White giants (rabbits): a description of the breed and breeding

The breed of rabbits is a white giant - one of the most popular and popular in our country. These animals are bred both on personal plots and in large farms. The main advantages of the breed are heavy weight, good maternal qualities and a dense coat of pure white hue.

History of the breed

They brought out the white giants in Germany. As a basis, rabbit-albino breeds were taken from the Belgian flank. They brought such animals to Germany in the 1920s. White flanders had a gentle constitution, a beautiful skin and very tasty meat. However, the special viability in this case did not differ. The German breeders carried out a huge work to improve this breed. Cross flanders-albinos mainly with chinchillas and gray giants. As a result, a disease-resistant breed with excellent maternal qualities, great weight and good fertility was obtained.

general description

White giants are rabbits, having a very beautiful, rather thick wool. According to the commodity characteristics of the skins of these animals are considered one of the best for today. The color of the skin, as already can be judged by the name of the breed, is absolutely white, without any admixtures of cream or yellow. The eyes of these rabbits are also not colored, and therefore look red (due to translucent blood vessels). The main characteristics of the breed can also include:

• Strong constitution;
• Slim, but strong bones;
• A large light head;
• Erect long ears;
• Deep chest with a small bosom;
• Strong thin legs.

It is not recommended to use as producers of white giants with "puffiness" of wool, and also with interception behind blades.

Features of the breed

White giants are rabbits, characterized by very good viability and resistance to diseases. In the continental climate, they feel quite well, and therefore are well suited for breeding in the middle belt of Russia and Siberia. Females are fertile. In the litter, there are usually 7-9 rabbits. But sometimes females bring up to 14 cubs. One of the main distinctive features and merits of these rabbits is that females never eat litters.

The weight of rabbits of the white giant breed is very fast. Cubs are removed from the uterus in 2 months. By this time they already weigh about two kilograms. Three-month-old rabbits reach a weight of 3 kg. Thus, the animal is, in terms of mass recruitment, very early in life - a white giant rabbit. The weight of an adult one-year-old of this breed depends on the class. Thus, the animals of the elite group can reach a mass of 5.8 kg. Rabbits of the first class weigh approximately 5.3 kg, the second - 4.8 kg.

Features of the content

Rabbit white giant (the description of the breed is given above) - the animal is very hardy, and it can be grown in cages placed directly on the street. Cold and heat, these animals bear well. However, it is of course not recommended to install cells in the sun. Also, dwellings of rabbits should not stand on a place blown by all the winds. Sometimes cells with rabbits a white giant are installed in sheds, sheds or cellars. In this case, animals will feel more comfortable, but the owners should pay maximum attention to the purity of cells and aviaries. In enclosed spaces, representatives of this breed often develop such unpleasant diseases as mastitis and pododermatitis.

White giants - rabbits are active, and therefore cells are needed for them as spacious as possible. Dwellings for males usually have a height of 60-80 cm, a length of 1-1.5 m, a depth of 90 cm. For rabbit cells, there should be a little more, counting on offspring of about 10 animals. Young animals are kept in spacious enclosures. One head in them should account for about 1 m ^{2 of the} area.

How to feed

In composition, the diet of these animals is practically no different from the menu of any other large breeds. White and gray giant - rabbits, very quickly gaining weight. Therefore, in feeds intended for them, should contain a sufficient number of proteins. As concentrated on farms and private households, oat or barley crushed dumplings are usually used. Wheat it is not recommended to feed these animals. From it in rabbits may indigestion of the stomach.

In winter, additional hay, pre-prepared brooms (usually birch and willow), roots, boiled potatoes and dried bread. In the summer, grass is added to the crushed stone ( nettle , nettle, dandelion, wheatgrass, plantain, wormwood, carrot tops, etc.), apples, beets and cabbage (in small quantities), young branches of trees. In particular, rabbits eat well carrots. It is very useful for their digestive tract, and it can be given in absolutely any amount. Branches should be fed necessarily. In particular, rabbits like birch, willow, elm, elm.

It is very useful to give the so-called "vinaigrette" to rabbits. To prepare it, even those vegetables are used, which in a raw form these animals eat poorly (pumpkin, zucchini, potatoes). Sliced root vegetables are mixed with chopped young grass, laid in a bucket and cooked. Water is drained, and "vinaigrette" is fed to rabbits in the morning.

Ration norms

White giants - rabbits are large, and their diet should be balanced approximately like this:

• Concentrated fodder - 50-70%,
• Roughage (hay, grass) - 20-30%,
• Root crops - 15-20%.

The figures are approximate. The diet depends on the age of the animals, the time of the year, the sex, etc. Among other things, rabbits from time to time should be fed dry crackers. In the winter period, pine or spruce needles will be very useful.

Selection of herbs

The choice of green feed for rabbits should be approached as responsibly as possible. Many types of grasses are poisonous for them. You can not give giants, for example, nightshade, celandine, spurge. Of course, you should not feed them and poisonous plants, such as dope, whiteness, etc. Best white giants eat young grass. NarvaV or knitting an armful, it needs to be dried a little. This will increase its digestibility.

