angora rabbit farming business plan

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How to Start a Profitable Rabbitry [Business Plan]

A rabbitry is a place where rabbits are raised or farmed for business purposes. This sort of concept is not new as humans have been raising rabbits as pets and for food for centuries. Rabbits are raised for meat, angora wool, breeding stock, and sometimes for laboratory use. Also note that they are also raised for their skin or hide, and according to reports, more than 4,000 farms sold almost 500,000 rabbits nationally.

Steps on How to Start a Rabbit Farming Business

1. conduct market research.

Even though it sounds like a straightforward business concept, there are numerous ways rabbitries to fail during the crucial first year of operation. Owing to that, when starting this business, you must conduct a market survey. Research your local market and check the demand for the specific variety of rabbits in your locality. In addition, note the local farms that are already raising rabbits in your area and find out what you can about their marketing policy.

a. Who is Your Target Audience?

Truth be told, your target market in this business will depend on the exact rabbit products you intend to sell and your business objectives. Nonetheless, here is a detailed breakdown of the prospective markets to target for your rabbitry.

• Selling Rabbit Meat: Friends and family, Farmer’s markets, High-end or local restaurants, Grocery Stores, Owner of dogs that consume raw dog food, Commercial dog food companies.
• Selling Rabbits As Pets: local pet stores
• Selling Rabbit Pelts: Commercial Industry, Homesteaders, Crafters
• Selling Ready-to-Use Fertilizer with Rabbit Manure: Gardeners, Hobby Farmers Landscaping Companies
• Selling Rabbit Fur as Fibre: Etsy, Flea Markets, Crafters, Knitters, Fibre Artists, Spinners, Woollen Mills, Yarn Shops
• Selling Pinkies: Snake Owners, Pet shops

b. Is Rabbit Farming a Profitable Business?

Yes, in recent year’s rabbit farming has become a popular micro-livestock farming business. Agreeably, it tends to require hard work and a good amount of dedication, but it also has the potential to generate good primary income as well as additional income streams.

Rabbits are one of the more profitable species to raise. These animals give birth to large litters, and their offspring tend to grow fast and reach either market or breeding weight more rapidly than any other species. In addition, they do not need large amounts of space in contrast to some other species, and they are also quiet, easy animals to breed.

c. Are There Existing Niches in the Industry?

No, there are no existing niches in the rabbitry industry. Unlike chickens, rabbits don’t lay eggs or produce any other sustainable by-products while they’re alive. Note that aside from meat, the only other commercial rabbit product is fur. However, unlike sheep’s wool, rabbit furs are not harvestable while the animal is still living.

d. Who are the Major Competitors?

Rabbit meat is not common in the United States. Companies have tried to introduce rabbit meat to the mainstream market but this has witnessed several backlashes from the public. For this reason, rabbit meat is targeted mainly towards a small audience of homesteaders, and breeders. Also, since rabbit meat is not common or in demand in the United States, there are no research, development, and major competitors, aside from local farmers who breed and sell rabbits.

e. Are There County or State Regulations or Zoning Laws for a Rabbit Farm?

Yes, some municipalities allow rabbits to be kept as pets, but that’s different from raising rabbits for slaughter. In most places in the United States, rabbitries– even hobby farms – are not allowed on properties zoned for residential use. In other places, raising rabbits (and other small livestock, such as chickens) may be permitted, but slaughtering and processing them may be prohibited.

Whether you decide to raise rabbits on your property or choose a suitable location zoned for small-scale agriculture, you will need to understand what you can and can’t do with your rabbitry operation, and these regulations tend to vary widely from place to place.

e. Is There a Franchise for Rabbit Farming?

No, there are no franchise opportunities for rabbitry business in the United States. Instead of investing huge amounts of funds or even life savings in a large-scale rabbit operation, experts advise that you begin with a hobby farm and then expand once you have created well-oiled customer relationships and a sustainable business model.

f. What Do You Need to Start a Rabbitry?

• Detailed business research
• Business plan
• Adequate funding
• Substantial capital

Memorable Business Name ideas for Rabbit Farm

• Rabbit Brooders
• Milo Organic Rabbit Farm
• Free Bunny Farm
• Hutch Breeding Centre LLC.
• Fleshy Bunny Farm
• Home of Bunnies
• Premium Rabbits Inc.
• Furry Wonderland
• Tending to Critters
• Groomed Bunnies
• Rabbits Zone
• Purebred Bunnies
• 12 Love Rabbits, Inc.
• Big Ears, LLC.
• Assorted Rabbit Ridge
• Meat and Fur Lane
• Classy Rabbits
• Bunny Haven
• Rabbit Race
• Fulfilled Hares
• Ear and Tails

Register your Business

A. what type of business structure is best for rabbitry.

Livestock farmers in the United States can form businesses under one of the five basic business structures: sole proprietorship, Limited Liability Company, partnership, corporation, or cooperative. However, note that the difference between entities boils down to ownership, governance, liability, taxes, and farmers’ short and long-term goals.

Nonetheless, an LLC may seem like a win-win business structure owing to the liability protection it offers on a limited basis, but it is still recommended that you discuss your options with a lawyer. Understanding the correct paperwork to file and also your tax obligations are very vital when establishing a business entity.

b. Steps to Form an LLC

• Choose a Name for Your LLC.
• File Articles of Organization.
• Choose a registered agent.
• Decide on member vs. manager management.
• Create an LLC operating agreement.
• Comply with other tax and regulatory requirements.
• File annual reports.

c. What Type of License is Needed to Open a Rabbitry?

• General Business License
• Health and Safety Permit
• Zonal Permits
• Signage Permit
• Operational State Facility Inspections (If you have a large farm facility)

d. What Type of Certification is Needed to Open a Rabbitry?

Although there are no known certifications needed to open a rabbitry business in the United States, here are a few livestock farming-related certifications to consider.

• Organic Standards and Certifications
• Organic Production and Organic Food
• Animal Welfare Certification Programs
• Fair Trade Sustainability Alliance
• Quality Grading and Inspections.

e. What Documents are Needed to Open a Rabbitry?

In the United States, depending on your business structure and objectives, here are some necessary documents you will need to open a rabbitry business;

• Business and liability insurance
• Federal Tax Payer’s ID
• State Permit and Building Approval
• Certificate of Incorporation
• Business License
• Business Plan
• Employment Agreement (offer letters)
• Operating Agreement for LLCs
• Insurance Policy
• Online Terms of Use (if you have a website)
• Online Privacy Policy Document (for online payment portal)
• Company Bylaws
• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

f. Do You Need a Trademark, Copyright, or Patent?

No. In the United States, animal breeds or biological processes for the production of plants and animals are not patentable. However, since brand recognition is very necessary for any small business, you can obtain a registered trademark to help protect your brand.

Generic marks, such as “farm” or “agriculture” are not allowed to be trademarked; but if a brand name or logo contains a generic term then a disclaimer can be used to note that no exclusive claim is made to that term. Immediately you’ve determined that the name of your business aligns with the qualifications to be trademarked by the USPTO, you can apply online in about an hour and a half without a lawyer’s assistance.

Do your Cost Analysis and Budgeting

A. how much does it cost to start a rabbit farm.

To start a rabbitry business, expect to spend around $4,000 to $60,000 depending on the size of your establishment, the number of rabbits you intend to start with, and the breed you choose to purchase. The above estimation takes into consideration 3-5 rabbits plus 3-6 months of feed.  Note that it takes at least three months to breed and raise a successful litter to the age they can leave your rabbitry.

b. What are the Costs Involved in Starting a Rabbit Farm?

• Hutch Plan: $220
• Cost of the hutch for Breeders (3 ft x 10 ft, 8 compartments): $400
• Cost of the hutch for Non-Breeders (3 ft x 10 ft, 10 compartments): $400
• Cost of Breeders: $750
• Hutch for Young Rabbits after Weaning: $350
• Predator Protection: $300
• Baby cages: $170
• Feeder and waterers: $540
• Concentrate Feed for Young Ones (40 gm X 302 young ones per batch X 60 days) – $1,480
• Concentrate Feed for Adult Buck (50 gm X 30 Bucks X 365 days): $3,200
• Concentrate Feed for Adult Does (80 gm X 70 Does X 365 days): $4,490
• Medicines and Medical Care: $400
• Miscellaneous: $1,000

c. What Factors Determine the Cost of Opening a Rabbitry?

• Business Size
• Rabbit Breeds
• Rabbit Meat Processors
• Production Costs of Raising Rabbits

d. Do You Need to Build a Facility?

No, rabbit farming is a very good business and does not need much facility like poultry, which makes it a better choice if you are not financially stable. You can also start a rabbitry at home if you have adequate space to accommodate it, and it does not require massive acres of land even if you are going into commercial farming.

Note that rabbits can be raised by the free-range method but it is most advisable to keep them in a house or cage. A good number of rabbit breeders prefer outdoor living quarters to allow them to experience fresh air as well as sunshine. Meanwhile, experts note that rabbits benefit more from being indoors than outdoors, especially since it makes it less easy for them to be trapped by predators like snakes, dogs, and pests which can harm them.

e. What are the Ongoing Expenses for Running a Rabbit Farm?

• Concentrate Feed for Adult Buck
• Concentrate Feed for Adult Does
• Concentrate Feed for Young Ones
• Medicines and Medical Care

f. What is the Average Salary of your Staff?

• Farm Manager(Owner) – $66,478 per year
• Farm worker/Rabbit keeper – $32,305 per year
• Farm Security – $31,500 per year.

g. How Do You Get Funding to Start a Rabbitry?

• Raising money from personal savings and sale of personal stocks and properties
• Raising money from investors and business partners
• Sell shares to interested investors
• Applying for a loan from your bank/banks
• Applying for business grants and seed funding from the government, donor organizations, and angel investors
• Source soft loans from your family members and your friends.

Write a Business Plan

A. executive summary.

Rabbit Brooders intends to venture into rabbit husbandry at our farm in Montana. Montana trails only Wyoming in farm size, averaging a whopping 2,156 acres, and the average cost of an acre in the Treasure State is the lowest in the U.S.

At Rabbit Brooders, we intend to buy breeding stock from farmers in Montana. We intend to feed and breed the rabbits, and within this period, we expect the rabbits to increase in number and reproduce quality kindles that can produce super grade white meat. We will then sell the meat and make profit. Note that we will continuously do this throughout the year.

b. Products and Service

• Selling Rabbit Meat
• Selling Rabbits As Pets
• Selling Rabbit Pelts
• Selling Ready-to-Use Fertilizer with Rabbit Manure
• Selling Rabbit Fur as Fibre

c. Mission Statement

At Rabbit Brooders, our mission is to provide high-value animal protein and healthy fat-free rabbits to customers at very good prices. Without doubts, we appreciate our relationships with current and future customers and intend to communicate our appreciation to them through our outstanding product quality, personal service, and efficient delivery. We also intend to provide a safe, friendly working environment for our employees.

