RABBIT FARMING FOR PROFIT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19036, 3 April 1930, Page 14

RABBIT FARMING FOR PROFIT.

CHINCHILLA RABBIT. (By LAPIN.) la this column, which will appear every Thursday, matters of interest to breeders of commercial rabbits will be discussed, and answers to questions will be given. Correspondence is invited on matters of interest to breeders. Hints On The Production Of Prime Pelts. Following the green food article of last week I should like to pass on to breeders some advice on feeding for prime pelts. Breeders will have noticed from my former remarks that rabbits eat practically the same green food as cows eat, but food that will produce heavy milking cows will not produce prime rabbit pelts. A really fat rabbit never produces the best pelt. The food which produces fur will not always build up bone, muscle and fat. Farmers give different food to their milking cows than they do the stock kept for beef. It therefore follows that a rabbit breeder cannot expect to produce the best fur on the fattest and largest rabbits, that is, if he is feeding on fattening food size only. He must feed to perfect the specimen he most favours, and, of course, for commercial rabbit farmers it would be a prime pelt. Many rabbit breeders consider a large buck is of the first importance in breeding, but it is not always advisable, for all desirable characters possible are usually found in animals of medium size. The easiest character to obtain is size, and this should be produced on the side of the doe. The litter depends on the buck for uniformity and type, and, therefore, he must be freed as much as possible from the requirement of size.

In their daily feeding, breeders should, as far as possible, limit the amount of mash given, exercising great care when using barley or linseed. These cereals are the most fattening, and, therefore, should be used very sparingly indeed, or better still not at all. Before exhibiting stock for show purposes a little linseed is sometimes used to bring forward the young rabbits, but this should be given with discretion and not over-done.

It is. of course, a well known fact that rabbits grow a heavier, denser and longer fur coat in the winter months, for the same reason we, ourselves, wear heavy clothes, but if a rabbit’s system is burning with fat it is quite unnecessary for him to have a heavy coat. Consequently, it is most important that breeders should avoid fattening and heating food at this period, so that nothing will hinder the production of prime pelts.

Barley is most desirable for putting on fat, but it produces the poorest kind of fur. The easiest way to obtain size is to leave only three or four young with the does. They then will have

plenty of milk, which is the proper food to grow husky rabbits. Regular feeding of green food (which is the very life of the rabbit), also in winter months when greens are scarce, the most beneficial roots such as carrots, swedes, mangolds and artichokes (used judicially) and a very small quailtity of the least fattening cereals, will very materially help the breeder to produce Chinchillas that will leave nothing to be desired in size and give the finest prime pelts. » S » Notes. Members are reminded that a meeting of the Canterbury Rabbit Breeders’ Association will be held this evening at 8 p.m., at the Utility Poultry Club’s rooms, Hereford Street, Christchurch. It is interesting to note that Miss L. M. Garner, the English expert, who has already commenced the hand-spinning of Angora wool in Christchurch, has received a number of inquiries from various breeders throughout the whole of New Zealand, the whole tone of such inquiries indicating that hand-spinning of Angora wool will become very popular in the near future. A Christchurch returned soldier who is impressed with the suitability of commercial rabbit farming for incapacitated returned men, is Mr A. Pratley, King Street, Burwood. Mr Pratley, who is himself incapacitated from the result of the Great War, has a very fine rabbitry on his property, and breeders will be interested to hear that he has recently bred a fine litter of five beautiful Angoras, whose weight at the age of three months averaged 51b 9ozs. The mother of this litter was imported from Lady Rachael Byng’s world-famed Angora farm, and at the present time weighs approximately 81bs. Judging by Mr Pratley’s success he will no doubt be a very keen competitor at the forthcoming shows. Answers To Correspondence. G.W.B. (Rangiora).—l never consider it wise to wean youngsters at six weeks. In fact, eight weeks is quite