Reproduction

The sexual maturity of the rabbit is a white giant (the photo of the breed's representatives can be seen on the page), both female and male, reaches to 6-7 months. Large, active animals with well pubescent paws not having any defects are selected for the tribe. Sluchku spend on the territory of the male. They take him to the rabbit for 1-2 hours. A week later, a control mating occurs. If the female does not admit a rabbit to her, snaps, fights and growls - it means that she will soon have cubs.

Pregnancy in rabbit breeds white giant lasts 30-31 days. The female starts to prepare the nest for about 1.5 weeks before the birth. At this time in the cage you need to put the mother bottle. During the female sex it is necessary to provide access to water.

Rabbits white giant, whose breeding usually does not cause any trouble, differ simply by their excellent parental qualities. Newborn calves in females always lie in a nest with a heap, covered with fur. On the cage she never throws them. In order to observe the development of manure it was easier, the roof of the dwellings of females is usually made hoist. Paul is best to beat the tin. For small rabbits, rats are a big danger.

Care of young animals

The rabbits leave the nest at the age of two or three weeks. They at the same time eat the same thing as the mother. Plant young rabbits at the age of 2-3 months. You can feed them the same as adults and rabbits. But it should be taken into account that the gastrointestinal tract in young animals is rather weak. Therefore, add to their diet any new types of food should be cautious (within two weeks, gradually increasing the dose). It is not recommended that experienced rabbit breeders give large quantities of beets and cabbage in large quantities. These feeds weaken the intestines.

Hay for rabbits is a white giant (photos of young animals can be seen above) harvested all summer. The mown grass is dried directly on the field - in the sun. In this case, there will be a lot of vitamin D in the hay, useful for rabbits. Next, the dried grass is rolled up into bales and placed in a dry, ventilated room. Good hay has a pleasant meadow smell and a slightly greenish color. Of course, mow the grass rabbits only in places where there are no poisonous plants.

Disease pododermatitis

Like most rabbits of large breeds, white giants very often suffer from burrs. Scientifically, this disease is called pododermatitis. If the rabbit becomes sluggish and slow-moving, first of all it is necessary to examine its hind legs. There are several stages in pododermatitis:

• Initially, the animal is affected only by the skin. When you feel, the calluses clearly differ.
• Further, cracks appear, gradually increasing in size.
• Develop bleeding. Rabbit becomes painful to move, diarrhea begins, appetite disappears.
• If appropriate measures are not taken, the animal suffers from tendons and bones.

Causes of nauseating usually become uncomfortable, dirty floors in the cage. At the first signs of the disease the animal should be transferred to a more comfortable dwelling. The sex in the new cage must be continuous. You can even cover it with a soft rag. Perhaps this will complicate the cleaning, but the rabbit will surely be saved.

Treatment of advanced pododermatitis

In case of serious development of the disease, the following measures should be taken:

• Diversify the diet of the animal.
• Carry out a thorough cleaning in the cage.
• It is advisable to let the sick animal run several times a day on the grass.

Well, of course, you should contact the veterinarian. Usually pododermatitis treated with powders or ointments. Such, for example, as "Vagotil", "Terramitsil", "Trauma-gel." Usually the course of treatment lasts about a month. Very good results also gives the ointment "Levomekol". It not only heals wounds on the paws, but also draws pus from them. If even this remedy does not help, you can use the drug Triderm.

Treated with ointment patches of paws must be bandaged. Otherwise, the rabbit will lick the remedy, thereby damaging its digestion. Rubber bandages can not be used. They break blood circulation in the paws.

Rabbits white giant: reviews

This breed at the moment is one of the most popular. These rabbits are raised practically in all regions of the country. Reviews about them from farmers and private traders are very good. People claim that animals are highly productive and not too whimsical at the same time.

Slaughter and skin removal

Clogged rabbits breed white giant usually at the age of 3-5 months. At this time, their weight is 2.5-3.5 kg. Slaughter in personal farms is carried out in the usual way - with the help of a stick, with a piece of hose put on its end. In this case, the rabbit is taken for the hind legs and beat with a stick on the occipital region of the head. You can not cut a head with these animals. In this case, the nervous system of the rabbit for a while still continues to function, and the animal suffers strong.

Cutting is done by hanging a rabbit over its hind legs on a crossbar or branch. First remove the skin. For this:

• Perform two circular incisions along each of the hind legs.
• Slice the skin on the inside of the thighs.
• Pull it from the carcass like a stocking.

Then they cut the carcass. The liver of a rabbit is considered a delicacy. Therefore, the bile should be removed without fail. The liver itself is put back in the carcass. The rest of the body is better burned or buried.

As you can see, the breed is not too capricious and very productive - the rabbit is a white giant. Photos on the page clearly demonstrate the "aristocratic" constitution of these animals, their great weight and beautiful skin.