Winter Breeding Methods and Precautions for Meat Rabbits
Rabbit meat has relatively high nutritional value and also tastes quite good, so meat rabbit farming is very common in our daily lives, and the economic value of meat rabbits is also very high. When raising meat rabbits, we should adjust the breeding methods according to the changes in seasons, especially during the low temperatures of winter. So how should meat rabbits be raised in winter? Below, the editor brings you the breeding methods for meat rabbits. Let's take a look!
1. Cold protection and warmth
The temperature in winter is very low, so the first thing in raising meat rabbits is to do a good job of cold protection and warmth. When not ventilating, the vents in the rabbit hutch should be tightly closed. Then a layer of grass curtains and other materials should be covered over the door to prevent cold wind from invading and affecting the normal growth of the meat rabbits. After entering winter, the temperature inside the rabbit hutch should be kept at least above 5 degrees, the thickness of the bedding straw on the ground should be appropriately increased, and it should be replaced frequently. Then a dry and comfortable hutch environment should be created for the meat rabbits. Plant ash or quicklime can be used to dehumidify and disinfect the rabbit hutch.
2. Diet adjustment
Natural feed resources in winter are relatively scarce, so we should appropriately increase the feed ratio for meat rabbits, by about 25%. In particular, the proportion of some energy substances should be increased, and more green feed, carrots and other feeds rich in vitamins should be fed. The feeding proportion of green feed should be kept at about 30%. Moreover, because winter nights are very cold and relatively long, in order to allow the meat rabbits to better replenish energy, the number of feedings and the feeding amount should also be appropriately increased, and an extra feeding of forage should be given at 20:00 in the evening.
3. Drinking water and exercise
Fresh feed is very scarce in winter, and the main feed is dry feed. Therefore, when feeding the feed, attention should be paid to providing sufficient warm water for the meat rabbits. Many farmers do not provide drinking water for meat rabbits when raising them in winter. If the meat rabbits do not drink enough water, it will affect their digestive function, thereby reducing their appetite and causing various digestive tract diseases. Then on sunny days in winter, the rabbits should be allowed to receive sunlight and exercise more, for about one hour, in order to improve the physique of the meat rabbits and promote the synthesis of nutrients.
4. Winter breeding
Many people think when raising rabbits that spring and autumn are the breeding seasons for meat rabbits, and that winter is not suitable for breeding. Moreover, meat rabbit breeding does not have great requirements for the season. Although the temperature in winter is low, it is stable and there are few pathogenic microorganisms, and rabbit diseases are not very severe. As long as management work is done well, meat rabbits can also breed in winter. During breeding, the body condition of both the male and female breeding rabbits should be kept at about medium, and then the temperature should be controlled at 10 degrees. Mating should be carried out on sunny days, and the female rabbits should be fed some feed that promotes estrus, such as green feed, sprouted barley, etc.
The above is a brief introduction to winter breeding methods for meat rabbits. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can help everyone!