Vision Statement

At Rabbit Brooders, our vision is to produce high-value animal protein that can be marketed to the whole of Montana.

d. Goals and Objectives

• Reach annual sales of more than $250,000 in our first year of operation
• Create jobs as we grow our operation
• Produce rabbits with quality meat
• Build a sustainable farm that can survive off its cash flow.

e. Organizational Structure

• Farm Manager(Owner)
• Farmworker/Rabbit keeper –
• Farm Security
• Marketing Plan

a. SWOT Analysis

• Rabbit Brooders will breed rabbits of high quality
• Experienced owner-operator
• Good breed of Bucks and Does
• Inadequate Capital
• High feed costs
• Little negotiation power with buyers owing to growing competition

Opportunities

• The demand for rabbit meat is massively growing in the United States.
• Business opportunity for growth remains exceptional. Opportunities range from selling breeding stock, rabbit meat, tanned pelts, wool from angoras, pets, and rabbit by-products such as manure and earthworms.
• Well-oiled alliances offer sources for referrals and joint marketing activities to boost our business reach, increase our market share and profit.
• Internet potential for finding more customers. Many rabbit businesses are not fully utilizing the internet to find potential customers.
• Acquiring a good van for the distribution of frozen rabbits to restaurants, cold rooms, eateries, and hotels.
• Possible disease outbreak
• Dwindling in rabbit meat demand
• Low market prices for rabbit meat
• Any alterations in government regulations
• Increase in feed cost

b. How Do Rabbit Farming Businesses Make Money?

C. payment options.

• Payment via bank transfer
• Payment via credit cards
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check
• Payment via mobile money transfer
• Payment via bank draft

d. Sales & Advertising Strategies

• We at Rabbit Brooders intend to start by sending out introductory letters coupled with our business brochure to our target market in the agriculture industry, restaurants, and hotels that require rabbit meat
• We will market our business in agro-allied and food-related magazines and websites
• We also intend to list our rabbit farm on yellow pages ads (local directories)
• We plan to print out flyers and business cards and strategically drop them in offices, libraries, public facilities, et al.
• Be present at related agriculture/livestock and food expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
• Utilize the internet to promote our business
• Engage in direct marketing
• Promote of Word of mouth marketing (referrals)

Financial Projection

A. how much should you charge for your product/service.

According to industry reports, commercial meat processors pay around $1 to $2 per pound for live rabbits. Note that you will need to work with a non-USDA processor or locker plant, as USDA-certified facilities aren’t allowed to butcher meat from non-USDA-certified farms. If you’re able to process your rabbit meat on-site, you can look to get $5 to $7 per pound, depending on quality.

b. How Much Profit Do Rabbit Farm Business Owners Make a Year?

The amount of profit a rabbit business owner can make a year will vary depending on factors like business size, overhead, and how many rabbits are sold. A single doe will give birth to approximately 12 kits with every litter. A single doe can produce seven or eight litters every year. However, a single rabbit, when sold for meat, can make a significant gross profit of $30 -$40. Scale the one rabbit to 1000 and an estimated gross profit of $30,000 to $40,000 can be achieved.

c. What Factors Determine the Amount of Profit to Be Made?

• Number of Rabbits Sold
• Business Overhead/ Ongoing Expenses
• Business Management

d. What is the Profit Margin of a Rabbitry?

Rabbits have a slim profit margin, most often falling within 35% – 65%, depending on the business location and the level of market demand. Owing to their prolific breeding capabilities, a market must be available before commencing wide-scale rabbit production.

e. What is the Sales Forecast?

The sales generated by a rabbitry will more or less depend on the size and marketing capabilities of the farm. Nonetheless owing to our detailed marketing plans at Rabbit Brooders, here are the projections and estimations for our first three business years;

• First Fiscal Year-: $250,000
• Second Fiscal Year-: $470,000
• Third Fiscal Year-: $980,000

Set Up Your Office

A. how do you choose a perfect location for rabbit farm.

• The climatic condition of the location
• Ventilation, cooling, heating, and lighting systems in the rabbit housing.
• Government regulations

c. What State and City are Best to Open a Rabbitry?

• Somerville, Massachusetts
• Chicago, Illinois
• Austin, Texas
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Seattle, Washington

d. What Equipment is Needed to Operate?

• Predator Protection
• Outdoor Enclosure (Pen or Run)
• Food and Water Containers
• Slaughter and Processing equipment

Hire Employees

Unlike most businesses, a rabbitry can be very challenging to manage alone. It requires long hours and hard work. You need to consider each prospective employee before you hire. What experience do they have? Do they seem passionate about the work?

What knowledge can they bring that you probably lack? Owing to the specifics of your work, required labor may be more seasonal. Ensure to consider all these and endeavor to be honest with the team members you are considering.

Launch the Business Proper

It is not necessary to host an opening party when starting a rabbitry business. Indeed, marketing rabbit products is not so easy, so you need to determine your marketing plan before starting. You can try your local markets or the nearest town. You can also supply rabbits to pet stores where they can be sold as pets or establish a pet supply store where you can choose to sell them online or in-store and as well to individuals who may need it for either meat or fur respectively.

a. What Makes a Rabbit Farming Business Successful?

• Purchasing good breeds of bucks and does
• Feeding the bucks, does, kindles, and kits high-quality feed
• Making available the required medication and vaccination to the rabbits
• Purchasing quality breeds at a low price
• Reducing feed cost

b. What Happens During a Typical Day at a Rabbitry?

Managing several hundred rabbits is a daunting task in itself, but managing those rabbits with an eye to conservation breeding is another challenge entirely. Also, note that feeding the rabbits is not that tasking and won’t cost you a lot. Since they are herbivores, grass is perfect for them though you can feed them rabbit pellets and supplements which will complement their daily diet.

Note that your days will be spent ensuring that the rabbits are well-maintained and that equipment is kept in running order. Record keeping is also very imperative in your business. It is not enough to just note sire, dam, birth, and weaning information.

Breeding-stock weights, as well as weights of litters at weaning and processing, are the minimum statistics to be tracked. It is necessary to maintain detailed information about each animal’s productivity, as this is key to making good decisions about profitability and which animals to cull or keep.

c. What Skills and Experience Do You Need to Build a Rabbitry?

• Knowledge about rabbits
• Good managerial and human development skills
• Good Accounting and Bookkeeping Skills
• Team-building & Interpersonal Skills
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Organizational skills.

More on Agriculture

Rabbit Farming Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business Plans » Agriculture Sector » Livestock Farming

Are you about starting a rabbit farming business? If YES, here is a complete sample rabbit farming business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE .

Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a rabbit farming business . We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample rabbit farming marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for rabbit farms. So let’s proceed to the business planning section.

Why Start a Rabbit Farming Business?

Rabbit farming is yet another highly thriving and profitable livestock breeding business that an entrepreneur who is interested in the agriculture cum livestock rearing industry should consider starting. There is no law prohibiting the keeping of rabbits in Towns and Cities.

A backyard can serve as a good source of additional income, food and employment; thus reducing poverty, hunger and idleness.

Rabbits are prolific in nature, rabbit meat is highly in demand as it is medically recommended over red meat, rabbits have low mortality rate, and rabbits are not aggressive and require minimal handling. Rabbit do not compete with humans for food, as kitchen leftovers, cut grasses and formulated or compounded feed can sustain them.

Rabbit keeping does not require much capital for investment and maintenance. As little space is needed, most rabbits could be kept in the backyard or in the abandoned sheds. With just two male rabbits and six females, a wire cage and information from a farming manual.

Aside the knowledge, it is also important that you are passionate about animals. If not, then get someone who loves spending time with animals. Starting this venture sure is a very profitable one.

However care has to be taken as you look to start on the right footing. One of the things that you will have to do to bring that to fruition is to write a business plan. You will need to put down on pare how to plan to run this business, the type of strategies that you are looking to adopt as you look at starting the business.

You will also need to lean of some technicalities that have to do with the business. Here is a sample rabbit farming business plan that just might help you chart a good course for your own business as you choose to start;

A Sample Rabbit Farming Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

A pretty good business that falls under the agriculture cum meat production industry that an entrepreneur can successful start is rabbit farming. Rabbit farming is not capital intensive and management tasking, especially when compared to other meat rearing business like poultry and catfish farming.

The feeds are readily available and you can even produce it yourself as rabbits feed on grasses, yam peels and other kitchen waste. You can start small from your backyard and grow from there. Due to its high nutritional value, rabbits have become a very popular delicacy amongst Africans and African communities in the united states and abroad.

Rabbit meat is extremely low in calories and fat hence people who are watching their weight find it appealing. Rabbits are prolific in nature and they do multiply rapidly. Rabbits begin breeding from 4 t0 5 months of age. The gestation period for female rabbit (the doe) is 31 days and they normally give birth to 6 -10 kits (baby rabbit) at once.

Rabbits are capable of reproducing seven times in a year. For reproduction to take place, the buck and the doe should be kept in one place to mate. After that, you have to separate them. One female rabbit is capable of producing up to 50 kits in a year.

It is necessary that a rabbit house be spacious enough, so as to give chance for the young ones and also the growth and expansion of the business. Rabbits can be kept in hutches or in cages. The rabbit cage should be constructed in such a manner that the rabbits will be protected from rainfall and direct sunlight.

Rabbits feed on either compounded feed or grasses like elephant grass, potato, shrubs, leaves and herbs. They must be given food at least twice a day.

Clean drinking water must be made available for them 24 hours a day. These containers should be cleaned regular basis for the sake of the health of the rabbits. It is advisable to study their exact daily consumption of compounded feed in order to avoid wasting the feed.

The Livestock Farming industry of which rabbit farming line of business is a part of is indeed a large industry and pretty much active in countries such as United States of America, Nigeria, Ghana, Holland, China, Australia, Cameroun, Mali and Senegal et al.

It is a fact that there is no single rabbit farming business that has dominate market share in the industry hence smaller rabbit farming business can successfully compete in the industry and still make appreciable profits.

If you are looking towards leveraging on the livestock industry to generate huge income, then one of your best bet is to start your own rabbit farming business. Rabbit farming business is all about mass – breeding of rabbits for the sole aim of selling the meat and of course making profits.

One thing is certain about rabbit farming business, if you are able to conduct your market research and feasibility studies , you are more likely not going to struggle to sell your rabbit because there are loads of people out there we eat rabbit meat especially in Africa and of course African communities in the United States of America.

2. Executive Summary

Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd is a registered and licensed livestock farming company that will be based in the outskirt of Chicago, Illinois – United States. We have done our detailed market research and feasibility studies and we were able to secure five hectares of land to start our livestock breeding business.

Our livestock breeding business is a going to be standard one hence will be involved in commercial breeding of rabbits and other livestock.

