Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry 26 (3-4), p 225-231, 2010 ISSN 1450-9156
Publisher: Institute for Animal Husbandry, Belgrade-Zemun UDC 636.92
DOI:10.2298/BAH1004225L
FARMING OF RABBIT LOCAL BREED AS AN
ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITY ON SMALL SCALE FARMS
IN ALBANIA
A. Llambiri
1
,
L. Papa
2
, K. Kume
1
1
Centre for Agricultural Technology Transfer, Fushe Kruja, Albania
2
Agricultural University of Tirana, Albania
Corresponding author: kkume@icc-al.org
Abstract: Rabbit breeding on small scale family farms is carried on as an
alternative production activity, in Albania. Extensive production system and
breeding of local rabbit breed are most frequent. Albanian local rabbit can be
classified in middle size breed group. It is a population with high morphological
and biological variability, with variation in coat colour. Rabbit farming is a useful
production activity on small scale family farms. Breeding 2-3 couples of
reproducing rabbits could increase the gross annually income of family farm up to
22-28 percent.
Key words: rabbit, local breed, description, breeding, small scale farm
Introduction
Farming of rabbits is a limited activity in Albania, developed actually only
on small- scale family farms. This production activity is most frequent in coastland
and in the central and southern regions. It is carried out mainly to produce meat for
self consumption and a small quantity of production is destined for market. There
are farms where the young people grow rabbits and this is considered by them as a
hobby. Considering rabbits’ capacities to produce meat, its quality and increasing
interest of farmers to grow rabbits will lead to grater number of farms with rabbits
in near future in Albania. Local rabbit breed named as “house rabbit“ is
predominant rabbit population in Albania.”. It is rather difficult to define the origin
of this population. Three different thesis are discussed: (i) Actual population
originates from domestic animals, during the last period of Medievalism, in the
region of South-eastern Europe, France, Italy, Spain etc. which have been brought,
during XIX century and later in Albania by travellers who have visited these part of
Europe, (ii) domestic rabbit is a population created as a result of the spontaneous
process of the domestication of the wild rabbit that lives in the different regions of
A. Llambiri et al.
226
Albania and (iii) actual population originates from a casual mixture of the animals
domesticated in Albania and those brought from other regions of Europe.
The aim of study is to estimate production, reproduction and morph-
biologic traits of local rabbit as well as its economic value in extensive system
conditions of small scale family farms.
Materials and Methods
The method of study is developed following the Guidelines of FAO for
identification and characterization of the local animal breeds (FAO, 1998). Four
different regions and not less then 4-5 farms/region were included in the study. The
first step were the field activities carried out for identification and information
gathering during one year period, in order to realize: i) evaluation of size
population and (ii) estimation of production, reproduction and morpho-biologic
traits. Estimation of above traits was done in accordance with DAD-IS, FAO
requests.
Study of economic value of rabbit farming was based on the information
collected from 11 small scale family farms of Poshnja, Kutalli-located in central
region of Albania, Luz- coastland region and Braçanj-east southern region. The
mean values of litter size, live weight at weaning (5 weeks), weight at 14 weeks
(age at slaughtering), the total meat production/year/farm and its respective income
per farm, were estimated.
Results and Discussion
I. Size of population
Table 1. Evaluation of population size
*
Communities
Poshnje Kutalli Luz Braçanj
Total number of farms 1230 1780 824 205
% of farms with rabbits 6.1 4.3 3.4 7.3
Population size (rabbits) 750 450 345 338
Number of females used for breeding 185 95 67 48
Number of males used for breeding 87 52 34 27
*
Evaluation statistical data for Poshnje, Kutalli, Luz and Braçanj communites, only.
Farming of rabbit local breed ...
227
The evaluation of rabbit population size was done according to the
statistical surveys. First, the farms with rabbits per each commune were identified.
Estimation of average number of rabbits per farm, using the data collected in 30-35
percent of the total farms with rabbits per each respective commune was used to
evaluate the population size. The data presented in Table 1. is evaluation of
(indicate) the number of animals at the time moment of the survey. It can be
noticed that rabbit farming does not make any important production activity. A
bout 4,2 percent of farms with 2-3 does/farm in average use the rabbit breeding as
an alternative production activity.
II. Description of local rabbit
Body conformation. The Albanian local rabbit might be classified in the
group of middle size breeds (Toro, 1981). It is an animal with a solid trunk. The
skeleton is covered by compact muscles, flashy shoulders and ample pelvis, strong
back with right shape, head with a prolix shape, convex profile, sharp and erect
ears, with a length over 20 cm. Their colour fully coincides with the colour of coat
(white, grey, dusty, brown, etc), dark big eyes, red or black, very long back feet,
covered with thick and strong leather in the hoof side, where the nails are well
distinguished from the pigment. The tail is right. The upper part is dark. The
average values of some of body conformation indexes are provided in Table1.
Table 2. Average values of body measurement (cm) in adult animals.
Trait Female Male
Body length
41.2±1.9 45.4±1.8
Chest circumference.
