Six key points for raising Rex rabbits in the hot season

Heatstroke prevention

In summer, when temperatures are high, the rabbit shed is stuffy, humid and poorly ventilated, and the stocking density is too high; long-distance transport during the dog days, lack of drinking water and direct sunlight can all cause heatstroke. General signs of heatstroke: weakness all over, refusal to eat, body temperature rising above 42°C, reddened and cyanotic conjunctiva, difficulty breathing, coma, collapse and inability to stand, etc. First, cool down the rabbit shed and avoid direct sunlight; vines such as grapes and pumpkins or tall crops such as sunflowers and corn can be planted in front of the shed for shade. In hot weather, sprinkle cool water inside the shed or hang water curtains to lower the temperature. Rex rabbits can also be given fresh groundwater to drink. Once heatstroke occurs, immediately move the rabbit to a cool, well-ventilated place, spray cool water on the head, limbs and other areas, and also drip 5 ml to 8 ml of Shidishui into the mouth, or inject 0.2 ml of caffeine sodium benzoate.

Disinfection

Every day, clear away feces, dirt and garbage from the rabbit shed to prevent dampness; sawdust and white lime can be spread on the ground to absorb moisture. Wash water bowls and feed bowls once a day, and spray the ground with 0.5% Baidusha once a week. To disinfect rabbit cages, the rabbit shed, manure channels and manure pits, 20% lime milk or 3% caustic soda can be used. Spraying cages and sheds with 0.5% peracetic acid has a good killing effect on bacteria, molds, mycoplasma and viruses.

Ventilation

Ventilation of the rabbit shed is very important in the hot season. Through ventilation, the temperature inside and outside the shed can be regulated, and waste gases and harmful gases in the shed, such as carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, can be discharged, effectively preventing the occurrence of respiratory diseases.

Management

In summer, daytime temperatures are relatively high, exceeding 30°C, so Rex rabbits have reduced appetite and are unwilling to eat; when the temperature drops at night, their appetite is strong, so attention should be paid to feeding: feed concentrate first, then add enough forage. If feeding fresh grass, it is best to rinse it clean with water, drain it, and then feed it. Summer is hot and humid, and feed easily becomes moldy. If Rex rabbits eat moldy feed, it will cause poisoning, and the mortality rate after onset is very high, so moldy feed must not be fed. Rabbits should be supplied with clean, hygienic and sufficient cool water.

Breeding

Generally, in the hot season, Rex rabbits should not be bred. If conditions permit, mating can be arranged at night, and during mating the doe should be placed in the buck's cage. In the hot summer, blood mating of Rex rabbits is prohibited; using blood mating will not only reduce the physical condition of the Rex rabbits, but the newborn rabbits produced will also grow and develop poorly.

Disease prevention

The hot season is a period of high incidence of coccidiosis in Rex rabbits, especially in young rabbits before and after weaning, which are most susceptible. The mortality rate after onset is 90% to 100%, and it is a devastating disease. Special attention should be paid to the feeding and management of weaned young rabbits: prevent sudden changes in feed, avoid contamination of drinking water and feed by feces, and frequently scrub and disinfect cages and other equipment, preferably with flame disinfection. Robenidine can be used for prevention and treatment, mixed into the feed at 10 mg per kg body weight per day for 5 consecutive days. Alternatively, sulfadimidine and sulfonamide potentiator (TMP) can be mixed at a ratio of 5:1, mixed into the feed at 30 mg per kg body weight, twice a day, with 7 days as one treatment course. When young rabbits are 20 to 28 days old, inject E. coli vaccine, and afterward, at intervals of 5 to 7 days, inject Clostridium welchii, Pasteurella and Bordetella combined vaccine respectively; at 45 days of age, inject rabbit plague vaccine. In addition, common diseases such as rabbit foot dermatitis and diarrhea should also be prevented and treated.