RABBIT FARMING FOR PROFIT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 833, 5 August 1933, Page 28 (Supplement)

RABBIT FARMING FOR PROFIT.

(By

“LAPIN.”)

This evening: will be an important occasion for the Co-operative .Rabbit Breeders’ Association of New "Zealand, for it will mark the commencement of the association’s fourth annual show, which is being: held in conjunction with the Winter Show. The show will be opened by the association’s patron, Mr H. Holland, M.P., at nine o’clock. It is understood that the New Zealand record for the number of exhibits and the number of exhibitors has again been broken. All the latest breeds of fur-producing rabbits are well represented, including Sables, Ermines, Silver Foxes and the wonderful Rexes. In addition, there is an outstanding exhibition of modern Angoras. For some months past members of the association have been busy preparing and completing arrangements for this fixture, ana 1 there is no doubt that their efforts have been well rewarded. The attention of breeders is drawn to a new class, not included in the original schedule, which will be staged on the second Saturday of the show. This class, which is somewhat in the nature

of a novelty, is for Angora does over five years old, and entries will be accepted l by the show secretary up till Thursday next. A trophy for the best Angora in this class has been donated by the Lynton Angora farm, Islington, and a large number of entries, is expected. The New Zealand Fur and Angora Wool Producers have arranged for an illustrated lantern lecture on rabbit farming to be given in the Tai Tapu Hall on Tuesday, August 22, at 8 p.m. A meeting of the Ashburton branch of the C.R.B.A. was held recently. Two new members were elected, and l Messrs H. R. Hopwood and P. G. Morrison were appointed registration secretary and assistant registration secretary respectively. It was decided to hold a shearing demonstration at the next meeting (August 26). J.J ♦.* ♦.* Winter Breeding Difficult. As the winter merges into spring, rabbit-keepers are apt to become a little slack in their attention to their stock. It must be remembered, however, that sharp frosts and searching east wind's are liable to come along at any time for some weeks- yet. This being the case, the numerous rabbit keepers who have does due to kindle must see to it that there is always plenty of bedding and nesting material in the breeding butch before shutting up for the night. Many late winter litters are lost as

ac result of neglecting to take this precaution. When a doe gives birth to her litter her first impulse is to keep the babies warm. She does this partly by plucking from her own body fur with which covers the new arrivals. But newly-born rabbits are very active, and if the doe has not at hand a plentiful supply of hay with which to make a deep, cosy nest, some of the babies will probable'wriggle from under the light covering of fur. This worries the doe. as her instinct tells her that the babies will soon die if they become cold, and one of two things may happen. The doe may either sit upon the babies in an effort to keep them from wandering, in which case some or all of the litter may be crushed to death. Or, in her anxiety to make them comfortable, she may move them about first to one corner of the hutch and then another. In this way they become scattered and soon get cold, the doe finally giving up her efforts in despair. If care is taken to ensure that ample nesting material is given to a doe every evening as the time of kindling approaches she may, in nearly all cases, be relied upon to make a deep nest from which the young rabbits will not escape, and in which they will be kept close together, and so keep each other Does about to give birth to their first litters need special care in this respect. The older and tried doe has experience behind her, and in many cases will show a remarkable ingenuitv in impi'o-

vising a make-shift nest if material of the right sort is not forthcoming. A Field Afternoon. (Contributed.) The first field afternoon under the auspices of the Angora Rabbit Breeders’ Association was held at Le Bon Babbitries, Dallington Terrace, last Saturday, when Mr Bond (chairman) ana" Mrs Bond entertainetd over eighty Angora farmers and intending Angora farmers. Mr Bond gave an interesting lecture on ••Angora Rabbit Farming” and stressed the importance of correct feeding oi stock. He also answered many questions. The visitors inspected the up-to-d l ate rabbitry, run on the hutch system. After refreshments a vote or thanks was accorded Mr and Mrs Bond

for their hospitality, on the motion of Mr Cullimore.