RABBIT FARMING

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21324, 17 November 1934, Page 9

RABBIT FARMING

VALUE OF FRESH AIK (By Rex) It is impossible to lay too much Itress upon the necessity of keeping rabbits in well ventilated hutches of ample size at all times, and particularly during the summer months. While exposure to direct draughts or to the full force of the wind must be guarded against, plenty of fresh air is essential to the well-being of a rabbit. Those kept in close or stuffy atmosphere cannot be expected to thrive. It is well known to experienced breeders that rabbits are liable to suffer great discomfort in hot weather and that, therefore, both the situation of the hutch and its capacity for admitting sufficient fresh air are doubly important during the summer. Illventilated hutches, coupled with unsuitable food are at the bottom of a great many hot weather troubles, which, if allowed to persist, will eventually lead to reduced vitality or even to the death of the rabbits. It has been proved that hutches with entirely open fronts are suitable for all classes of stock, including the breeding stock. If in-kindle dees appear to be nervous, it is a simple matter to place a piece of sacking over one end of the wire hutch front. If open-fronted hutches are used, especially in summer when moulting is general in all breeds, and the diet kept light, the use of such heating foods as wheat being entirely suspended, the risk of the blood becoming overheated and consequent skin trouble is very small. However, in the case of highly overheated blood caused by unsuitable diet and surroundings, the rabbit should be removed to a hutch in a shady spot, and a diet consisting entirely of clover hay and green food, with a dish of broad bran twice a week and fresh water to drink should j be given. Perhaps the most important j point to realise, as bearing directly on health, is not to overcrowd. If you have not unlimited room, limit your , Stock accordingly. i Keep Angoras in Good Coat ■ Breeders who have Angoras in bad j condition of coat should lose no time j in getting them into order and grow-: ing good wool. It is only by careful j attention and a little grooming every day or every other day that breeders can be sure of getting a good yield of wool, and procuring a satisfactory Profit. However, when an Angora has become matted and its coat is in a bad state of felting, the only course is to remove it bodily by clipping with a sharp pair of pointed scissors. It is better to begin by cutting along the nriddle line of the back and to cut , flown into the felling until the pink skin appears all along the line and then lo take hold of Ihe felting on either side of the cut and pull gently. It Will then be seen that there is a layer M unmatted wool between the felting I ?"." the skin, and by clipping along this the felting may be gradually cut away from one side at a time and removed in a solid mass.

j After a clipping of this sort a rabbit ! will be almost bare, and it is impori tant that it should be placed in a hutch that is free from draughts and : dampness, and even when the weather is very warm give plenty of straw .as bedding. Once the old felted coat 'is removed the new one will grow ; very quickly, and with ordinary care 'and attention the rabbit will seen be i j giving its yield of wool and paying ; I handsomely :or its keep. Sending Angora Wool by Post Breeders who have wool ready lo ; send lo the buyer must be very careful to grade their wool correctly. Do not ; include any dust, moths, or pieces of I matted wool, or you will have the I whole consignment graded down sndl ; consequently will not be paid the top ! ; price. | '■ ft is very important that once Angora : wool has been clipped it .should be j i stored in such a way as lo ensure it \ reaching the buyer in good condition. llt must, therefore, be kept in conj tainers which as far as possible ex- ! elude dust, damp, moths, and air. Dis- ' tinctly label your containers, and in ' no circumstances mix wool of different : grades, for clean wool will soon ric- ■ i.tcriorate if kept with soiled wool. ' When sending wool by post, strong i card-board boxes make the most suiti able containers. They are light ind ! also afford protection. It is not wise to send wool through the post packed only in paper, as the paper is easily torn and pressure from the larger parcels will cause the wool to become "webbed," consequently decreasing its value. The first Co-operative Rabbit Breeders' Association field afternoon for the season will be held on Saturday afternoon, December 8, at the newly established rabbit farm of Mr L. F. Malcouronne, 171 Avonhead road, Riccarton. During the afternoon an address will be given by Mr D. J. Sidey, B.Sc.Agr.. H.D.D., of Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, on "Selecting i Stock for the Production of Correct ! Textured Wool.'' Mr Malcouronnc, i who com.-s from one of England's i largest rabbit farms, will also deliver jan "address on "Some Experiences of i Large Scale Angora Wool Production." |