We choose to start our rabbit farming business in Chicago – Illinois because we are sure of generating enough market for our rabbits considering the robust populations of Nigerian cum African communities in the Chicago – Illinois and of course throughout the United States of America.

We have plans in the pipeline to start our rabbit meat processing plant and also start exporting our products to other parts of the world where they have active African communities.

This is why aside from the fact that we’ve secured the required farming land for breeding rabbits in commercial level, we have also secured all the necessary permits that will enable us successfully run this type of business in the United States of America.

We are in the rabbit farming business because we want to leverage on the vast opportunities available in the livestock farming industry, to contribute our quota in growing the U.S. economy, in national food (meat) production, to export agriculture produce from the United States to other countries and over and above to make profit.

Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd is well equipped and well positioned to become one of the leading rabbit farming business in the United States of America, which is why we have been able to source for the best hands and equipment to run the business.

We have put process and strategies in place that will help us employ best practices when it comes to livestock breeding / rabbit farming processes and meat processing and packaging as required by the regulating bodies in the United States of America.

Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd is a family registered livestock farming company that is owned and managed by Freeman Clark and his immediate family members. The company will be fully and single handedly financed by the owner – Freeman Clark and his immediate family members at least for a period of time before inviting other investors.

Freeman Clark is an African American from a Nigerian decent that has robust relationship with the Nigerian cum African communities throughout the United States of America and with intercontinental hotels who serve rabbit meat as part of their cuisine.

3. Our Products and Services

Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd is a licensed livestock farming business that is committed to rabbit farming and rabbit meat processing and packaging for both the United States’ market and the global market. We will also ensure that we operate a standard food processing plant as part of our complimentary business offering.

We are in the rabbit farming line of business cum livestock rearing industry to make profits and we are going to do all that is permitted by the law in the United States of America to achieve our business aim and objectives.

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our Vision is to become one of the leading rabbit farming company not just in Chicago – Illinois, but also in the United States of America and Canada.
• Our mission is to sell our produce (live rabbits), and processed and well packaged rabbit meat in commercial quantities both locally, nationally and internationally. We want to build a rabbit farming business that will become the pacesetter for rabbit farming business in the United States of America and Canada.

Our Business Structure

Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd is a livestock cum rabbit farming company that intend starting small in a private property in Chicago – Illinois, but hope to grow big in order to compete favorably with leading livestock farms in the industry both in the United States and on a global stage.

We are aware of the importance of building a solid business structure that can support the picture of the kind of world class business we want to own. This is why we are committed to only hire the best hands in and around Iowa.

At Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd, we will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, dedicated, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stake holders (the owners, workforce, and customers).

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the management of the farm. In view of the above, Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

• Chief Operating Officer (Owner)
• Rabbit Farm Manager

Administrator/Accountant

• Sales and Marketing Executive
• Field Employees
• Front Desk Officer

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Operating Officer:

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; developing incentives; developing a climate for offering information and opinions; providing educational opportunities.
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Creates, communicates and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization

Snail Farm Manager

• Responsible for the planning, management and coordinating all farm activities across the various sections on behalf of the organization
• Supervise other section manager
• Ensures compliance during project executions
• Provides advice on the management of farming activities across all section
• Responsible for carrying out risk assessment
• Uses IT systems and software to keep track of people and progress of the growth of crops, fishes, birds and animals
• Responsible for overseeing the accounting, costing and sale of farm produce after harvest
• Represent the organization’s interest at various stakeholders meetings
• Ensures that farming goals desired result are achieved, the most efficient resources (manpower, equipment, tools and chemicals et al) are utilized and different interests involved are satisfied. Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carries out staff induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Oversees the smooth running of the daily rabbit farming activities
• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for the company
• Serves as internal auditor for the company

Sales and Marketing Officer

• Identifies, prioritizes, and reaches out to new partners, and business opportunities et al
• Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts; participates in the structuring and financing of new business
• Writes winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with company policy
• Responsible for handling business research, marker surveys and feasibility studies for clients
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for expanding increase sales
• Documents all customer contact and information
• Represents the company in strategic meetings
• Helps to increase sales and growth for the company.

Field Workers/Contract Staff

• Responsible for feeding rabbits as instructed by the supervisor
• Responsible for cleaning the rabbit farm / cage
• Handles snail farm implements and machines as instructed by the section manager / supervisor
• Assists in handling the breeding and harvesting of rabbits
• Carries out task in line with the stated job description
• Assists in transport working tools and equipment from the farm and back to the designated store room
• Handles any other duties as assigned my the line manager

Client Service Executive/Front Desk Officer

• Welcomes guests and clients by greeting them in person or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the manager in an effective and timely manner
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the company’s products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to clients
• Receives parcels/documents for the company
• Distributes mails in the organization

6. SWOT Analysis

We are aware that loads of people in the United States of America do not eat rabbit meat which is why we want to do our due diligence before launching the business.

Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd do not intend to launch out with trial and error hence the need to conduct a proper SWOT analysis. We know that if we get it right from the onset, we would have succeeded in creating the foundation that will help us build a standard rabbit farming business that will favorably compete with leading livestock farms in the United States of America and in the rest part of the world.

As a rabbit farming business, we look forward to maximizing our strength and opportunities and also to work around our weaknesses and threats. Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd;

Our strength as a rabbit farming business is the fact that we have healthy relationships with loads of major players (agriculture merchants, African communities and intercontinental hotels who serve rabbit meats) in the meat production industry; both suppliers and buyers within and outside of the United States.

We have some of the latest rabbit breeding and farming tools and equipment that will help us breed rabbits in commercial quantities with less stress. Aside from our relationship (network) and equipment, we can confidently boast that we have some the most experienced hands in snail farming line of under our payroll.

Aside from the fact that loads of people do not eat rabbit meat in the United States of America, one of our weaknesses could be that we are a new livestock cum rabbit farms in the United States and we may not have the required cash to pump into promoting of our business and encourage people to eat rabbit meat.

We are aware of this and from our projection will overcome this weakness with time and turn it to a major advantage for the business.

• Opportunities:

Despite the fact that the average Americans do not eat rabbit meat, the opportunities that are available to us as a rabbit farming business cannot be quantified, we know that there are loads of African communities and intercontinental hotels that will source for rabbit meat from our rabbit farms both in the United States of America and other parts of the world.

Some of the threats and challenges that we are likely going to face when we start our own livestock farm cum rabbit farming business are global economic downturn that can impact negatively on household spending, bad weather cum natural disasters (draughts, epidemics), unfavorable government policies and the arrival of a competitor within same location.

There is hardly anything you can do as regards this threats and challenges other than to be optimistic that things will continue to work for your good.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

We really are aware of the importance of doing a thorough market research. We have done just that and that is why we are doing our best to see that the market trend favors us, come what may.

In the United States of America, it is not trendy to find people who do eat rabbit meat except for few Americans, people from Nigeria and other African countries. As a matter of fact, some Americans will find it strange that people do eat rabbit meat.

In view of the above, people who are into rabbit farming ensure that they target Nigerian or African communities in the United States or wherever they intend selling their rabbit meat. They also ensure that they target intercontinental hotels that serve rabbit meat as part of their cuisine.

Lastly, rabbit farmers ensure that they leverage on health benefits of rabbit meat in marketing their rabbits. As a matter of fact, rabbit meat is extremely low in calories and fat hence people who are watching their weight find it appealing.

8. Our Target Market

It is really vital that any business identifies its target market. Aw have done just that and we are optimistic that that singular act is able to fetch us a lot. As you would expect, the target market of those who are the end consumers of rabbit meat and also those who benefits from the business value chain of rabbit farming is all encompassing; it is far – reaching.

We will ensure that we position our business to attract consumers of rabbit not just in the United States of America alone but also other parts of the world which is why we will be exporting some of our rabbits either in live form or processed form to other countries of the world.

Here are the people and organizations we will market our rabbits to;

• Nigerian cum African Communities in Chicago – Illinois and other states in the United States of America
• Weight watchers
• People recovering from cardiovascular disease, cancer and those trying to recover from injuries
• Intercontinental hotels and restaurants that serves rabbit meats
• People who would want to keep rabbits as pets in their yards.

Our Competitive Advantage

Competition isn’t new to the world. We are therefore poised to position well so as to compete really favorably. It is important to state that rabbit farming especially for the purpose of meat production is not a common enterprise in the United States of America hence the level of competition is not as stiff as it is amongst other livestock farming businesses.

Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd is fully aware that rabbit farming for the purpose or meat production is not a popular line of business in the United States which is why we decided to carry out thorough research so as to know how to take advantage of the untapped market in the United States and in other parts of the world.

We have done our homework and we have been able to highlight some factors that will give us leverage in the marketplace; some of the factors are effective and reliable rabbit farming processes that can help us sell our rabbit and processed and well packaged rabbit meat at competitive prices, good network and excellent relationship management.

Lastly, all our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category (startups livestock cum rabbit farming businesses in the United States) in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd is in the livestock breeding industry cum rabbit farming business for the purpose of maximizing profits hence we have decided to explore all the available opportunities within this line of business to achieve our corporate goals and objectives.

In essence we are not going to rely only on the sale of our live rabbits and processed and well packaged rabbit meat to generate income for the business but also other business interests within the value chain.

10. Sales Forecast

From the survey and market research conducted, we were able to discover that the sales generated by a commercial livestock farm cum rabbit farms depend on the size of the farm, the network of the farm.

We have perfected or sales and we have been able to critically examine the rabbit farming line of business cum commercial livestock farm business and we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast.

The sales projection is based on information gathered on the field and some workable assumptions as well with respect to the nature of commercial livestock farm / rabbit farming business that we want to run. Below are the projections that we were able to come up with for the first three years of running Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd;

• First Fiscal Year-: $240,000
• Second Fiscal Year-: $450,000
• Third Fiscal Year-: $700,000

N.B : This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown that can impact negatively on household spending, bad weather cum natural disasters (draughts, epidemics), and unfavorable government policies. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

We are fully aware that marketing rabbits in a country like the United States of America can be a bit tasking because loads of people do not eat rabbit meat. It will take conscious effort for us to convince people who do not eat rabbit meat to patronize us and start eating rabbits.

Our goal is to grow Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd to become the leading livestock cum rabbit farms in the whole of Chicago – Illinois and the whole of the United States of America which is why we have mapped out strategy that will help us take advantage of the potential market and grow to become a major force to reckon with in the rabbit farming cum livestock farming industry.

Over and above, we have perfected our sale and marketing strategies first by networking with agriculture merchants and intercontinental restaurants and hotels that rely on rabbit meat from rabbit farms cum livestock farming industry who are likely to refer become our customers.

