RABBIT FARMING FOR PROFIT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 365, 5 March 1932, Page 28 (Supplement)

RABBIT FARMING FOR PROFIT.

By “LAPIN.” Wool Marketing Scheme. The Canterbury Rabbit Association advises that, owing to the 50 per cent advance granted to the association by the Bank of New Zealand for consignments of raw Angora wool, it has found it necessary to revise its marketing scheme. At last night’s meeting of the C.R.B.A. the following new scheme was adopted:— Breeders wishing to market wool should apply to A. a. Pratley, Harewood Road, Papanui, marketing secretary for Angora wool for the C.R.8.A., stating approximately the amount of wool likely to be sent in each year. Each breeder will be allotted a number. All wool from members within a ten miles radius of the G.P.0., Christchurch, to bo packed in standard boxes supplied by the association at a nominal price. Each box to contain one pound of first-grade wool, or as much second or third-grade wool as can be conveniently packed. Members from outside the ten miles radius will be permitted to- forward wool in other than standard containers, provided , that the total weight of any parcel (including container, wrapping, etc.) do*s 1 not exceed eleven pounds, and that the size of the parcel does not exceed six feet over all (length and girth combined) and also provided that no container or section of container is to contain more than two pounds of super first-grade wool. Wool may be delivered to or posted to Messrs C. .Coombes and Co., Hereford Street, at any time, or can be delivered at the association’s rooms, Hereford Street, after 8 p.m. on the first Thursday or the second or fourth Monday of each month. Each container must be clearly marked with the member’s registered number, the presumed grade and the approximate nett weight. For the purpose of the 50 per cent advances, the contents of c each container will be inspected by the association’s grading committee, upon whose gradings and weight the advances will be based. Adjustments, if any, will be made upon receipt of official gradings and weights from the mills, and final payments will be made immediately on receipt of final payments from the mills. Breeders must accept grading and weight as decided by the mills, which will, when forwarding account sales, give full details of the amount due to each breeder. It is intended to forward wool as frequently as possible, and the co-operation of all members is necessary to enable consignments to be forwarded at regular intervals. A charge of Is 3d per lb will be made to defray cost of cartage, postage, etc., and this will be deducted from the advances. Gradings.—Super-first grade: Pure white wool, fine in texture, clean and free from matts, cotts and webbing, not less than three-inch staple and delivered in layers, laid all one way as the wool comes off the rabbit. First grade: Clean, free, wool of good colour and texture. Not less than three-inch staple. Teased wool not accepted as “ firsts ” or “superfirsts”. Second grade: Clean, free 'and of a good white. One and a half to two and a half inch staple. Free from matting. Slight webbing not objected to. Coarse or fine wool equally acceptable. Third grade: Matted wool. Entire fleeces as they come off the rabbit, stained wool and wool containing vegetable matter. Plucked guardhairs should be sent in as thirds. The cleaner the wool the higher the price paid. Notes. At the general meeting of the C.R.B.A. Mr W. Wright presided. A committee was formed for the handling and grading of wool, Miss Wright and Mr Barwick being elected to assist the marketing secretary (Mr A. S. Pratley). It was decided to hold a social in conjunction with the New Zealand Cat Club on March IG, for the purpose of awarding the prizes won by breeders at the young stock show last month. Ten new members were received and welcomed into the association by the president. Breeders are advised that the schedules and entry forms for the Utility Poultry Club’s show, to be held • on March 19, are now obtainable.

It is advisable for novices who are entering the rabbit industry to strictly adhere to the business side of rabbitkeeping. Although the old fallacy that rabbit-keeping can only be regarded as a pleasant hobby has long Since been

exploded, there are still many breeders who are not in a position to say definitely what their profits or losses are on their past operations. It is only by proceeding on strict business lines that rabbits can be made to pay well. Let

your rabbit-keeping become a business with you, no matter on how small a scale it is conducted. Keep an account

of everything that is spent or received for rabbit transactions, for wool pelts.

etc. A qote-book showing the dates of matings, the number of youngsters reared by each doe, how they have been disposed of, or the wool received from each, and the profit made, makes inter-

esting reading at (lie end of the season, but if no such record is kept, what guide has any breeder as to what his future policy should be?