RABBIT FARMING

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21506, 22 June 1935, Page 11

RABBIT FARMING

DISEASE IN YOUNG STOCK /By Rex) Light and airy quarters are at all times essential in the accommodation of rabbits, but at this time of the year special attention should be paid to this point in the case of growing youngsters. No matter how large hutches may be, if they are dark and close the best feeding methods will f.-'il to produce healthy and quickgrowing young stock. Light, as a matter of fact, is as important as food for rabbits of all ages, but what makes it so necessary for growing youngsters is that sunlight is a source of the vitamin D, which is essential to healthy bone formation. This vitamin is an absolute necessity to all rabbits if they are to be healthy, and youngsters that do not receive an adequate supply will develop rickets.

Great care must be taken to ensure that the food provided when youngsters begin to feed is not deficient in vitamin D. This vitamin performs a doubly important part in the development of young rabbit;;. It not only renders possible the assimilation of the various minerals necessary to the building up of a strong and healthy bone structure, but its continued use serves to keep the bones in good condition. The principal source of vitamin D in the diet of rabbits is found in fresh green leaves, and therefore if during the winter green food is unobtainable, it is imperative that this very necessary factor be supplied in some other form. This may be done bv including either milk or cod liver oil in the diet, both of these foodsbeing rich in vitamin D. The regular use of cod liver oil or milk will add appreciably to the cost of feeding, but in the total absence of fresh green food one or other of these foods is absolutely necessary to growing youngsters. From three to live drops of co'i liver oil or one tablespoonful of milk should be allowed for each youngster. Cod liver oil or milk should also be given to docs in kindle if they are not receding green food regularly, otherwi.se the youngsters will be born with a rickety tendency, and will probably die within a few days of birth. Some breeders are under the impression that drinking water can fake the place of green food. This is not the case. Water is necessary to the rearing of young hutch-bred rabbits if the best results are to be ensured, and also to the maintenance of the highest standard in adults. One of the chief reasons that it is not a substitute for green food is that water will not supply the important bonehardening vitamin, and therefore it must be regarded in the light of an additional necessity

Simple Remedies Every well-organised rabbitry should include a stock of simple remedies in its equipment. Slight ailments and injuries, if treated promptly, can generally be prevented from developing into serious trouble. The medicine chest should contain a bottle of some good tonic. Sweet spirits of nitre also deserves a place in the medicine chest. Boracic lotion made by mixing one teaspoonful of boracic crystals with one pint of boiling water and bottling when cool, should always be at hand for use in cases of sore eyes. A small bottle of eucalvptus oil should also be at hand. Slight colds may be prevented from developing into serious catarrh if at the first sign of sneezing or dampness of the nostrils, a drop oi tnis oil is placed on the nose. Serious or even fatal illness may be averted by er.rly treatment of constipation, arid therefore some aperient medicine should always be at hand.