In summary, Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd will adopt the following strategies in marketing our commercial farm produce;

• Introduce our rabbit farming business by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to stake holders in the agriculture industry, intercontinental restaurants and hotels that rely on rabbit meat from the rabbit farms cum livestock farming industry, Nigeria cum African communities, and agriculture produce merchant et al.
• Advertise our business and livestock farms in agro – allied and food related magazines and websites
• List our rabbit farms on yellow pages ads (local directories)
• Print out fliers and business cards and strategically drop them in offices, libraries, public facilities and train stations et al.
• Attend related agriculture / livestock and food expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
• Leverage on the internet to promote our business
• Engage in direct marketing
• Encourage the use of Word of mouth marketing (referrals)

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Any business that wants to grow beyond the corner of the street or the city they are operating from must be ready and willing to utilize every available means (both conventional and non – conventional means) to advertise and promote the business.

We intend growing our business which is why we have perfected plans to build our brand via every available means. We know that it is important to create strategies that will help us boost our brand awareness and to create a corporate identity for our snail farming business.

Below are the platforms we want to leverage on to boost our commercial livestock cum rabbit farm brand and to promote and advertise our business;

• Place adverts on both print (newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
• Sponsor relevant community based events / programs
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook , twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote our business
• Install our Bill Boards on strategic locations all around Chicago – Illinois
• Engage in road show from time to time in targeted neighborhoods
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
• Contact Nigeria cum African communities, intercontinental hotels and restaurants and residence in our target areas by calling them up and informing them of Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd and the farm produce we sell
• List our rabbit farms in local directories / yellow pages
• Advertise our rabbit farms in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site.
• Ensure that all our staff members wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles and trucks are well branded with our company logo et al.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

We are aware that if you want to get the right pricing for your livestock or rabbits as the case may be, then you should ensure that you choose a good location for your rabbit farm, choose a good breed that will guarantee steady and multiple breeding (prolific breeds), cut the cost of running your rabbit farm to the barest minimum.

Try as much as possible to attract buyers to your farm as against taking your rabbits to the market to source for buyers; with this, you would have successfully eliminate the cost of transporting the rabbits to the market and other logistics.

So also, we are quite aware that one of the easiest means of penetrating the market and acquiring loads of customers for all our rabbits is to sell them at competitive prices hence we will do all we can to ensure that the prices of our rabbit and processed and packaged rabbit meat are going to be what other rabbit farmers would look towards beating.

One thing is certain, the nature of rabbit farming business we are involved in makes it possible for farmers to place prices for their rabbits and processed and packaged rabbit meats based on their discretion without following the benchmark in the industry.

The truth is that it is one of the means of avoiding running into loss. The easier you sell off your rabbits when they are mature the better for your business.

• Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America.

Here are the payment options that Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd will make available to her clients;

• Payment via bank transfer
• Payment with cash
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check
• Payment via bank draft

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make payment for farm produces purchase without any stress on their part. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials to clients who may want to deposit cash or make online transfer for our live rabbits and processed and packaged rabbit meat.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

When it comes to calculating the cost of starting a commercial livestock farm cum rabbit farm, there are some key factors that should serve as a guide. The most important expense is the construction of the rabbit farm or cage as the case may be.

For example, the start – up cost for a fish farm is different from the start – up cost for mechanized crop farming, so also the start – up cost for poultry farming is different from the start – up cost of cattle ranch (dairy farm) et al. As a matter of fact, if you choose to start a mechanized crop farming, then you should be willing to raise huge capital base to start the business.

This is so because some cultivation machines / equipment can be pretty expensive. Below are some of the basic areas we will spend our start – up capital in setting up our commercial livestock cum rabbit farm;

• The Total Fee for incorporating the Business in United States of America – $750.
• The total cost for payment of insurance policy covers (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $9,400
• The amount needed to acquire / lease a farm land  – $50,000
• The amount required for preparing the farm land (for construction of rabbit cages / fencing et al et al) – $70,000
• The cost for acquiring the required working tools and equipment / machines / fencing et al– $50,000
• The amount required for purchase of the first set of male and female rabbits – $50,000
• Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $40,000
• The Cost of Launching an official Website – $600
• The amount required for payment of workers for a period of 3 months – $100,000
• Additional Expenditure (Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions et al) – $2,000

Going by the report from detailed research and feasibility studies conducted, we will need an average of $200,000 to start a standard commercial livestock cum rabbit farming business in the United States of America

Generating Funding/Startup Capital for Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd

No matter how fantastic your business idea might be, if you don’t have the required money to finance the business, the business might not become a reality. Finance is a very important factor when it comes to starting a business such as rabbit farming.

No doubt raising startup capital for a business might not come cheap, but it is a task that an entrepreneur must go through. Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd is a family business that will be owned and managed by Freeman Clark and his immediate family members.

They are the sole financial of the firm, but may likely welcome other partners later which is why they decided to restrict the sourcing of the start – up capital for the business to just three major sources. These are the areas where we intend sourcing for fund for Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd;

• Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings and sale of his stocks
• Generate part of the start – up capital from friends and other extended family members
• Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank (loan facility).

N.B: We have been able to generate about $50,000 (Personal savings $30,000 and soft loan from family members $20,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $150,000 from our bank. All the papers and document has been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

One of our major goals of starting Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to sell our farm produce (live rabbits and processed and packaged rabbit meat) a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are well prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

Freeman Clark Livestock Farms Ltd will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our organization’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner of our business strategy.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as determined by the management of the organization. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List / Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check : Completed
• Business Incorporation: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts various banks in the United States: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of All form of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Leasing of rabbit farm land in Chicago – Illinois: Completed
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Start – up Capital Generation: Completed
• writing of business plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: Completed
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Building /construction of cages and fence et al: In Progress
• Purchase of the needed working tools, machines and equipment: Completed
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business (Business PR): In Progress
• Farm land Treatment, Health and Safety Arrangement: In Progress
• Establishing business relationship with vendors and key players in the industry the (agriculture industry, intercontinental restaurants and hotels that rely on rabbit meat from the rabbit farms cum livestock farming industry, Nigeria cum African communities, and agriculture produce merchant et al): Completed

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Home » Rabbits » Rearing and Breeding Angora Rabbits Business for Profit

Rearing and Breeding Angora Rabbits Business for Profit

Modified: Aug 7, 2018 by Andreea Coleman · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

While it may look like a fantasy, it is possible to keep angora rabbits for wool and make a profit. French Angora Yarn goes for $15 per each yarn!

Plan and know your expectations

Decide on the breed type and colors you need, how much does a doe rabbit cost, the breeding – mating, kindling, kindling and caring for angora rabbit babies, breeding and rearing angora rabbits for profits.

If you intend to begin breeding Angora bunnies or any other animal, you need prior planning to ensure you have the time to take good care of your animals, as well as space, money to invest and many other factors.

Besides the planning, you should know your expectations as one Angora doe can give birth to as little as two angora rabbit babies or as many as 15. Are you ready to accommodate them?

Remember, they will need to be groomed for two months, and they will need their cages or home when they are about five months. The good news is, Angora usually have smaller litters, typically they have 3 to 5 kits. However, it is possible to get up to 10 or more.

Therefore, have a plan for your breeding, a program and always use purebreds bunnies.

Secondly, decide on the breed you want as well as colors. There are several breeds of the Angora rabbits with most common ones being the English , French , Satin , German and Giant Angoras . Also, other less popular types include:

All these bunnies come in different colors accepted by the ARBA or any other recognized organization. This is important if you are breeding yours for the profits of its wool or for shows. 

Also, each of these breed types has its features including facial features, wool texture, length, body types, and so on.

In areas that experience the four seasons, most angora rabbit breeders prefer to breed them during winter or spring and not summer since summer has higher temperatures that may not be very favorable unless you have temperature-controlled enclosures.

Expect to spend anything from $50 to $100+ for a doe with pedigree papers, and you might not get it near you. Rabbits do not get shipped.

When can they be bred?

Always breed rabbits that are in perfect health and correct weights according to their breed type. Those with conditions such as congenital eye problems and malocclusion of teeth should not be bred.

Does should not be less than six months and should show signs they are ready to breed and be fully mature.  A little older is always better.

On the other hand, bucks can breed from the age of 6 to 7 months. Large Angora breeds may take up to 12 months to be ready for breeding.

Breed after molting when their fur is short and trim the excessive fur around its genital and belly areas. This will ensure easier mating.

Short fur will also make breastfeeding easier, and ensure that the doe does not have very long fur, which she might pluck and use to line her nest box . Long fur is not safe for kits as it may tangle them, i.e., it can strangle the kitten’s neck, legs or trap their paws. This can cut the blood supply to these areas.

Do not forget to ensure wool does not bind the buck's genitals.

On the issue of plucking or clipping its fur before mating, some sources recommend against this habit (source - Angorarabbit.com )

During plucking, a dog comb can be of help in brushing and removing loose wool.

It is recommended you take the doe to the buck’s cage, to reduce the buck’s attention going to the doe’s cage. The buck might notice the doe, ignore or chase it.

During mating, expect the doe to be mounted from the rear side by the buck and after successful breading, he may roll to the side and scream. Young bucks may try to mount the doe from the head.

In cases where your doe lies flat on the cage, mating may be unsuccessful. Most experienced rabbit breeders encourage you to place your hand beneath the doe’s belly, from the front side (head) and raising its hips slowly to make the tail go over her back. 

In case you need to have a larger litter size, you can repeat the exercise after 24 hours. Don’t fear using the same buck since it can be used up to 7 times in one week without affecting its sperm count.

Does never ovulate, until they have been bred and it is possible but rare for both the eggs of the doe to be fertilized, a case which the doe will give birth in two different days, i.e., the kits will be born after 28-31 from the time you bred the doe.  

Like any other rabbit breed, their Angora rabbit’s gestation period is between 31 and 33 days.

Preparing for angora baby rabbits – Kits

Ensure you have a nest box made of wood or metal with a solid base so that it does not hurt your kits’ legs. Wooden nests are preferred since they don’t get too cold during winter. Typical width length and height dimensions will depend on the size of your angora rabbit.

The nest box can have pine shavings, followed by hay or other bedding materials. Clean them regularly.

On the 28 th day after mating, put your nest box in the does cage, preferably on the backside of the cage for the doe to start making the next or wait until it kindles then begin building the nest. Some may pull their fur while making the nest.

After kindling, count the number of kits, remove the afterbirth or kits that may have died. Note that some do may show some aggression.

Afterward, be checking the kits to ensure they are warm (you can add some fur you kept for this purpose) and ensure their paws are not caught by their mother’s long fur as they spin around.

While getting out of the nest or getting in, the doe may injure or kill the kittens. Some does also eat their babies if they are scared.

During winter, ensure the enclosure is warm enough, and the kits do not fall out of the nest box as they may freeze to death or be very cold. Warm them with your skin, a heating pad, low setting on a blow-dry among other methods.

To help increase milk flow, give does raw pressed oats, and gradually increase the food you give them. Once the baby rabbits are about 8 to 9 weeks, you can slowly begin weaning them. This should be done by removing their mother and leaving the kits alone.

