Features of the New Zealand rabbit
The New Zealand rabbit is one of the most popular breeds in the world. In almost every country, farmers breed this species. It is so popular due to its ease of maintenance, early maturity, and excellent health.
Characteristics of the New Zealand rabbit
The New Zealand rabbit breed is diversified. The main product obtained from pets of this variety is meat. The secondary product is animal fur. These are not all areas of use of the New Zealand rabbit breed. They are also suitable for scientific experiments and are allowed to show eared.
New Zealand rabbits are divided into several species, the most famous of which are red and white. The New Zealand White Rabbit performs better than the red one.
New Zealand White Rabbit
The hair of these animals is soft to the touch. The coat is white, without admixtures of other shades. The lower layer of the hairline is silvery. On the head there are small ears that do not reach 12 cm in length.
The eared animal has a short neck and a small muscular body. The face of the New Zealand White Rabbit is broad, with a rounded nose. The female has a more graceful appearance compared to the male.
New Zealand white rabbits have red eyes, as they belong to the genus of albinos. Teeth are snow-white. The lower limbs are well developed, muscular, straight. The nails can be beige or white. The back of the body is rounded.
White New Zealand rabbits in adulthood can weigh up to 5 kg. The body length of the male is about 46 cm, the female is almost 50 cm.
New Zealand White Rabbit
The New Zealand White Rabbit reproduces rapidly. A female can bring more than 7 young rabbits at a time. The survival rate is 100%, due to the presence of a large amount of milk in the mother for feeding the babies. The weight of a newborn reaches almost 50 g. If you keep and feed the rabbit according to the rules, then by the age of 1 month it will weigh more than 2 kg.
The skins of the New Zealand White Rabbit breed are highly prized not only for their obvious qualities (soft fur, thick coat), but also because they can be dyed in any color. A wide range of fur outerwear is made from the fur of these animals.
If a beginner has difficulties in choosing a quality product, he can use a photo of a New Zealand white rabbit for detailed study and comparison with the product offered to him. It is also advisable when buying an animal to ask the seller for all relevant documents, including a health certificate from a veterinarian.
The breed is started not only by amateurs, small private entrepreneurs, but also by large farms for the purpose of breeding and trade. Care and maintenance of pussies quickly pays off, thanks to the use of animals in various industries.
The New Zealander has a calm character. He trusts the person with a good attitude from him. Pussies are picky about food; their content is also not a hassle.The price for one pet is low, which allows anyone to buy a favorite eared eared. If you are interested in the New Zealand White Rabbit, the breed description will allow you to learn a lot about it.
New Zealand red rabbit
The characteristics of these fuzzies deserve special attention. The New Zealand red rabbit breed differs from its white counterparts in color. The head of the pets is small, the neck is short, the body is in the form of a cylinder. Ears no more than 12 cm, dense, with rounded ends. The wide chest passes into the developed lumbosacral region. The breed has brown eyes, sometimes red ones. The fur is dense, brown in color with a golden tint, sometimes it can be red. Mouth, eyes, lower thighs - areas in which the color is slightly lighter than the main one.
Adult red New Zealand rabbits weigh almost 5 kg. The length of the female is 49 cm, of the male - 47 cm. The female gives birth to about 7 rabbits, feeds them with milk until the very absence. All babies almost always survive. Subject to the rules of care and maintenance, by the age of 2 months, the rabbits will weigh more than 2.3 kg. Each year, one female can give about 40 baby rabbits.
New Zealand red rabbit
Culling of the New Zealand white and red rabbit is carried out according to the following parameters:
- ears longer than 12 cm;
- ears do not stick up;
- double chin;
- sparse hairline;
- weight exceeds 5.6 kg.
Food
New Zealand rabbits are fed twice a day. Vegetables, dry grass and twigs, grain feed are the most important components of the daily diet. Compound feed and dry grass are the main food.
Do not feed rabbits with lettuce, cabbage, or tomato leaves. These foods cause intestinal upset, which is often the cause of death.
Greens should be given with great care in limited quantities. You cannot overfeed furry animals.
Drinking water should be of medium temperature and clean. It is not recommended to give boiled water due to the lack of important substances and microelements in it. Nipple drinkers are the best option for supplying water to the cage.
Care and maintenance
The main principles of keeping white and red rabbits are important for every breeder to know.
- Diet. Early maturity is a feature of the animal that must be referred to when feeding, as it can quickly gain excess weight, which will affect health and productivity.
- Vaccinations. In order for the young to grow up healthy, the rabbits selected for breeding are vaccinated to raise their immunity.
- Temperature conditions. The optimum temperature in the dwelling of these animals is about 16 ° C. At a high rate, heatstroke may occur, which entails death.
- Lighting. Direct rays of the sun should not fall into the enclosure: this has a detrimental effect on animals. The light should be soft. It can be created artificially using fluorescent lamps.
Rules for keeping white and red rabbits
Vaccination
Vaccination is another important point in keeping animals. It helps to protect pets from possible diseases. On the 28th day after birth, they are vaccinated against a disease such as Mixomatosis. After another 17 days, it is necessary to deliver a vaccine against a viral hemorrhagic disease. After a quarter, you need to repeat the procedure. Then the operation is performed twice a year.
You can vaccinate yourself at home. These vaccines are available in every veterinary pharmacy, the cost of which is quite low, so any farmer can afford it. It is better to carry out such operations to veterinarians or experienced breeders of these animals.
Breeding
The breeding of New Zealand white and red rabbits is no different. New Zealand rabbits are bought no earlier than 3 months old. The best option is 4 months. If you acquire a younger New Zealander, there is a chance that he will not survive due to the not yet strengthened immunity.
It is advisable to make a purchase on a farm, and not on the market or from hands. This is the safest deal since the farms are checked and have all the necessary documents. Also here, before buying, you can observe how New Zealanders behave and choose from a large herd of those who like it.
When choosing, you need to pay attention not only to the appearance, which should match the photo or video, but also the behavior of the young. A young New Zealander should be active, vigorous, with a good appetite. Skin, eyes, paws should be neat. The opposite is indicative of poor health.
The New Zealander should not breed with a related rabbit. You have to buy from different farms to avoid this.
Conclusion
The New Zealander is a versatile breed that produces excellent fur, always in demand for outerwear. The meat has excellent taste, and fattening the rabbit for this purpose will not be difficult, due to its predisposition to be overweight. Maintenance does not require large expenditures and skills, which allows even a beginner to get eared ones. If you want to get to know these beautiful representatives of rabbits better, you can watch the video.