Exploring the Rabbit Industry

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Exploring the Rabbit Industry
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Interest Approach

• What is a rabbit breed that you are familiar
  with?
• What is the purpose of rabbits in todays world?

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Student Learning Objectives

• Describe common breeds of rabbits.
• Discuss production and marketing of rabbits.
• Identify rabbit anatomy.
• Explain how to fit and show rabbits.

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Terms

• Angora Fur
• Bucks
• Does
• Fryer
• Litter

• Normal Fur
• Pelt
• Rex Fur
• Roasters
• Satin Fur

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I can describe common breeds of rabbits.

• Objective 1

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What are common breeds of rabbits?

• All rabbits should be purchased from reputable
  breeder and evaluated on health, reproduction
  ability, longevity, and vigor.
• American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA)
  recognizes 42 breeds.

http//www.arba.net/
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Four different fur types

• Normal Fur
• long guard hairs
• dense undercoat
• Satin Fur
• has luster
• composed of transparent hair
• finer than normal fur

• Rex Fur
• very soft feel
• very dense
• undercoat guard hairs same length
• Angora Fur
• used to manufacture clothing
• it is long wool-like

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Californian

• white rabbit with colored nose, ears, tail and
  feet
• weighs between 8 and 11 pounds
• used for meat and show

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Checkered Giant

• white body with black ears, nose and circles
  around the eyes
• also have black spots on hindquarters, cheeks,
  and sides of their bodies
• weighs over 11 pounds
• used for showing and their fur

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New Zealand

• completely white, red, or black
• weighs between9 and 12 pounds
• used for research, shows, and their meat

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Dutch

• can have a black, blue chocolate, tortoise, or
  gray body
• have a white band over their shoulder, under
  their neck, and over their front legs and hind
  feet
• weigh between 5 8 pounds
• used for research, meat, and shows

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Target Practice

• Name two different classes of rabbits based on
  fur type.
• Describe one breed of rabbit. Include information
  on color, weight, and use of the animal.

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I can discuss production and marketing of rabbits.

• Objective 2

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What are production and marketing options when
raising rabbits?

• Meat Rabbit Production
• fryers
• young domestic rabbit carcass that weighs over 1
  ½ pounds and under 4 pounds
• under 12 weeks old
• Roasters
• rabbits that are heavier
• cull animals from breeding herd

• Meat Rabbit Marketing
• commercial operations sell to processors
• processors slaughter rabbits for pelts and meat
• colored pelts are not worth as much as pure white
  ones
• growers usually only raise white rabbits

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What are production and marketing options when
raising rabbits?

• Wool Production
• Angora rabbits
• wool grows 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches long
• harvested at a rate of 1 inch per month
• shear 14 to 15 ounces annually
• keep rabbits environment clean
• harvest wool frequently
• raise for both wool meat

• Raised for Skins
• Pelts
• an animals skin that still has the hair attached
• pelts sold by the pound
• bought by raw-fur buyers
• Some are raised for pets
• 4-H or FFA projects
• outside or inside pets
• marketing for pets is usually done locally

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Target Practice

• A fryer is a rabbit used for meat production that
  weighs over ___ pounds but less than ___ pounds.
• Rabbits that are heavier than fryers, also used
  for meat production, are called what?
• What breed of rabbit is used for wool production?

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I Can Identify Rabbit Anatomy.

• Objective 3

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What differs rabbits from other animals?

• All domestic rabbits are descendents of wild
  rabbits
• raised throughout the world
• can be a nuisance because of their eating habits
  and rapid reproductive ability
• Bucks
• Male rabbits
• Does
• Female rabbits
• Litter
• Group of young rabbits born at one time
• Kindling
• The process of rabbits giving birth
• Kit
• A newborn rabbit

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Rabbit Parts
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Target Practice

• Visual Identification

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I can explain how to fit and show rabbits.

• Objective 4

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How do I fit and show rabbits?

• Rabbit shows are an opportunity to compete and
  learn more about other breeds and management
  options.
• See how your rabbits compare to those raised by
  other people.
• Shows are found throughout the U. S.
• Range from local events to state fairs

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How do I fit and show rabbits?

• Rabbits judged on
• breed characteristics
• variety characteristics
• fur condition
• health
• ability of animal and owner to present qualities

• Similar breeds compete against each other
• break down further into age and sex groupings
• Show tame and clean animals
• work with animals so they can be handled without
  injury

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Target Practice

• Identify two areas that rabbits are judged on
  during a show.
• What types of breeds compete against each other
  during shows?
• List two items to take into consideration before
  showing a rabbit.

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Review

• What are common breeds of rabbits?
• What are production and marketing options when
  raising rabbits?
• What differs rabbits from other mammals?
• How do I fit and show rabbits?