If you are breeding Angora rabbits for profits, its wool goes for about $10–16 per ounce, and “meat is selling locally for $2.50/lb. One rabbit can gross you over $500 per year if you consider the fur from its offspring and the meat, notes toughnickel.com.

While doing your calculation, include the cost of equipment, labor, feed and packaging supplies for your raw wool.

Wait until the baby rabbits are at least ten weeks before selling them as recommends the British Rabbit Council.

However, to be successful, in your angora rabbit business ensure you have not only the angora rabbit wool buyers but also those who will be buying their meat.

• https://toughnickel.com/self-employment/City-Farming-Breeding-Rabbits-for-Profit

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Raising Rabbits for Profit: 7 Ways to Make Extra Money with Rabbits

If you are new to animal husbandry and looking to get started with something small and easy, then raising rabbits for profit is a no-brainer.

Rabbits are versatile critters to raise on your homestead; they are easy to care for, reasonably inexpensive to raise, and of course, they reproduce quickly.

Aside from their adorably twitchy noses, rabbits can turn a profit… in a lot of different ways.

While one income stream may not add up to a profit to brag about, combining all of the following might just be a new business endeavor for you.

1. Selling Rabbit Meat

Rabbit meat is widely popular meat throughout many different cultures of the world. However, in the United States, it has not gained the popularity it deserves. 

The white meat, produced by rabbit, is exceptionally lean. It has lower calories, lower fat, and higher protein. The only downside is that rabbit meat has higher cholesterol which may not be good if you have cardiovascular disease.

Rabbit meat tastes very similar to chicken, with a bit of a stronger flavor–not too much though. But don’t take our word for it, try these rabbit recipes to see for yourself.

So, if you are looking to eat healthier meat, you should consider rabbit–not to mention you can swap out chicken meat for rabbit meat in almost any recipe. 

With that being said, it can be challenging to find rabbit meat in local restaurants and grocery stores unless they are higher-end establishments. 

Raising rabbits for meat is quite a simple production to start if you have the time and space. It can be highly lucrative, especially if you plan to raise your rabbits on grass and market your product as grass-fed rather than as raised in hutches. 

Where to Process Your Meat Rabbits:

Once your rabbits are old enough for processing, usually around 12 weeks, you will need to process them in accordance with any regulations you may have in your county. 

Rabbits are considered “poultry” in most meat processing situations, so many of the rules that apply to chickens apply to rabbits. However, you might have to dig around and ask a ton of questions about what’s ok, and what is going to get you fined. 

Two ways to process your rabbits are

• Yourself on your farm – See How to Butcher a Rabbit
• At a USDA-inspected facility

Where you process your rabbits will depend on how many rabbits you expect to process and where you will be selling the rabbit meat. 

Who To Sell Your Rabbit Meat To:

Once your meat is processed, you should get it to the consumer as soon as possible. Here’s a list of ideas on where you can sell your rabbit meat:

• Friends and family
• Farmer’s markets
• High-end or local restaurants
• Grocery stores
• Online (lots of extra red tape here since you may be selling across state lines)
• Owner of dogs that consume raw dog food
• Commercial dog food companies

Potential Profit:

Rabbit is considered a delicacy, and the price you can get per pound certainly reflects that. 

You can probably ask about $6 per lb for your rabbit meat. It doesn’t matter if you sell it for human consumption or dog food. Rabbit is in high demand, so you can ask what it’s worth…and probably get it.

2. Selling Rabbit Pelts

Naturally, after you’ve processed a rabbit for meat, the hide is a byproduct, if you will. Instead of discarding this part of the rabbit, you can turn it into something beautiful that many crafters would love to have in their studio. 

Rabbit pelts are often used to make clothes, dolls, and other goodies. If you are artistic, you can create your own masterpieces and sell them to consumers. 

Tanning rabbit hides can be a longterm process, but with care and practice, it can become easier to complete. You can learn to prepare the pelt yourself or hire someone to do this for you–just remember, outsourcing will cut into your profit margin!

Who To Sell Rabbit Pelts To:

• Commercial Industry
• Homesteaders

Now, I never said that you’d make a ton of money with your rabbit pelts, and some prefer to toss the byproduct rather than try to market and sell it. 

Rabbit pelts can bring in anywhere from $1.50 to $30.00 per pelt. What you get for your hide will depend on varying factors like:

• Breed of Rabbit
• Age of Rabbit
• Tanner’s Skill 
• Color of Fur
• Size of Pelt
• Other preparation factors (dyed, patterned, etc.)

3. Selling Rabbit Fur as Fiber

Rabbit fur is a luxury item for crafters and commercial operations that want to produce a soft, silky, product. 

Instead of the entire tanned hide, rabbit fur is sheared, or hand-plucked, from long-haired rabbits, such as the Angora Rabbit. 

If you want to make a profit from rabbits, but don’t have the heart to use them for meat, you could start shearing your pet Angora rabbits and make a few bucks on this luxury fiber.

In general, raising rabbits is a reasonably easy task for those interested in animal husbandry; however, the Angora rabbit requires a little more TLC than a New Zealand rabbit (which is typically raised for meat).

If you want beautiful fiber, you are going to have to tend to it, almost daily. Long-haired rabbit breeds have a tendency to become matted if not cared for properly, and this can be painful for the rabbit and increase risk of disease and parasites.

Who to Sell Rabbit Fiber To:

• Flea Markets
• Knitters, Fiber Artists, Spinners
• Woolen Mills

You can sell Angora fiber for about $7 per ounce, all the way up to $16 or more. Again, there are a few factors that will determine what you can charge, and what consumers are willing to pay. Factors like:

• Hand-plucking (better than shearing!)
• Breed of rabbit
• Age of rabbit

4. Selling Ready-to-Use Fertilizer with Rabbit Manure

Rabbit manure is a superpowered fertilizer because it is rich in nitrogen and can be applied directly to plants without the risk of burning the vegetation.

So, instead of having to wait months to use fertilizer from other animals, nutrient-rich rabbit manure can be used right away!

Who to Sell Rabbit Manure To:

• Hobby Farmers
• Landscaping Companies

I’ve seen rabbit manure go from $0 to $45 for a 40lb bag. Now, some people will pay more if the manure has been aged, or composted with worms (see below). It also depends on your location and supply and demand. 

So, while most give it away for free because they just want to be rid of it, others are making a killing on their rabbit’s poop (the $45 price tag is NOT the norm). 

5. Build a Worm Farm with Rabbit Manure

If you are looking to get every last ounce of use from your rabbitry operation, you can add worms to the mix .

Yup, you can use worms and vermicomposting not only to help compost manure and keep odors down but also as another potential income stream.

Who to Sell Worms To:

Because you will be using worms like nightcrawlers, you can them to:

• People who utilize composting bins

I bet you never thought you could make some extra cash collecting worms from your manure pile, but it’s true!

You can sell earthworms, nightcrawlers, for about $31 per pound. Remember though, worms don’t weigh a lot, so getting a pound of wrigglers might take some time…and a lot of poop. 

If you fish, you know that worms aren’t cheap. Many bait shops will charge $2 a dozen, and so can you.

6. Selling Rabbits As Pets

You can always sell your rabbits as breeders or pets to those who just want a fluffy bunny to spend their time with. 

You can check with local pet stores to see if they are looking for a regular supplier of bunnies… just remember, pet stores need to make a profit on your buns, so they will not expect to have to pay more than $15 per bunny. 

Plus, pet stores don’t typically care what breed your rabbit is (mixed or purebred), so it’s not going to matter if your Flemish Giant won first place at the local fair and her babies are worth $80. They’ll want to give you $10. 

On the other hand, if you plan your marketing right (cough cough, easter and fair time), you can sell your live rabbits for anywhere from $20 to $100 depending on the purpose and quality of your stock.

4-H’ers are a great customer because they want to learn animal husbandry and buy the winning rabbit. And I promise you, no matter how much money you make with your rabbits, seeing a child chose their new pet is absolutely priceless.

7. Selling Pinkies

This income stream may make you feel a little squeamish, but if you want to add another one to your list, you can consider selling newborn kits to snake owners and pet stores. 

You don’t have to take live kits to the pet store if you don’t want to; you can just sell those that didn’t survive from your most recent kindling (litter of rabbits). 

Often, in a large rabbitry, there will be stillborns and does that do not care for their young. Overly large litters often suffer because does do not have enough milk for their whole kindling.

When you notice a lifeless kit, as long as it has not been dead for a long time, you can freeze them, and sell them once you have enough…but be sure to check frequently because no one wants a rotten pinkie.

Who to Sell Pinkies To:

• Snake Owners

About $3 per pinkie. 

By now you should realize that raising rabbits for profit does have a lot of options. And you could even combine a few and generate multiple income streams. Who can say no to that?

So, if you are keen to get started, do your homework first and view our rabbit hutch plans to see which would suit you. Study up on our rabbit care guide , and know the most common types of rabbit diseases before raising rabbits for profit.

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Starting a Commercial Rabbit Farm – Helpful Illustrated Guide

• September 19, 2022

As a general rule Comercial Rabbit farming is growing. Many start small and then expand. Rabbits are prolific breeders and produce lean meat and angora rabbit fur. Start-up costs are low. Space requirements are minimal. Rabbits, Hutches, Cages, Feed are all easily found locally.

Table of Contents

Starting a Commercial Rabbit Farm / Hobby Rabbit Farming

Starting a Commercial Rabbit Farm . With the increasing demand for food, rabbit farming is playing a major role in meeting the meat need of the population around the world.

If you are interested in commercial rabbit farming and want to know its requirements and management then this article will help you a lot. 

Rabbit Meat Profitability Table

First of all, we will discuss the history of the rabbit.

History of Raising Rabbits

Rabbits belong to the order of mammals called Lagomorpha, which includes 40 or so species of rabbits, Hares, and Pikas.

European wild rabbits evolved around 4000 years ago on the Iberian Peninsula known as the “Land of Rabbits”. When the Romans arrived in Spain around 200 BC, they began to grow native rabbits for meat and fur purposes.

The spread of the Roman Empire, along with increased trade between countries, helped introduce European rabbits into many parts of Europe and Asia.

With a rapid rate of reproduction and more cultivation of land providing ideal habitats, rabbits quickly created a large population in the wild . The European rabbit became widespread in North America and Australia.

Space Requirement for Breeding Rabbits

When you start rabbit farming the first thing you need is space. Space required per animal is 10 to 15 square feet per animal. Space requirement is different at different stages of rabbit life if rabbit farming is done in the cage.

• Rabbits (5-12 weeks) 0.07 square meter (per rabbit)
• Rabbits (12 weeks or more) 0.18 square meter (per rabbit)
• The adult does and bucks for breeding 0.56 square meter (per rabbit)
• Doe and litter (5 weeks) 0.56 square meter (total area)
• Doe and litter (8 weeks) 0.74 square meter (total area)

The height of the cage for more than a 12-week rabbit should be 45cm. – 18 ”

Rabbit Farming Equipment Needed

The type of cage and equipment of any rabbit farm depends on where the rabbit farm is located. There are many types of huts used and no single design is perfectly suitable for all or all conditions.

