RABBIT FARMING

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21726, 7 March 1936, Page 8

RABBIT FARMING

♦ . - ff.-J; PELT AND TABLE t V Production \ 4, ■ «■« * * *. *' <By REX.) ’ I have always made a great; Point of hay as being essential to the inatoj tenance of health in rabbits* *- and where this can be obtained atreatonable cost, I strongly, advise inclusion, inany feeding scheme. -The *®*t son. why experienced, breeders look upon hpy as .is that tod roughage—com-se. indigestible matter it contains—is invaluable in work to toe'' digestive organs ■ j|W*« tends to keep them in good order. This Is very < desirable in the case . of* hutched rabbits which get else worth • mentioning* Rabbits. in' large' colonies, ,of course,- get plenty of exercise, and hay may be with in their case, > but in small cola* nles and in Morant hutches hay la, advisable. A Substitute for Hay. ' Breeders who are able to get/supplies of tree branches withvleaves, still attached will find these as an exceL lent hay substitute as plenty of roughs age-is obtainable in leaves, bark, and twigs. The branches should be .stacked while dry and hard for winter use,, but remember they must not bpallowed to get damp, ad they are likely to prove injurious-’ in that condition. Most breeders /are able to collect large supplies of clean, dry fallen leaves at this time, of the year. These make another good hay substitute, and are easier stored - than whole branches* The leaves can be -packed-away--in-sacks and kept In a dry place till required- Branches . and leaves from wild deciduous trees such as oak, elm, maple, hazel, birch, beech, are quite

safe, but ornamental garden trees and evergreens must be avoided.' Those who can procure heather maysfirfely. use this 'instead of nay. 'Stinging nettle makes another excellent , hay substitute. Excluding flattening Period • It is realised that" there are many breeders-who- cannot- -get- much-green, food, during the winter, at any rate. There is no doubt that when the diet is deficient .in green food other food will be necessary in addition to bran, although this may still form the basis of the diet. Broad bran <three parts! and clipped oats '(one part) Is an excellent concentrated food which, will bring rabbits intocood condition, without any special'fastening,, but oats are relatively expensive' because of their weight, and provided hay of some substitute is Used to give, work to toe teeth and • jaws arid. to. supply toe necessary roufehage, a. good concentrated mash will prove a more economical proposition. , - A mash which haS ;glveri - good results is: Broad ban, 62.5 per cent.; barley meal, 12.5 pet’ceht.; wfcatlngs, 12.5 per cent; white fish meal. 6.25 per cent; and linseed meal, 6.25 per cent. This mash is not expensive in use and the cost of Teedirtg a mCdiUnfl-Sized" rabbit up to pelting age on a diet consisting of the mash, hay, and£ green food works out at about Us. This is based on a scheme which allows for each youngster half an ounce of mash when it begins to feed, with a gradual increase until at pelting age each rabbit is receiving approximately two and a half ounces daily. Missing Rabbit Pelts Skin dressing is a process which requires not only skill, acquired, by long practice, but for toe' fur trade standard, special tools and equipment ate 6SS6ntl&l The preparatory stage in dressing is known as fleshing,, which consists pi first, stripping all traced of fat or flesh from the skin side of the pelt, and. next in detaching the thin wafer like layer of tissue which adheres closely, to the pelt on thift side. Thin flesh, and fat can be removed readily with a blunt knife, but the removal of the thin skin is not .easy. Loosen the tissue with a piece of numicestone, be- * 'I,-*.

Now comes the curing of the pel**'; Take one patt-af alum «“£ of «v«nte ijg lolaSfaiS St hi°a *7; .and not cwaThla^for Ond rhiseit thoroughly in changes of tepid wrtfer grtf«*^e^3C22# For the. softening, of W» solve half an ounce m,la« in a u|Bgy boiling water and add* «ough *3=| water to make up a. pint. Add ajp»Wg-j ter of an ounce ox neatafoot work together. When. tins enppgfa for the hand to bear p**E-3™ the Iwih and>worki* about » «wwfea •direction. When the pdt ia |MHKM| .spmcienfly it jdxould bejdtt 4v ih thfe oj|l Cnd soap liquor* >and>-|n mMp morning idnsed wail under* cowNmk up, to dry in a tjjHg ’’gum;' Work-in -dll' ana in addition doublethe Jraas H>^ shto-aidft'SS^g •waim';. )J f /!r Triff i ft,