Comparative assessment of fattening qualities of rabbits of different breeds under the conditions of the private farm

Abstract

A comparative assessment of the fattening qualities of rabbits of different breeds on a farm with an intensive technology of rabbit meat production was carried. The material for the study was a herd of rabbits of meat and skin breeds: Gray Giant Flander, Californian, Silver Fox. The experiment was carried by the group method. For this purpose, 30 rabbits were selected at 45 days of age and 3 groups of 10 heads were formed. Analogue rabbits were selected by breed, age, live weight, sex. The experimental livestock was housed in a shed-type room equipped with 4 rows of mesh cages arranged in two tiers, in which bunker feeders and nipple drinking bowls were installed. The animals were fed with pellets compound feed with the addition of leguminous Herbal hay. Compound feed was distributed from bunker self-feeders, Herbal hay – from feeders (mangers). The rabbits were watered from nipple drinkers, which provided the animals with constant access to food and water. In the course of the research, the live weight of rabbits, absolute and average daily gain, relative growth rate and feed costs were studied. It has been found that the Californian rabbits fulfill their growth potential better than the Silver Fox and Gray Giant Flander rabbits. Average daily gains in rabbits of the Californian breed were 1.8 g higher compared to analogs of the Silver Fox breed and 1.18 g higher than in the Gray Giant Flander. In terms of live weight, at the end of the experiment, the Californian rabbits were dominated by analogs of the Silver Fox breed by 116.7 g and by 90 g of Gray Giant Flander rabbits. The level of profitability of raising young rabbits for meat of the Californian breed was 12.2 %, and the Gray Giant Flander and Silver Fox breeds, respectively – 3.8 and 4.0 %. Key words: fattening qualities, Gray Giant Flander, Silver Foxy breed, Californian breed, average daily gains, economic efficiency.