You can also Read our Guide – 18 Ways to Make Money by Rabbit Farming—Extensive Guidelines for Rabbit Farmers

The hutches should be well ventilated and provide maximum comfort to the rabbits by providing adequate protection from all types of weather and predators. Animals must be protected from hurricane, wind, and scorching sun and should be kept dry.

Types of Rabbit Hutches

Different types of hutches are available such as:

• Wire hutches

Wood-frame with Wire Hutches

Bamboo hutch, wire hutches.

Chicken wires of various sizes are used to build many hutches today but the depreciation is very high. Chicken wire can be used for walls or ceilings of rabbit hutches .

Cages should be approximately 30 inches wide, 30 inches deep and 18 inches high. The floor should be one-half-by-one-inch14-gauge and the sides and top should be one-by-two-inch 14-gauge galvanized wire.

Whether you arrange hutches in single, double or triple layers depends on how much space is available. If you have enough space, single-layer waist-high hutches are best because they are more suitable for monitoring rabbits and will also save time and hand in feeding and management.

Most often, the economically made rabbit cage is a mixture of wood and wire. The skeleton is of wood but the floors, sides, and top are all-welded wires to ensure proper sanitation.

The wooden frame is an external skeleton while the welded wire is connected inside. The positive properties of this type of cage are its durability, excellent ventilation, and sanitation.

Bamboo is one of the most economical materials of the cage when used with the nipa or cogon grass roof. The design is the same as the wooden frame wire box.

To prevent strangulation or breakage of the rabbit’s feet, use straight bamboo for the flooring.

Baby Rabbit Pens

Young rabbits after weaning are kept in groups in pens. Each pen is 1.2 widths long, 1.5 meters in length, and 0.5 meters high. ( 5′ in Lenght x 1.5 ‘ High )

There are about 20 weaning rabbits in each pen. Once the rabbits reach puberty, they may be housed individually, especially these adult males. If they stay together, they will fight and get injured.

Hutch Floor

Several types of floors are used in the hutches, each with its own advantage. Wire -mesh floors are widely used when the self-cleaning type is required.

Feeding Equipment

There are a number of options for feeding. It is important to encourage innovation, particularly to use locally available materials when the cost is a concern. Here are some of the important feeder types

Types of Feeders

Following are a type of feeders used for feeding of the rabbit:

Grass Mangers

Crocks are specially designed to feed rabbits (about 6 inches width and 3 inches high), which cannot be easily turned over, has a concave lip that prevents animals from scratching and wasting their feed.

The main objection to this is that young rabbits enter and contaminate the feed . Earthenware and ceramics are best-suited materials.

Grass mangers are either U or V-shaped and made of 16-inch wire mesh. The 2-inch wires are placed horizontally while the 1-inch wire is vertical to allow the rabbit’s easy access to the grass mangers by simply pulling the grass.

Ideally, grass managers are usually built between cages to save space and labor, but can also be placed at the front or side of the cage, although they are more complex for an animal and a carer.

Hopper feeders of proper design and appropriate size save time and effort. It can be made from easily available metal, wood, ceramic or other materials.

They should keep the feeding supplies for at least a few days and be placed inside the cage or hung outside.

The opening through which the rabbits get feed should not be more than 4 inches above the cage floor so that young rabbits can easily eat food. This is particularly suitable for pellets feeding.

Equipment for Watering

Contrary to popular belief and practice, rabbits do need clean, fresh water at all times. During hot weather, a doe and her litter of six to eight will consume about 2 liters of water a day.

Types of Water Containers

Different types of water container are used of rabbit such as:

Enamel Cups

Bamboo troughs, automatic watering.

• Plastic Disposable for Winter

Earthenware crocks are used quite extensively in rabbit farming. They are inexpensive and sanitary.

These cups are healthy and easier to clean than crockery. It may be tied to the side of the cage to prevent spillage by rabbits .

Ceramic crocks are also recommended if they are within a reasonable price range.

The troughs are practical due to their availability but pose a problem due to their susceptibility to algae formation.

Cans are sometimes used, but problems arise when rabbits eat the crust that forms on these containers; therefore, their use is not warranted.

However, a 1-liter plastic oil container can be cleaned and cut for both water and feed containers. These can be attached to a cage with a wire to prevent leakage.

Automatic water systems are widely used in commercial rabbit farms . Although it is very expensive to install, it can easily adapt to commercial rabbit farms in the developing world.

Automatic water systems are better than traditional containers. It eliminates the time-consuming and laborious jobs of washing, disinfection, rinsing, and filling. They provide clean fresh water for rabbits at all times.

Types of Rabbit Nest Boxes

Place the nest box in the cage on the 28th day after breeding. If scratching or digging is observed in a corner of the cage, this is the best place to put the box.

Placing the nest box too early may result in it being used as a washroom or eating of all nesting materials placed in it or both.

Counter Set Nest Box

The counter set box is recessed below the hutch floor. These may be placed at the front of the cage and fitted like drawers for access from the exterior of the hutch.

They have the advantage of providing a more natural environment, since rabbits are burrowing animals, and of allowing the young easier access if they should be displaced from the nest at an early age.

Standard Nest Box

Among the characteristics of most of them is the choice of the corner at which their young ones are lit.

Therefore, the standard nest box is the most practical because of its movement.

Some of the signs shown by the doe to display the corner she prefers for kindling include scratching and gathering herbs or newspapers to serve as nesting materials.

Nesting materials can be from local sources, such as trimmings of clothes or soft herbs, but a shredded newspaper is most ideal.

Because it is free of mites and other insects, these mites are the usual causes of ear cancers and scabies skin.

Types of Feeding for Rabbit s

Rabbits are generally divided into four classes based on their dietary needs. They are:

• Growing and fattening rabbits
• Resting (non-pregnant and non-lactating) does and bucks
• Pregnant does
• Lactating does with litters.

 Each of these classes should be fed a different ration in varied amounts.

• Feed as many fresh kinds of grass or legumes as the rabbits want each day—up to 85 percent grass.
• Feed a commercial feed of at least 16 percent crude protein at the following levels
• Resting bucks and does—120 grams a day
• Pregnant does—240 grams a day
• Lactating does with litters—480 grams a day
• Growing/fattening rabbits (after weaning to slaughter or 3-4 months old)— 960 grams a day
• Have fresh water available at all times.
• Rabbit diets should contain 0.5 percent trace mineralized salt .

A variety of commercial mash and pellet feeds may be available. In some countries, the following commercial products have been used with rabbit production:

• Rabbit starter pellets
• Rabbit grower mash
• Rabbit pellets

Salt should be provided in the feed at a level of 0.5 percent or provided in the cage in a block.

Clean, freshwater must be provided to rabbits at all times. This is important especially in tropics where a doe and her litter may consume as much as 2 liters of water a day.

Home-mixed Feed

Rabbits can feed almost any food that is not sour, spoiled, or greasy. Some exceptions are meat, potatoes, peeling potatoes and large amounts of cabbage.

Thus, rabbit food can be supplemented with many things , including vegetable trimming, fruit peeling, bread scales, sun-dried remaining rice, and leftovers milk.

Rabbits can be fed almost any food that is not sour, spoiled, or greasy. A few exceptions are meat, potatoes and/or potato peelings, and large amounts of cabbage.

Thus, the rabbit’s diet may be supplemented with many things, including vegetable trimmings, fruit peelings, bread crusts, and sun-dried leftover rice and leftover milk.

Some things you should not feed!

• Don’t feed green feed standing in piles because it will become heated and cause digestive disorders due to fermentation
• Kang kong leaves or stems they generally carry the parasites.
• Forages collected from places where dogs and cats and other animals commonly defecate as this may cause tapeworm and/or coccidiosis
• Forages sprayed or recently in contact with insecticides

Requirements of Rabbit Shed

The lighting of commercial rabbit farm

Light is of prime importance in terms of reproductive efficiency. Natural or artificial light is required.

 If the buck has not been exposed to exposure for at least 8 to 12 hours, the formation of sperm will be impaired.         

On the other hand, doe breeding will require at least 6 hours of exposure to their sexual performance and fertility.

It is best to provide artificial light to the rabbit, depending on the condition of natural light.

It may be proposed to use a 100-watt bulb or a 40-watt 2-meter fluorescent tube 3 meters above the ground for 16 hours.

When the daylight is falling, in this case, the light can be kept on at 6 AM and off at 8 PM.

The light should not be switched on or off very suddenly since this may make the rabbit leap here and there due to agony leading to fracture and other injuries.

Much lighting is not required for a young rabbit only 1 to 2 hrs will do.

Temperature of Rabbit Farm

Rabbits can withstand a wide temperature difference from 5°C to 33°C. But the ideal comfortable temperature required for rabbits ranges from 10°C to 26°C.

Rabbits, in general, can tolerate a cold wave instead of a hot wave. The temperature in the summertime may cause heat stress in rabbits .

Therefore, adequate measures should be taken to reduce heat stress through cooling and good ventilation.

Care must be taken to avoid drought. An adult rabbit can reduce heat by stretching their bodies. Likewise, to preserve heat, it wrinkles at a low environmental temperature.

The little rabbit may not adapt to ambient temperature fluctuations and may die. This aspect should be taken care of by the rabbit guard.

Humidity of Commercial / Hobby Rabbit F arm

From a systemic point of view, rabbits cannot tolerate much of a wet condition. Moisture in the rabbit’s house should remain within 50%.

All devices should be used during the rainy season to reduce humidity. High temperatures and high humidity can negatively affect the health of rabbits.

Ventilation of C ommercial Rabbit Farm ing

A clean environment free from dirt and smoke is a key feature of the free-breathing of rabbit . There must be a suitable arrangement for free air movements. Care should be taken to locate air-free areas in the home.

Comfortable fresh air is badly needed during hot summer days. A strong draught should be avoided. Some shaded trees may be planted near and around rabbits to allow cool air during the summer.

Breeds of R abbits – American Breeders Association

If you are thinking about the commercial rabbit farm then here are some of the breeds that are used on farms for meat purposes.

• Californian Rabbits
• New Zealand Whites
• American Chinchilla
• Satin Rabbits
• Flemish Giants
• Blanc de Hotot
• Palomino Rabbits
• Silver Foxes
• Champagne d’Argent
• Belgian Hare
• Cinnamon Rabbits

Exotic Rabbit Breeds

Some of the exotic rabbit breeds is:

• English Angora
• Long-eared Jerboa
• Euchoreutes naso

Small Breeds Rabbit Breeds

• American Fuzzy Lop

Medium Sized Breeds

• American sable
• french Angora
• Satin Angora
• Standard Chinchilla
• English Spot
• Florida White
• Rhinelander
• Silver Martin

Meat Rabbits Breeds

• Californian
• Champagne D’Argent
• Creme D’Argent 
• English Lop
• New Zealand

Giants Rabbit Breeds

• Checkered Giant
• Giant Chinchilla
• Flemish Giant

International Rabbit market

Rabbit meat and wool are used globally in fact rabbit wool is one of the best wool. Here we will discuss the international market of rabbit meat and wool.

