Description and characteristics of the Burgundy rabbit breed, rules of maintenance
The fiery red color of the Burgundy rabbit immediately attracts attention. This distinguishes the representatives of this breed from other rabbits, since they do not have specific features in terms of constitution and body weight. For breeding, Burgundy rabbits are promising, since they are distinguished by fertility and unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention. The only thing that the owners need to learn empirically is the wishes of the pets in the choice of food.
The history of the breed
These beautiful rabbits were bred in France, in the province of Burgundy, from whose name they got their name. The breed is young, up to a hundred years old. Compared to others, this is a "child" age. Obtained by crossing two other breeds - California and New Zealand red rabbits.
Both maternal sources of material for hybridization belong to the meat direction, therefore, Burgundy rabbits are also bred to obtain dietary tender meat without coarse fibers. But their deep red skin is also not wasted, although animals are not raised for it.
In the countries of the former Soviet Union and in the Russian Federation in particular, these rabbits got relatively recently, in the 80s-90s of the last century, therefore they are rare. Animals are bred on a sufficient scale in a dozen farms around the country.
Description of burgundy rabbit
The only expressive feature that distinguishes the Burgundians from other breeds is the extremely rich, intense color of the coat. At the same time, the fur is of a warm red tone, evenly colored, without spots and tan marks, of a rich, expressive color. By this principle, the Burgundy rabbit can be easily distinguished from any other red-haired fellow.
The detailed description includes the following characteristics:
- Elongated torso proportions.
- "Athletic", knocked down physique.
- Volumetric ass.
- The ears are of medium length.
- Brown eyes.
- The average body weight is from 3.5 to 5 kilograms (males weigh more, females less).
- High fertility. There can be up to 12 young rabbits in an okrol. For a beef breed, this is an important indicator of productivity.
- Unpretentiousness to living conditions.
- Choice in food, to which the attentive host quickly adapts.
These beautiful rabbits are beneficial for farming and industrial breeding.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the undoubted advantages of this breed are the following qualities:
- Unpretentiousness. Burgundy rabbits do not cause any particular problems, they can live indoors and outside, in cages.
- Fertility providing a high meat yield.
- Early maturity.Animals quickly enter puberty.
- Resistance of young animals to intestinal diseases.
- Fast weight gain. Rabbits at 7-8 months reach their maximum weight and are ready for slaughter.
- Excellent taste characteristics of meat, making this breed the most popular among all meat rabbits.
- Despite the fact that Burgundy rabbits are not used for breeding to obtain fur, their skins are valued for their extraordinary color. Their fur is not the thickest and densest, therefore, expensive products cannot be sewn from it, but because of the color it is gladly used to create designer models.
The disadvantages include food pickiness, but this can be overcome if the owner takes care of offering animals different types of food. This will help him understand what suits the Burgundy rabbits best.
Care and maintenance of the animal
The optimal content for burgundy rabbits is cages with a mesh bottom and a bed of straw and / or hay. In the warm season, animals can be released into enclosures, but always with a canopy from the strong sun. Eating wet grass should not be allowed, as this will lead to heaving and can kill animals
Rabbits need to be protected from drafts, dampness, hypothermia and stale air. Because of this, they can get sick and die, although they tolerate a short-term drop in temperature without problems. Cleanliness is also important. All food debris and waste products must be carefully and regularly removed, and the old litter is replaced with fresh and clean straw or hay.
1-2 times a week, the cells are disinfected, and the rabbits themselves are watered with a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate for preventive purposes.
A male and two or three females are kept in one cage. In this case, you need to monitor the level of aggression. If the animals fight, it means that the cage is overpopulated, and at least one, the most aggressive female, needs to be moved to another cage.
How to feed your rabbit?
Burgundy rabbits are meat breeds, so they need to be fed abundantly and balanced. Overfeeding with grains is not recommended, as this coarsens the meat, but adding grains and especially legumes is necessary for successful weight gain.
The animals are fed succulent feed: raw or boiled root crops, dried grass, in winter - hay, cereals (wheat, barley, oats), necessarily alfalfa, peas, soybeans and other legumes. Burgundy rabbits should always have clean drinking water available.
How to breed correctly?
Rabbits of the Burgundy breed quickly gain weight with proper and sufficiently plentiful feeding. At the same time, they reach their maximum weight by the age of 7 or 8 months. After that, they no longer grow, so further maintenance becomes unprofitable. From the grown rabbits, future producers are chosen, the rest are sold or slaughtered. If, in addition to meat, there is a desire to get skins, it is better to hammer in winter - then the fur is the most dense, strong and shiny.
Breeding features
Like Californian rabbits, Burgundians enter puberty at the age of five months for females and at six months for males. Pregnancy lasts up to a month, the offspring is large - 9-12 rabbits, depending on the age of the female. Already one to two weeks after mating, the female is ready for a new mating. In this case, the rabbits are separated from her a week before the next round.
Burgundy rabbits are good mothers. They are dairy and can accept even other breeds of rabbits left without a nurse.
As with rabbits of other breeds, pregnant Burgundian females are moved into a cage with a queen cell, the male is also removed, since he will irritate the female and can kill the offspring.A rabbit, in a nervous environment, especially a primiparous one, can gnaw her cubs, so she needs to provide peace, comfort, warmth and balanced nutrition.
How to choose a rabbit and how much does it cost?
Burgundy rabbits in Russia are rare, they are often given as Californians, so you only need to buy branded animals with a pedigree from trusted and responsible producers for brood.
Rabbits and young individuals should be strong, healthy and vigorous. They have clean eyes and ears, no discharge, strong and smooth skin without bald spots and damage, strong bones and excellent appetite. Novice breeders will definitely need a veterinarian's consultation.
Subject to the rules of breeding, care and feeding, Burgundy rabbits multiply quickly and actively gain weight, bringing the owner a solid profit.
