Surprisingly large representatives of the Belgian giant (flanders) breed, at first discouraged by their size, but they quickly become friendly to themselves with friendliness and calmness. In the USA and other countries, giants often become family favorites; both adults and children play with them merrily. But the main direction is the cultivation of rabbits of this breed on farm yards, for subsequent slaughter.
Belgian giant rabbit breed: roots
Experts are actively arguing about the origin of these giant rabbits. There are different versions, one of which is that the huge representatives of the rabbits were the descendants of the Patagonian hares. They were brought by travelers from Holland (in the sixteenth or seventeenth century) from distant and alien Argentina. About flanders became known only after the start of trade cooperation with Argentina. This version is refuted, because the Argentine rabbits weigh a little more than a kilogram, and the Patogonians all died out, so it is impossible to confirm this hypothesis.
It is believed that the giants were brought from Flanders, in which the necessary selection occurred, which lasted a lot of time. In North America, the breed appeared in the nineteenth century. Rabbit shows began to take place in 1910, and six years later, the National Rabbit Breeding Federation began to exist. Around the world, the Belgian giant - the rabbit is quite popular and is actively bred.
Constitution
Breeders diligently display different subspecies of giants to optimize their living and breeding in different conditions. But animals of all subspecies retain certain traits that unite them.
The Belgian giant rabbit breed is distinguished by the fact that animals have a large body weight. This is a very important indicator for this species. Weight should exceed six kilograms, sometimes individuals are found heavier than ten kilograms. The body, as a rule, is elongated, massive, somewhat curved. The body can be sixty-five centimeters long. The ears on a large head are in an upright position and differ in a fairly wide form.
The ears
The Belgian giant (rabbit) has long and wide ears resembling burdocks. The length of the ear can reach twenty-five centimeters. If during its measurement the value turned out to be less than twelve centimeters, then the individual is rejected. A black border should go along the edge of the ear.
Head
The Belgian giant (rabbit) has a large, massive head, but it cannot be called heavy. These rabbits have funny cheeks, which are also quite large.
Chest
The bunny’s clumsy amusement is due to the width and depth of the chest. The parameters in girth reach forty-five centimeters.
Wool
The Belgian giant is a rabbit that can have the following color: gray, dark gray, black, agouti (grayish-red), blue, white, silver, sand, opal, faun (orange-sand). Wool is thick and dense. It can reach a length of 3.5 centimeters.
The skins of giants are highly regarded. They are not repainted and used in their natural form. Due to its high density, the fur casts a little gloss. Using the fur of this rabbit, you can imitate a beaver, kangaroo or cat. Nutrition and care greatly affect the quality of the skin.
Okrol
A distinctive feature of females of a giant rabbit is its highest milk yield. The female is able to give birth to fifteen rabbits and feed them. On average, eight babies are born at a time. Already in the first month of life they reach a kilogram, and in the following months, an average weight of seven kilograms is gained.
Females take care of their rabbits carefully, recovery is quick, and after a short interval the animals are ready for mating again.
When choosing rabbits, breeders are guided by the age of the giving birth to the female. The best individuals come from a two- or three-year-old female, provided that they have consumed only her milk for a sufficiently long time. It is recommended to purchase rabbits older than two months - they are already quite strong, chronic diseases or defects by this age begin to appear. Young growth must be vaccinated.
Character
The Belgian giant - a rabbit (photos are presented) is quite calm and quick-witted. These animals are friendly both with children and with all people in principle. The manifestation of aggression is extremely rare, rabbits get along well with other pets. Some breeders compare flanders with dogs and claim that they understand human speech. Nevertheless, if the family has children under the age of three, it is better to postpone the acquisition of a giant as a pet. The animal with massive paws can severely injure a small child.
Belgian White Flanders
One of the subspecies is the white Belgian giant. This rabbit is the record holder in size, it is recognized as the largest and largest among all other rabbit representatives.
A rabbit was bred in Belgium in the sixteenth century. Among the exhibition restrictions, there are minimum weight parameters, it should not be less than 5.5 kilograms. It is impossible to establish the final weight, because individuals are constantly adding. A white Belgian can reach seventy-two centimeters. He has very dense ears, which are also long, and quite fleshy, strong limbs.
Belgian giant rabbits: breeding
Breeding this breed is considered quite a profitable business. Guaranteed profit - a significant amount of meat obtained from one individual, and valuable skin.
There is a slight difficulty, which is that rabbits are very ready for sexual activity very late. A case is allowed after reaching only eight months. Breeders are forced to wait twice as long as other specialists raising other breeds of rabbits. Regular animals can be mated after four months. Sometimes there are problems due to some rabbit diseases. Animals often have respiratory illnesses that must be treated. And for thick skin you need specialized care.
What else needs to be done in order for the white Belgian giant (rabbit) to develop correctly? How does content affect its appearance? Only one such rabbit will require a cage with a length of one hundred and ten centimeters. Width - about seventy centimeters. Cell height, as a rule, reaches fifty centimeters. If you need a cage for a female with rabbits, then the sizes will be even larger. It must be cleaned up.
When building cells, it is better to use natural natural materials. For walls, a sheet of thick plywood, mesh or board is suitable. A wooden beam can be used as a frame and support. The floor is lined with rail or mesh with cells. On the roof you can also use boards or plywood. If the house will be located in the open air, it is better to sheathe the roof with accessible material for the roof.
It is preliminary recommended to draw up a detailed drawing of rabbitry, and then proceed to its construction. It is necessary to take into account the number of pets, size and their weight. It is better to raise the cage above the ground to a height of about a meter, otherwise the rabbits can suffer from rats, in addition, cleaning such a cage will be much more convenient.
Feeding
Is the white Belgian giant (rabbit) whimsical in nutrition ? How to feed the animal? Feeding flanders (Belgian giants) must occur according to certain, quite strict, rules, the violation of which leads to a failure of the digestive mechanisms (rabbits can even die). Experienced breeders add Biomycin to the diet of giants. It is a golden powder, bitter and odorless. It prevents the growth of Escherichia coli, staphylococci and other pathogens.
Feeding is done twice a day. Hay is contraindicated in the case of flanders, therefore it is issued to them extremely rarely. Also in the diet should be present grain. One individual consumes thirty grams of grain. Females during lactation need an increased dose of grain - about eighty grams per day. It is possible to introduce mash in food. Lobes are a mixture of various vegetables grated on a coarse grater. It is mixed with mixed feed, slightly salted and served with animals.
An increasing number of farmers and amateurs, carefully weighing all the positive and negative qualities of this breed, begin to breed Belgian giants. This is not surprising, because despite some possible difficulties, the result is a very high-quality, dietary and healthy meat, which can be included in the diet even for very young children.