Rabbit W ool

Angora wool grows up to three centimeters (one inch) per month. You can cut 14 to 15 ounces of wool annually from mature Angora who are not nursing.

This wool values for its softness, warmth, and strength. It is used in mixtures with other fibers in the manufacture of children’s clothing, sportswear, garment trimmings, etc.

There are two main types of Angora rabbits – English and French. Wool fibers in the French are shorter and rougher than English, but wool production is greater.

Therefore, angora is recommended to be used as a three-purpose animal for meat, to improve the quality of the fur of other strains by crossbreeding, which is currently being done, and for wool production.

Through reproduction with other strains, Angora has been shown to be beneficial in improving meat and fur production. Commercial Angora weighs at least 8 pounds and is being raised more and more to improve meat quality.

World Meat M arket of Rabbit

Rabbit meat is one of the delicious meats in the market. In some countries, rabbit is consumed at large scale here is a list of top rabbit meat consuming countries in the World

• Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Rabbit as Lab Animals

Rabbits are widely used in the lab for the experimental purpose such as

• First animal model of cancer caused by a virus is a rabbit
• They are used to produce antibodies, used for a different diagnostic test of infectious diseases and immunology
• Animal models for cystic fibrosis and cholera.
• Rabbits use to develop rabies vaccine.
• They are used in the study of cardiovascular disease, particularly hypertension and atherosclerosis.
• They are also used for studies on cancer, glaucoma, ear infections, eye infections, diabetes, and emphysema
• Surgical lasers were developed using rabbits
• They are used to research the effect of high cholesterol

Disposal of Rabbit Manure

Rabbit fertilizer has high nitrogen content when rabbits are fed with a balanced diet. It will not burn plants and is easy to incorporate into the soil.

It is best as a fertilizer on the gardens and when laid on the foundations of flowering plants, shrubs, and trees.

There is no risk when used to fertilize the soil on which crops are grown to feed rabbits if they are well mixed in the soil or covered.

The value of rabbit fertilizer depends on how you care for it and use it.

There will be less loss of fertilized elements if the substance is immediately incorporated into the soil.

When compost is stored in piles and exposed to weather, chemicals are lost through filtering and heat. Much of this loss can be prevented by keeping the compost in the compost pile or in a box or pit.

Rabbitr Farmers have also Used Rabbit Manure in Creative ways to increase their Profits. Se some below

• Selling aged Rabiit Manure for Soil Additives
• Selling as Compost / or Composting
• Starting a Worm Farm for extra profits – – Worm Meat – $ 25 lb

Diseases in Rabbits

In commercial rabbit farming , rabbits can be affected by different diseases. Some of the common diseases are:

The most common disease of rabbit farms is diarrhea. This is usually caused by the rabbits consuming the wrong food, such as sweet potatoes or the larvae of certain types of butterflies.

When rabbits develop diarrhea, they become dull and begin to drain green water waste. Some forms of diarrhea can kill the rabbit within 24 hours.

Diarrhea can be prevented by providing rabbits with fresh, dried vegetables.

Coccidiosis                                                  

This occurs because the rabbit consumes small parasitic creatures roaming in the feeding trough and watering vessels or on the walls of the cage. It can lead to diarrhea.

The affected rabbits will sit in a hunched and extend their hind legs forward. The rabbit will lose weight . To prevent this disease, it is important to keep the cages clean.

Small mites may float under the rabbit’s skin, especially in the ears. Scabs should be removed with warm water and palm or petroleum jelly applied to the affected area. Also, pour some palm oil into the affected ear.

Warbles Flies

If dirt is allowed to accumulate in and around rabbit huts, rabbits may develop warbles.

Warble is the result of laying eggs in rabbit fur , usually on the legs or feet, and on the nose and around the eyes or on the margins of the ear.

When the eggs hatch, the small worms lie under the skin to form a small lump under the rabbit’s fur . Bunny may scratch the spot which in turn may cause infection.

Colds in Rabbits

When the rabbit has a cold , it sneezes and exposes mucus from its nose.

Rabbits with a common cold must be isolated because the cold may develop into another disease that may spread to other rabbits and kill them.

Worms / Parasites’

Your rabbits may have worms i.e. white and sometimes coiled. To de-worm, a rabbit, feed it pawpaw if available.

The pawpaw plant is a natural de-wormer. The best remedy is to give the rabbit, every four weeks or so.

 Some time your rabbits can be affected from the wry neck. In this disease neck of the rabbit becomes twisted and they lose their sense of balance.

Selecting Rabbit B reeding Stock

Breeding stock should be chosen from among the best available to ensure only desirable traits pass to offspring.

There are several qualities you should look for in breeding stock of rabbit

• Prolific breeders have a good growth rate
• Have a good growth rate.
• Good converters of food.
• Have high meat to bone ratio.

You should not select the small, lean and unhealthy rabbits as well as old, sterile, castrated and deformed animals. They must be culled.

Selecting a Good Doe

The female rabbit also called doe to be used for breeding purposes must be reached puberty (five months or more).

She must be strong and able to protect her young from attack. She must have at least eight nipples, all visible and natural.

You should watch the doe of small rabbits scattered around the cage; if you do this more than once she is not a good mother and should be culled for meat.

A doe can produce any number of young rabbits , up to a maximum of 16, but it must be allowed to care for a maximum of eight equal to a number of teats.

Selecting a Good Buck

Buck will largely decide the quality of the breeding process. The size, color, and most other features of the buck will be inherited by its offspring.

Therefore, its effect is usually much greater than that of the female. Therefore, care must be taken to select only the best samples.

Rabbit Litter s

A single female rabbit can have 1-16 babies per litter, but let’s be realistic and say that the average litter size is eight.

Female rabbits can have babies starting at only six months old. Rabbits can become pregnant within minutes after birth.

Doe gives birth after one month. The mating season is typically the springtime.

Rabbit as Auxiliary business

Rabbits are characterized by a number of advantages that will become a source of profit:

• High fertility
• A short period of succession
• Productivity: meat and skin

These all character of rabbit makes this business profitable.

Commercial rabbit farming for meat and fur is a good way to make money but only if you do it on a large scale, and this should only be done as additional revenue.

The initial costs in preparation are small, the rabbits reproduce quickly and repeatedly, have a large litter and grow to a good size for marketing in a very short time.

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Rabbit Production

Expansion is much simpler than other livestock alternatives because a large range of existing facilities can be modified for rabbits and land requirements are negligible. According to the 2002 Census of Agriculture (NASS), there were more than 4,300 farms selling almost 890,000 rabbits nationally. In Pennsylvania, 298 farms sold more than 112,000 rabbits, making it the top producer nationally.

Many breeds of rabbits are produced commercially in this country. Some of the most popular breeds are listed in the following table.

Commercial Rabbit Breeds

Rabbits are classified according to their weight or hair. The weight categories are small (3 to 4 pounds), medium (9 to 12 pounds), and large (14 to 16 pounds). For meat production, medium-weight New Zealand Whites are best, followed by Californians. For laboratory use, the breed will depend on the specifications of the customer. Angora rabbits are the only breed used for wool production.

Typical part-time enterprises consist of 50 to 100 rabbits. A full-time enterprise should have at least 600 females (does) and 60 males (bucks). Each doe produces 25 to 50 live rabbits a year, which will yield 125 to 250 pounds of meat. Angora rabbits produce 8 to 10 inches, or 12 to 16 ounces, of wool per year.

Before you start producing rabbits, you must identify your market. Rabbits are raised not only for meat, laboratory use, breeding stock, and Angora wool but also for their skins and for youth programs, such as 4-H, FFA, Pennsylvania Rabbit Breeders, and American Rabbit Breeders Associations.

When raising rabbits for meat, you must consider the availability of slaughtering facilities, type of packaging required, transportation cost, and potential buyers.

Restaurants, wholesalers, custom meat stores, and individual buyers are the main purchasers of rabbit meat. Traditionally, rabbit prices tend to be lower during the summer months because of high supply, so marketing during this time may be more challenging. Rabbits are typically slaughtered as fryers at 5 pounds (about 10 weeks of age). Often considered a delicacy, rabbit meat is white, fine grained, and delicately flavored. It also is high in protein and low in fat, cholesterol, sodium, and calories.

Laboratory rabbit production has the potential to be a very profitable enterprise, but the requirements for entering the market make it difficult to become established. When producing for laboratories, hospitals, or universities, you must be licensed and must meet the requirements for breed, age, weight, and any other characteristics that are specified. You must raise the animals under controlled conditions, and the facility must be highly sanitary and strictly monitored. It is recommended that you start your business by selling through an experienced supplier for a while before dealing directly with laboratories.

If you choose to market breeding stock, establishing a reputation for raising high-quality animals is critical. You can develop your reputation by maintaining accurate and detailed health records, exhibiting rabbits at shows, and advertising in rabbit journals and farm periodicals.

The market for Angora wool is small, and the wool is usually sold directly to individuals or organizations buying for mills. Some producers choose to spin the wool into yarn and market it directly to the general public. Angora is a high-quality wool often used to manufacture luxury garments and therapeutic clothing for people with arthritis and other joint diseases.

Getting Started

Once you have researched your particular market (meat, laboratory, breeding stock, or wool), you can then plan the size of your operation and determine which breed of rabbits to raise. The smallest production unit to consider is a herd of around 20 does serviced by 2 bucks.

When purchasing your breeding stock, contact local breeders and rabbit clubs and check advertisements in rabbit magazines and the American Rabbit Breeders Association directory. Whenever possible, ask to see herd health and breeding records and the visit the production facilities. The rabbitry should be clean, well managed, and free of any health problems. Purchase rabbits that will produce large, but not huge, litters (8 to 10 kits), raise a high percentage of their offspring to maturity, and produce good-quality animals.

The rabbitry should be an enclosed building that has proper ventilation, lighting, heating, and cooling systems. Heating and ventilation are crucial because rabbits do not tolerate temperature extremes very well. You should maintain the herd on a year-round schedule of 12 hours each of light and darkness to keep the rabbits breeding throughout the year.

Many different types of hutches can be used. However, all metal cages help prevent unsanitary conditions that can lead to health problems. The cages should be made of 1-by-2-inch mesh for the sides and top and 0.5-by-1-inch mesh for the floor. Hanging the cages from the ceiling in single layers makes management easier for the producer. Mature bucks and does should have individual cages that are at least 30 inches wide, 30 inches deep, and 20 inches high. Junior does, fryers, and Angora rabbits (nonbreeding does and castrated bucks) may be kept in small groups in one pen. Each cage should have a feed hopper and a watering system attached to the outside of the cage.

