The rabbit was tamed by a man for a long time. This is mentioned in written sources of ancient Roman history. From that time until now, many new breeds have been created by rabbit breeders. Rabbits are bred for dietary meat, fur, fluff. Fur products are highly worn, and fluff in quality prevails over the wool of merino and Angora goats. This article will introduce rabbit breeds with names and photos.
Some general information
Rabbits belong to the class of mammals of the hare detachment, but differ significantly from their relatives: they do not change the color of the fur during molting, the offspring of rabbits are born naked and blind. In hares, cubs are born with open eyes and completely pubescent. A distinctive feature of rabbits is early maturity and fertility. Rabbits can breed all year round. On average, there are 8 rabbits in the nest, but there are also such rabbits that bring up to 16 cubs in the litter. These animals become sexually mature at 4-5 months.
Pregnancy of rabbits lasts only a month. Very often, rabbit breeders let females into the mating a few days after okrol. Due to this, from one individual it is possible to have several spouts during the year and get a greater number of rabbits (over 40), which allows to significantly increase the volume of production. The main conditions for successful rabbit breeding are compliance with sanitary standards, animal health, breeding technology.
Breeds
In rabbit farming, rabbits are divided into such breeds:
- meat;
- fur;
- downy;
- decorative.
The largest breeds of rabbits: with names and photos
Giant rabbits are mostly bred by breeders with experience. Animals are large enough, they require special conditions. They also need skins and meat.
Rizen
The origin of this breed is traced from the 16th century, from the time when large rabbits with gray fur, Belgian giants, were spotted on the territory of Flanders. By the end of the 19th century, the breed was introduced to Germany. Taking it as a basis, in 1937 German rabbit breeders bred and registered the breed Deutsche-Riesen, which in translation meant a German giant. A dispute often arises among rabbit breeders and breeders: some of them believe that rizen is just a larger variety of flanders, while other experts claim that it is an independent breed. Formally, the breeds are different, but very similar.
Characteristics of the breed and conditions
Currently, the rizen breed is considered the largest in the world. The body of rabbits is massive with very developed muscles, the chest is quite wide, the body is elongated, the legs are thick. The colors of the skin are agouti, yellow-gray, sand, dark gray, black and blue. Weight can reach from 6 to 10 kg. The meat has high palatability, and the skin of an animal is also valued. It is recommended to buy rabbits in breeding farms when they reach the age of 4 months. Producers are allowed to mate at the age of 8, and breeding males - after reaching 10 months. The animals are large, so they need to provide comfortable cages for housing. Rizen rabbits have strong immunity, but still do not allow animals to freeze. Ventilation is required in the room where rabbits live. In the warm season, their diet is made up of green feed and vegetables, they give a mixture of cereals with the addition of vegetables. Rabbits are ripe, the first okrol should be planned when the female reaches 10 months. In the nest there are usually from 8 to 12 rabbits, which the female nurses well.
Flanders
Belgian flanders - the breed of these rabbits is considered the oldest. According to one version, it is believed that this is a hybrid that was obtained by crossing Flemish rabbits, Argentinean and Patagonian breeds. The very first rabbits were brought to North America in the 19th century, where they received special recognition. In 1916, a national federation was created, consisting of breeders of the Belgian giant. The breed is named after Flanders, this area was part of the state of Belgium in the XVI century. It is believed that it was from this place that they got to America.
Characteristics of the breed, content
Rabbits flanders - large with well-developed muscles, wide chest, strong strong legs. Large round head, broad cheeks and large ears. The weight of rabbits can reach from 7 to 10 kilograms. They can be of the following colors:
- reddish gray;
- light gray;
- dark grey;
- the black;
- silver;
- bluish;
- sand;
- white.
Rabbits need to provide proper care: the cells need to be kept clean, animals should be fed with a quality balanced feed. It is recommended to timely preventive vaccinations against infectious and viral diseases. Rabbits become sexually mature at 8-9 months. Rabbits can be found all year round, but experts do not recommend carrying out mating in the fall. At this time, animals actively molt, and pregnancy will have an additional burden on the female. Pregnant females should be fed with high-quality feed and make sure that there is fresh water in the drinker. The female usually bears and gives birth from 7 to 8 rabbits, in rare cases 15. If the rabbit brought a small offspring in the first bunny, do not rush to reject it - this is a feature of the breed.
One of the leaders
The breed of rabbit is a gray giant. Flanders imported to Russia at the beginning of the 20th century did not adapt well in our climatic conditions and did not grow well. It was decided to cross these rabbits with local ones. In 1952, a breed of gray rabbit rabbits was bred in the Poltava region. The color of animals is agouti, the so-called hare. The length of the body can reach 66 centimeters. Weight ranges from 4.5 to 6.5 kilograms. In one round, the female brings up to 8 cubs, sometimes up to 12, which she feeds well. They tolerate lower temperature and cell content. Animal skins are especially appreciated.
Albino rabbit
To obtain a rabbit of this domestic breed - the white giant - the Soviet chinchilla, Belgian and gray giant were crossed. The animal has an absolutely white color (albino) and reddish eyes. Body length - 60 centimeters. The weight of the white giant rabbit breed reaches 5-6 kilograms. It has a skin of very good quality - thick fur with a dense undercoat. There are up to 9 rabbits in the nest. This breed of rabbit is not recommended to be kept in tight cages. Mainly contained for the sake of fur.
