Analysis of Key Points in Rural Sima Rabbit Breeding Technology

The Sima rabbit is a special rabbit that many people across China like to raise. It is lively and active, cute in appearance, and has smooth fur, with colors including gray, hemp, yellow, and black. It likes dry environments, has strong adaptability, and tolerates coarse feed. It is suitable for raising in both southern and northern China, and has extremely high breeding prospects and breeding value. Let us take a look at rural Sima rabbit breeding technology together below!

Breeding Prospects

The Sima rabbit has a relatively long body, a large frame, and abundant muscle. Adult rabbits can reach 4 to 6 kg, and it is also a good meat rabbit. Its reproduction rate is relatively high. From birth to 4 months, it can be bred. The gestation period is about 30 days, with an average of 6 to 8 kits per litter. Its meat belongs to the category of high-protein, low-fat, and low-cholesterol meat. The protein content is as high as 70%, higher than ordinary meats, while the fat and cholesterol content is lower than all meats. It is especially favored in the catering industry, and currently the price of meat rabbits is relatively high. Because the demand for Sima rabbit meat is large, the market often experiences a situation where there is a price but no supply, so this is also the main reason many ordinary people develop it. Engaging in breeding in rural areas according to market development is correct. Only with a market is there potential. This is the business principle of breeding.

Rabbit Housing Construction

The first consideration in Sima rabbit breeding is the construction of rabbit housing. Rabbit housing should be built in a ventilated and dry place. It is also possible to build an underground facility to raise breeding bucks, which is warm in winter and cool in summer, ensuring balanced production throughout the four seasons. The site of the rabbit farm should be chosen in a place with high terrain, an appropriate slope, shelter from the wind and facing the sun, a low groundwater table, and good drainage. Low-lying, damp sites with poor drainage are not conducive to the body heat regulation of domestic rabbits, but are conducive to the growth and reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms, and are especially suitable for the survival of parasites (such as mites, coccidia, etc.). To facilitate drainage, the ground of the rabbit farm should be flat or slightly sloped (1 to 3% is suitable).

For small-scale Sima rabbit breeding as a sideline, simple rabbit housing construction forms should be adopted. Old sheds or idle houses can be used for free-range or penned raising. For rabbit breeding of a certain scale and as a main occupation, relatively standardized rabbit housing should be built and cage raising should be implemented to facilitate daily management. In northern China, winters are long and the climate is cold. Rural areas can use cellar raising, which is not only warm in winter and cool in summer, but also economical and practical. Cage raising is a relatively ideal feeding method. Compared with several other feeding methods (such as free-range, penned, and cellar raising), cage raising makes it easier to control the living environment of domestic rabbits, facilitates feeding management, breeding and reproduction, and disease prevention and control, and is beneficial to the growth and development of Sima rabbits and the improvement of fur quality. Therefore, it is a feeding method worth promoting.

Feeding Management

The feeding of Sima rabbits must make full use of local agricultural by-product resources, using mixed feed such as peanut stalks, sweet potato vines, and corn stalks to feed the rabbits. In addition, according to the needs of different periods, timely collect wild grasses with medicinal herb effects that have health benefits for Sima rabbits, such as plantain, houttuynia, dandelion, mugwort leaves, and garlic stems, and make them into feed additives. Add them regularly to the feed for feeding, so as to enhance the disease resistance of the rabbits, reduce the occurrence of epidemics, and lower the cost of rabbit breeding.

For large-scale Sima rabbit breeding, forage grass can also be planted for feeding. For high-fiber forage grass, choose hybrid hn-mc Youyou napier grass, hn-mc Youyou rye, etc. When feeding rabbits with fresh green forage grass, the amount used per rabbit per day is about 0.75 kg. In addition, rabbits must also be fed concentrated feed once a day, with an amount of about 70 grams per rabbit. In the concentrated feed, grains such as corn and wheat should account for 40%, bran and chaff should account for 40%, soybean cake should account for 15%, and fish meal should account for 3%, with an appropriate amount of salt, trace elements, and mineral feed added. The specific formula should be adjusted according to the needs of different rabbit breeds and different growth stages. The concentrated feed should be made into pellet feed according to the formula or crushed and then fed with an appropriate amount of water. Sima rabbits have a very urgent need for water, and sufficient water must be supplied to the rabbits through equipment such as automatic drinkers or water basins.

Reproduction Management

After Sima rabbit breeding rabbits mate, immediately pat the doe on the rump with your hand to stimulate hindquarter contraction and increase the conception rate. At the same time, the "double mating method" can be adopted, that is, mate with one buck in the morning and another buck in the evening, or the "repeat mating method," that is, mate with one buck in the morning and still use this buck in the evening, so that the doe gives birth to more kits. The newborn kits should be carefully managed and protected. After the doe gives birth to the kits, feed some brown sugar water and salt water to prevent her from becoming thirsty and eating the kits. In winter, the kits should drink milk for a few more days to strengthen their physique and resist severe cold.

When Sima rabbit kits reach 16 to 19 days of age, they can begin to try eating feed. In the initial stage, a small amount of soybean milk and rice soup can be fed, and after a few days, wheat flour and bean dregs can be added. After another 6 to 7 days, mineral feed can be mixed in, and some carrots, etc., can be fed appropriately. Kits should be fed 4 to 5 times a day, with one additional feeding at night. Young rabbits should be allowed to exercise more and bask in the sun more to increase the survival rate.

Disease Prevention Management

In the disease prevention management of Sima rabbits, breeders should do a good job in disease prevention and control. In winter, in addition to preventing Sima rabbits from getting cold and freezing, they should also often be fed garlic, ginger, yeast tablets, etc., to prevent the occurrence of diseases. If rabbit disease occurs, they should be isolated immediately and treated according to symptoms to prevent spread.