Meat rabbits have different needs at different stages: key points for staged feeding and management

Meat rabbits

    1. Feeding and management of baby rabbits:

    Baby rabbits are rabbits from birth until weaning. Newborn baby rabbits weigh 50—60 grams, and reach 180 grams by 10 days of age, which shows that baby rabbits grow quickly. The doe nurses the baby rabbits only once a day, for 3—4 minutes each time. At 12 days of age, the baby rabbits' eyes open and they gradually become active, jumping in and out of the nest box. Baby rabbits begin eating feed at 16-18 days of age; after 30 days of age, they mainly eat feed, with nursing as a supplement, and the baby rabbit feed given 5-6 times a day must be nutritionally complete and high quality.

    2. Feeding and management of weanling rabbits:

    Rabbits from weaning to 90 days of age are called weanling rabbits. The diet of weanling rabbits must be nutritious and easy to digest. The daily amount fed per weanling rabbit should not exceed 50 grams, and being full is best. When grouping weanling rabbits, each small group should have about 5 rabbits; they can be grouped by litter, by age in days, or by strength and size. Rabbit houses and rabbit cages must be dry, clean and hygienic, with the focus on preventing coccidiosis. Prevent freezing in winter and heat in summer. If conditions permit, let weanling rabbits exercise more and bask in the sun to strengthen their physique.

    3. Feeding and management of young rabbits:

    Rabbits from 90—180 days of age are called young rabbits, growing rabbits or medium rabbits; if kept for breeding, they are also called replacement rabbits. Young rabbits grow quickly, have vigorous metabolism, and develop bones and muscles. Protein should account for 13% of the diet, and minerals, trace elements and vitamins must meet their needs. In summer and autumn, feed each young rabbit 550 grams of green fodder and 30 grams of formula feed per day. In winter and spring, feed each young rabbit 100 grams of high-quality dried grass, 200 grams of root feed, and 45 grams of formula feed per day.