Meat breeds of rabbits: with photos and names
Rabbits of these breeds are rather early and unpretentious in leaving. Many of them can be kept at home. Their meat has a delicate taste, for this they are called broiler.
Black brown
Black-brown crawl - this breed was obtained by crossing three species: Viennese, white and flanders. The body reaches a length of 61 centimeters, the breast is wide, in the girth of 37 centimeters. Rabbits are unusually beautiful: the fur is thick and fluffy, black-brown, the fluff is slightly blue. The back and head of the rabbit are black , and the sides are brown and unevenly colored. An adult animal weighs 5-7 kilograms. The rabbit brings 8 or more cubs to the okrol. Beautiful skins are especially appreciated.
Chinchilla
One of the best meat breeds of rabbits. No less valuable is its silver-blue fur. In 1913, the Soviet chinchilla gained fame. The breeding of animals with precisely this color was done in France. In 1927, several individuals were brought to Russia and started breeding the breed. Breeders worked for several years to create this breed. As a result of crossing the imported chinchilla with a white giant, the Soviet chinchilla breed was obtained. The breed finally formed in 1963.
Soviet chinchilla, according to the description, stands out among the rest of the breeds for its silver-blue color and very thick fur, which in quality is second only to the fur of black-brown rabbits. The color of the breed is zonal, with uneven transitions, moire, the fluff is blue. There must be a light wedge on the back of the head. Also, the light shade has a bottom of the tail, paws on the inside, abdomen. Eyes are brown, summed up with a white border. Ears up to 15 centimeters framed in black, the tip of the tail of the same shade. The body of the chinchilla is large, with developed muscles, long - up to 66 centimeters. Croup rounded, broad back. Weight reaches 5 kilograms, but some animals can weigh up to 7.
Maintenance and care
Soviet chinchilla is a rather unpretentious animal. The main conditions that should be observed when leaving:
- it is necessary to maintain cleanliness in the cells;
- feed with balanced feed;
- provide continuous drinking regimen;
- prevent overheating in the sun;
- reliably protect from drafts and frosts.
Breeding
For the purity of the breed, several breeding lines must be kept; kinship must not be allowed. Puberty in these animals occurs in 6-7 months. In rabbit chinchillas, maternal instinct is very developed. Females give birth to 8 cubs, differ in milk and fecundity. Breeders receive from 30 rabbits a year, with more frequent coverage their number can grow up to 40. Males are good producers.
Rabbits for breeding in the household
Consider the domestic breeds of rabbits with names and photos. These rabbits can be kept outdoors and indoors. Some hosts contain animals of these breeds in apartments.
Marder
The Soviet marder is a rabbit, which was obtained by crossing breeds such as ermine and chinchilla. The color is brown, usually the muzzle, tail, back and legs are darker in color. The animals are small in size, the body is 50 centimeters long, and the chest circumference is 31 centimeters. Adults weigh 3.0-4.2 kg. In one breeze usually about 7 rabbits. The fur of this breed is appreciated for its high fluff content.
Endangered species
Viennese blue - rabbits of this breed are on the verge of extinction, it was obtained by crossing Moravian blue and flanders. The body is medium in size, proportionately folded. Neat head of a small size. The ears inside are colored lighter than the color of the rabbit itself, they are small, slightly rounded at the top. The rabbit's fur is bluish-blue. The average weight is 4.5 kilograms. In the outbreak, the female has up to 9 babies. Appreciated for the quality of the fur, the skin is very soft with a high content of fluff.
Rex breed description
Among a large number of breeds, the fur of these animals occupies a leading position. It is used for high-quality fake more expensive furs.
Origin
This breed was bred in the 20s of the last century in France. She got her name for short fur. In 1924, they appeared at a rabbit exhibition in Paris and immediately attracted attention. Appeared in a private economy as a result of an intraspecific mutation among Belgian giants.
Description and characteristic
Rex rabbit skins are of particular value. Description of the breed: their body is oval, slightly elongated. The head is well set on a strong neck. Paws are not very long, not thick, the tail is small. Head slightly elongated, wide forehead. Ears of small size, rounded, length - up to 12 centimeters. The eyes are dark brown. The mass of an adult rabbit is up to 5.5 kilograms. Depending on the color, more than 30 subspecies of this breed are observed.
Maintenance and care
The main purpose of breeding are animal skins. Therefore, it is necessary to keep rabbits in high purity. Regular vaccinations and veterinary examinations are also recommended regularly. It is forbidden to keep rabbits of this breed on mesh floors. It is better to use for this purpose a floor from slats or just cover the surface with a large layer of straw.
Feeding
In winter, rabbits should be fed with grain mixtures, hay, dry compound feed, and root crops. In summer, dried grass should be added to the main diet. It is necessary to provide rabbits with clean water in unlimited quantities, especially in summer.
Breeding
Newly arrived animals must be quarantined. The female Rex breeds at the time of a breeze no more than 5-7 rabbits, which is considered a rather low rate. The survival of babies also leaves much to be desired. When spitting, water must be in the cage, otherwise the rabbit can eat rabbits. Care should be taken to breed this breed. But despite some difficulties in keeping animals, it is unquestionably worth breeding.