Burgundy rabbit: description, features, content and reviews

Rabbit breeding is a perspective direction of modern agriculture. To breed fluffy animals is very beneficial both in the scale of large-scale production, and for a small farm. The Burgundian rabbit is distinguished by its large size and excellent fertility. It is for this reason that the breed began to gain popularity every year. Today we will talk about the peculiarities of breeding these rabbits, so that the owner could decide whether they are suitable for his farmstead.

Origin of the breed

The Burgundian rabbit is the result of a long selection. Their homeland is France. This breed resulted from the selection of several breeds. It happened already in 1914 and since then these animals have been used with great success in agriculture. For the most part, the Burgundian rabbit owes its popularity to a strong immune system and unpretentiousness. They are considered the best meat breed in Europe. A distinctive feature of these rabbits is the unusual color of fur.

Description of the breed

In principle, the constitution of the Burgundian rabbit is very similar to dozens of other breeds. The animals weigh about five kilograms, have a slightly elongated body. Ears are of medium length. However, only by catching a glimpse of a representative of this breed, you immediately understand its tribal affiliation. The color of the fur is his business card. Similar to a chanterelle, reddish-red fur gives the rabbit a vivid and unusual look. Color evenly spreads throughout the body of the animal.

Burgundy rabbit has a strong constitution, a compact body in the shape of a bar. Musculature, like all members of this family, is developed on the sacrum and waist, and also on the hind legs.

Direction of the breed

Rabbits of the Burgundian breed are universal. Young animals grow very intensively, that is, they gain weight early. Females are prolific, at a time they bring up to 12 rabbits. Usually, the female has enough milk to feed the entire litter. The offspring, after two weeks, begin to leave their nest and examine the territory, and soon already and independently take food. Fur is good, thick, can be used for making outerwear. Good pubescence of the paws allows to keep this breed in cells with a mesh floor.

Feeding

Rabbits of the Burgundian breed are unpretentious in their care and in food. Their diet is no different from what the rest give. This is hay and grass, various vegetables and twigs. Feed the animals with cabbage and carrots, turnips and radishes. However with cabbage it is necessary to be more cautious, from it at small animals there is a strong swelling. In winter, it is possible to use dry food, granules, grains and mixed fodders. But there are certain requirements to the conditions of detention. The fact that fluffy animals are extremely poorly tolerated by dampness and drafts, this should be closely monitored.

Judging by the reviews, with an abundance of feed and a choice, these animals very quickly become picky and fastidious. However, having got used to your pets, you will learn how to please them in terms of nutrition. The experience of most farmers suggests that rabbits eat slightly weeded grass in summer better than raw rabbits. With pleasure they will gnaw cooked carrots and potatoes, trout and beets. In winter, do not forget to give hay and twigs of trees. If rabbits are mainly raised for meat, then in the diet there should be beans and peas, soybeans, corn all year round. All these are irreplaceable sources of protein. Excellent mass and ground grain. But vitamin and mineral supplements are just what you can save on.

We buy tribal rabbits

Today in Russia there are very few farms where a purebred Burgundy rabbit is offered for sale. The description of the animals is given, now a little about the complexity of the choice. If you are engaged in breeding of fur animals and are interested in novelties, then probably sooner or later the rabbit Burgundy will come to your field of vision. Reviews in the first place note their high fertility and good immunity, which is attractive to the breeder. But it is not recommended to buy animals on the market: instead of purebreds you can sell a crossbreed, or even worse, sick animals. It is better to come directly to the breeder in the breeding farm. Here you can see the place where the rabbits are kept, see their parents, ask questions about the content and feeding.

Reproduction

This question interests every farmer and rabbits of the Burgundian breed show themselves especially well in this sense. Reviews say that high fertility is its biggest plus. Pregnancy lasts only 1 month, after which up to 12 babies appear. After a short break, the female is again ready to mate. Thus, only one female per year can receive 250 kg of rabbit meat for sale.

Samples of this breed are very good moms, but sometimes it happens that they bite their offspring. Most often this happens because the owner forgot to leave them clean water. Immediately after lambing, the rabbit closes its offspring with its own down. It is undesirable to open it, because the kids so far look like blind rats. However, after a few weeks they become beautiful little rabbits. To lay off offspring you need 10 days before the next birth. By this time they already do not need maternal care. You should have enough cells. Male need to be kept one by one, into females 2-3 in one cage. Approximately in 7-8 months they reach the maximum weight. Now they can be scored or left to the tribe at your discretion.

Productivity

Despite the fact that this is a universal breed, the main direction is meat. The meat of these rabbits is distinguished by its excellent taste and does not smell of grass, for which it is very valued in the market. As for fur - for a long time it was assumed that it was of a rather poor quality. The fact is that its density is not the highest. However, the demand for it is constantly growing. First of all thanks to the dazzling, bright red color. And if you consider that the farms in which rabbits of this breed are bred relatively little, then you will be able to sell your goods.

Memo to the breeder

Despite the unpretentiousness, these animals are very poorly tolerate direct sunlight. Long exposure to the sun often leads to a thermal shock, so watch out for the placement of cells. The place for walking should be carefully shaded. It is best to provide conditions of 10-20 degrees Celsius and a humidity of 60-70%. If you buy animals from the breeders, then immediately on your hands you must issue a registration card, which indicates the date of birth and all the vaccines that they received. Judging by the reviews, if for the winter they are transferred to a warm room, then the animals can reproduce all year round. For a year, one female can bring up to 50 rabbits, which makes breeding sufficiently profitable.