed into the buck's cage. A breeding buck should be mated no more than twice a day, with an interval of 8 to 10 hours between the two matings, and after two consecutive matings, it should rest for 1 day. If a breeding buck is mated twice a day, the daily ration should be increased by 30% to 50% concentrate feed, and animal-based feed should be appropriately increased, which can improve semen quality and increase the conception rate.
Feeding and Management of Breeding Does
The feeding and management of does is a meticulous and complex task. Adult does have significant differences in physiological state during the three stages of non-pregnant, pregnant, and lactating. Therefore, in the feeding and management of does, corresponding measures should be taken according to the characteristics of each stage.
1. Non-pregnant does: The non-pregnant period of a doe refers to the stage from weaning of the kits to re-mating and conception. During this period, the doe generally has a weak constitution because of the large amount of nutrients consumed during lactation, and needs to be supplied with sufficient nutrients to restore her constitution. At this time, high-quality green feed and mixed concentrate should be fed to encourage the doe to come into estrus and ovulate normally as early as possible and to be mated and conceive again.
2. Pregnant does: The period from mating and conception to kindling is called the gestation period. Pregnancy testing of does begins 10 days after mating. After confirming the doe is pregnant, care should be strengthened to prevent miscarriage. The keeper's movements should be gentle and steady, and the rabbit house should be kept quiet and hygienic. After the doe becomes pregnant, full-price nutritious feed should be provided in feeding and management to ensure normal growth and development of the fetuses. Generally, 500-759 grams of green grass should be fed daily, and the amount of concentrate feed increases with the number of gestation days. In the late gestation period, does should be fed highly nutritious feed. Three days before kindling, reduce the amount of concentrate feed but feed more high-quality green feed. Three days before the expected kindling date, a kindling box should be prepared, with soft dry grass laid inside, and the box placed in the cage so the doe can become familiar with the environment and pull fur to make a nest. After kindling, the doe needs to be supplied with plenty of drinking water.
3. Lactating does: The period from kindling to weaning of the kits is the lactation period. To maintain life activities and secrete milk to nurse the kits, lactating does consume large amounts of nutrients every day. Therefore, lactating does should be fed high-quality concentrate and green feed that is nutritionally complete, fresh and high-quality, good in palatability, and easy to digest and absorb. To prevent postpartum uterine infection and mastitis in does, feed each rabbit 2 tablets of compound sulfamethoxazole daily after kindling for 3 consecutive days.