30.1±1.2 32.7±1.3
Loin width
12.2±0.9 13.8±0.7
Thigh circumference
19.3±1.0 19.8±0.9
Head circumference
20.6±1.1 22.6±1.3
Coat and colour. The coat is soft and is characterized from an average
thickness and length of the fluff, about 2.0 cm. The typical colour of the domestic
rabbit is dusty to auburn. However, there are encountered dusty, dappled, totally
white, or fur rabbits with a predomination of the maroon or mixed maroon with
white. The high variability of coat colour, which is encountered also in the animals
reared on the same farm, might be explained by casual crossing and the full
absence of breeding program. In order to reduce the effect of inbreeding, the
farmers use reproducers often bought at the market. In these cases they are
interested only for the body size of the reproducer, its weight and price.
A. Llambiri et al.
228
III. Estimation of reproduction, production and morph-biologic traits
Reproduction performances. The does reach sexual maturity at the age of
3-4,5 months. They mate 4-6 times per year. The litter size at birth (total born) is
about 6-8 and rarely 10. In average 30-32 young rabbits are grown per doe. The
greatest productivity is realized during May and June.
Table 3. Sexual maturity traits
Trait Mean CV%
Age of buck at first service(days)
157.3±6.1
23.6
Age of does at first mating(days)
129.6±2.3
20.3
Weight of buck at first service(g)
3102±34.5
6.7
Weight of does at first mating (g)
2396±32.4
15.7
Table 4. Estimation of fertility and fecundity traits
Trait Mean Range
Conception rate (%)
80±5.3
70-90
Kindling interval (days)
55±2.1
40-80
Litter size at birth (total born)
7.8±0.05
6-10
Litter size at weaning (5 weeks)
6.1±0.04
5-7
Litter weight at birth (g)
342±4.1
294-394
Prenatal mortality per litter (heads)
1.5±0.01
1-2
Number of litters per year
4.8±0.01
4-6
Does longevity (years)
∗
3.5±0.01
3-6
∗
According the declaration of farmers
Productive performances. Rabbits reared on small family farms are
slaughtered at age of 12-14 weeks. The average data of live weight in different
ages, from birth up to 14 weeks, are provided in Table 5.
Table 5. The average data of live weights and meat production (g)
Trait Mean Range
Weight at 14 days
223±2.3
192-247
Weight at 21 days
372±3.8
325-412
Weight at 28 days
581±6.2
525-713
Weight at weaning (5 weeks )
728±5.4
650-962
Weight at 8 weeks
1321±27.3
1289-1365
Weight at 12 weeks
1845±32.8
1823-1875
Weight at 14 weeks
2295±46.3
2175-2394
Daily gain 5-8 weeks
26.2±0.8
21.8-37.2
Daily gain 8– 14 weeks
21.0±1.0
21.1-21.07
Meat production-kg live weight/does/year 69.3 50-80
Farming of rabbit local breed ...
229
IV. Rearing system
The predominant rearing system is extensive system of the production,
with limited inputs. Women and children (takes care) look after rabbits. To
increase the rabbit meat production on small scale family farm, the genetics and
selection, reproduction system, feeding system, housing conditions, hygiene,
prophylaxis, and veterinarian service should be improved (Daija et al. 2006).
Genetic and selection. Rabbit local breed constitute actually the major
rabbit population in Albania. The animals are very well adapted to the harsh
conditions of extensive production system of family farm. To improve the
hereditary production traits the crosses with exotic breeds as White New Zealand,
Californian etc. breed are can be used.
Feeding system. A different feeds produced in farms like as pasture
grass, alfalfa, clover, potatoes, sugar-beet, cucurbit, watermelon, carrots, apple,
apricot, acacia, poplar and willow leaves are used for rabbits feeding. For young
rabbits fresh nettles are often used. Cereals like as oat, barley, maize, their brains,
and legumes like as peas pieces, beans, etc are used in a small quantity. Water is
given without limitation.
Housing system. Simple shelters prepared by casual means as timber,
furring, perches, rods are most frequently used. The rabbit cages are kept in the
yards near the house, in places protected by the wind and rain. Usually cages with
dimensions of: 70 cm of wideness, 90 cm of length and 50-60 cm of height are
used. They are placed on 4 feet to stand up about 1-1.4 m over the ground level, the
floor is made of a metallic net, with 1.25 x 1.25 mm squares. Uncontrolled
microclimatic parameters make the critical problem in small family farms.
Hygiene, prophylaxis and veterinarian service. The hygienic-sanitary
conditions in the mini farm of rabbits are pretty poor. No special care is shown
about the cleaning and hygiene of the cages. The litter is rarely changed. The health
problems depend on the stage of rabbit development and growth. Two-week period
after weaning is most critical for rabbits. he. During this period the mortality rate
has high value (Nicodemus et al. 2002, Piu et al. 2005). The type of feed used
during this period is one of most influential factor. High energy diet with low fibre
level augment the percentage of mortality and high fibre ration with low energy
level reduce mortality rate (Dimitrova et al. 2009). The protocol of vaccination is
not implemented rigorously and farm visits of the veterinary specialist are really
scarce. As a quenches s, there are not rare the cases when the illnesses are the cause
for the death of all rabbits at the small family farms. The routine illnesses are
frequent and the charge with parasites is high. The young rabbits are often affected
from illnesses of the digestive apparatus. The parasites are frequent in feet and
ears.