A nest box should be placed in the hutch prior to kindling (birth) to provide seclusion for the doe and protection for the litter. Nest boxes should provide enough room for each doe and her litter but should be small enough to keep the litter close together. Nest boxes can be made of nontreated wood, wire mesh, or sheet metal. During cold weather, bedding such as straw or wood shavings is also recommended. The box should be enclosed except for a small opening on top for the doe to enter.

Maintaining a sanitary operation will help you prevent disease. The best waste management systems have porous pits under the cages with layers of sand, gravel, and drainage tile. Earth and concrete floors are acceptable but require more frequent cleaning. You should have concrete walkways between the cages and should remove accumulated manure at least twice a year. Cages and nest boxes should be cleaned and sanitized after each use, and the hair should be burned off the cages. New additions to the herd, especially those purchased from a wholesale market, and any sick animals should be kept in separate cages isolated from the rest of the herd until any diseases are determined or until the animal is well.

Raising worms under rabbit hutches can be successfully combined in indoor operations or outdoor operations if the climate is moderate. Worms will consume the manure and any spilled feed, which will eliminate some of the odor, waste, and labor associated with manure management while providing an additional source of income. Composted rabbit manure may also represent an income opportunity for sale to homeowners.

Medium-weight breeds (9 to 12 pounds) are able to start breeding at 6 to 7 months of age, with males maturing one month later than females. Because outward signs of heat are not always evident in mature does, you should follow a strict breeding schedule. One buck can service about 10 does but no more than two to three times a week. Place the female in the buck's cage for breeding. Never bring the buck to the doe's cage because she will fight to protect her territory. Mating should occur immediately, and the doe should then be returned to her cage.

The average gestation period lasts 31 to 32 days. Twenty-eight days after breeding, place the nest box in the doe's hutch. The average commercial litter consists of 8 to 10 kits. Forty-eight hours after birth, you should observe and count the kits, removing any dead animals. Remove the nest box 5 to 21 days after birth. The young are weaned in about 30 days, so you can expect an average of five litters annually per doe. Under proper management, a good doe will continue to produce maximum-sized litters for 2 to 3 years.

Two types of nutrition programs are used for raising rabbits: hay and grain diets or commercial prebalanced pellet rations. Pellets meet all of a rabbit's nutritional requirements and are more convenient than formulating a hay and grain ration. Pregnant does and those with litters should receive all the feed they can eat in a day. Bucks and does without litters need 6 to 8 ounces of pellets a day. When raising Angora rabbits, you should avoid feeding hay because the dust will contaminate the wool and lower its quality.

Rabbits require fresh, clean water every day. Automatic watering systems offer a continuous water supply while reducing waste and contamination. A doe and her litter need 1 gallon of water a day in warm weather. Rabbits also enjoy receiving small amounts of greens as a treat.

Health Program

The most important factors for maintaining a healthy rabbit herd are cleanliness, good ventilation, close observation, and protection from sun and rain. Rabbits are susceptible to several diseases that can reduce production to unprofitable levels. The respiratory disease caused by Pasturella multocida is responsible for decreased productivity and a high mortality rate in does. Pasturella -free animals can be purchased and may be a good investment.

To help prevent disease problems, do not permit casual visitors inside the rabbitry. They may introduce disease and cause additional stress to the animals. Isolate any sick or injured rabbits immediately. Disinfect the isolation cage and the rabbit's regular cage to avoid spreading diseases. For a good health program, you should keep accurate records on each animal. Provide each rabbit with a tattoo identification number or ear tag and attach an identification card with health and breeding information to its hutch.

Regulations

All agricultural producers in Pennsylvania, including small and part-time farms, operate under Pennsylvania's Clean Streams Law. A specific part of this law is the Nutrient Management Act. There are portions of the Nutrient Management Act (Act 38) that may pertain to you depending on the mix of enterprises you have on your farm (in particular, animal operations). Because all farms are a potential source of surface or groundwater pollution, you should contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District to determine what regulations may pertain to your operation.

You should also check your local zoning regulations to make sure that your intended business activities are permitted in your location.

• Risk Management

There are several risk management strategies you may want to employ for your farm. You should insure your buildings and equipment and you may also want to insure your income. Insuring your farm buildings and equipment and obtaining adequate liability coverage may be accomplished by consulting your insurance agent or broker. You can also insure income from livestock enterprises through a whole-farm protection program called AGR-Lite. To obtain AGR-Lite insurance you will need your last five years of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Schedule F forms. AGR-Lite insurance is federally subsidized and is available from private crop insurance agents. Contact a crop insurance agent to see if this type of coverage makes sense for you.

For more information on agricultural business insurance, please see Agricultural Business Insurance . More information on crop insurance can be found on the Penn State Extension website.

The following sample budget gives an example of the annual costs and returns of meat rabbit production based on 20 does and 2 bucks. This sample budget should help ensure that all costs and receipts are included in your calculations. Costs are often difficult to estimate in budget preparation because they are numerous and variable. Also, construction of you own pens can lower costs considerably. Therefore, you should think of these budgets as a first approximation and then make appropriate adjustments using the "Your Estimate" column to reflect your specific production and resource situation.

A sample budget for laboratory rabbits has not been included because it is difficult to enter the market and the expected costs are hard to determine. It is recommended that you carefully investigate this market and its entry requirements before making the decision to raise rabbits for laboratory research. Likewise, an Angora rabbit production budget has not been included because of the specialized nature of the market. More information on the use of livestock budgets can be found in Enterprise Budget Analysis .

You can make changes to the interactive PDF budget files for this publication by inputting your own prices and quantities in the green outlined cells for any item. The cells outlined in red automatically calculate your revised totals based on the changes you made to the cells outlined in green. You will need to click on and add your own estimated price and quantity information to all of the green outlined cells to complete your customized budget. When you are done, you can print the budget using the green Print Form button at the bottom of the form. You can use the red Clear Form button to clear all the information from your budget when you are finished.

Sample Budget Worksheet

Initial resource requirements.

• Land: 1/8 acre
• Total labor: 150-200 hours per year
• Capital: breeding stock (20 does and 2 bucks at $40 each) - $840; buildings, cages, and handling facilities - $6,000

For More Information

• Arrington, L. R., and K. C. Kelley. Domestic Rabbit Biology and Production . Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 1977.
• Cheeke, P. R. Rabbit Feeding and Nutrition . New York: Academic Press, 1987.
• Cheeke, P. R., N. M. Patton, S. D. Lukefahr, and J. I. McNitt. Rabbit Production . 6th ed. Danville, Ill.: Interstate Printers and Publishers, 2000.
• Harkness, J. E., and J. E. Wagner. The Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents . 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lea and Febinger, 1995.
• Live-In Rabbit . University Park: Penn State Media Sales.

Countryside and Small Stock Journal . Withee, Wisc.: Countryside Publications.

Associations

American Rabbit Breeders Association P.O. Box 426 Bloomington, IL 61702

• National Club Links
• Raising Rabbits--The Basics

Prepared by Robert Shaeffer, Clay Valley Farm; Lynn F. Kime, senior extension associate in agriculture economics; and Jayson K. Harper, professor of agricultural economics.

This publication was developed by the Small-scale and Part-time Farming Project at Penn State with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Extension Service.

• Farm Management
• Production Economics

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Rabbit Farming Business: A Profitable Plan for Success!

Table of Contents

A well-structured and comprehensive rabbit farming business plan is essential for success in the industry. This guide provides valuable insights into starting and managing a profitable rabbit farm, covering aspects such as breed selection, housing, feeding, health care, marketing strategies, and financial projections. Whether you’re a novice or experienced farmer, this business plan will help you establish and grow a successful rabbit farming venture.

Rabbit farming is an increasingly popular and lucrative venture that has caught the attention of many aspiring entrepreneurs. In recent years, the demand for rabbit meat and fur has been on the rise, creating a unique opportunity for individuals interested in starting their own rabbit farming business. With its low start-up costs and high profitability potential, rabbit farming offers a promising avenue for those looking to enter the agricultural industry. In this comprehensive business plan, we will outline the key components necessary for a successful rabbit farming venture, including market analysis, operational strategies, and financial projections.

Introduction

Rabbit farming, also known as cuniculture, has gained popularity as a lucrative business venture. Rabbits are not only adorable creatures but also provide various opportunities for meat production, fur, and as pets. Starting a rabbit farming business can be a rewarding endeavor if approached with careful planning and execution. This article aims to guide you through the process of creating a comprehensive rabbit farming business plan.

Market Analysis

Before diving into the rabbit farming business, it is essential to conduct a thorough market analysis. Identify the demand for rabbit products such as meat, fur, and even live rabbits in your target market. Assess the competition and determine potential customers. This analysis will help you understand the market dynamics and make informed decisions regarding your business strategy.

Rabbit Breeds and Selection

Choosing the right rabbit breeds is crucial for a successful farming operation. Different breeds serve different purposes, so consider your market requirements when selecting rabbits. Some popular meat breeds include New Zealand White, California, and Flemish Giant, while Angora and Rex rabbits are known for their luxurious fur. Ensure you choose healthy, disease-resistant rabbits with good reproductive abilities to maintain a sustainable breeding program.

Housing and Facilities

Creating suitable housing and facilities for your rabbits is essential to ensure their well-being and productivity. Construct sturdy hutches or cages that provide ample space for each rabbit. These enclosures should protect the rabbits from predators and extreme weather conditions. Adequate ventilation, lighting, and temperature control are also crucial factors to consider for optimal rabbit rearing.

Feeding and Nutrition

Rabbits require a balanced diet to thrive and grow. Develop a feeding plan that includes a combination of commercial rabbit pellets, fresh vegetables, and hay. Ensure access to clean water at all times. Consult with a veterinarian or rabbit nutritionist to determine the specific nutritional requirements of your chosen rabbit breeds, as they may vary.

Breeding Program

Establishing a successful breeding program is vital for sustaining your rabbit farming business. Determine the breeding techniques suitable for your operation, whether it’s natural mating or artificial insemination. Monitor the reproductive health of your rabbits and maintain detailed records to track breeding cycles, gestation periods, and offspring growth. This information will help you optimize breeding efficiency and manage your herd effectively.

Healthcare and Disease Prevention

Ensuring the health and welfare of your rabbits is paramount. Regularly consult a veterinarian experienced in rabbit care to develop a healthcare program. Vaccinations, deworming, and preventive measures against common diseases such as coccidiosis and respiratory infections should be incorporated into your routine. Proper sanitation practices and quarantine protocols for new rabbits are also essential to prevent disease outbreaks.

Marketing and Sales Strategy

Developing an effective marketing and sales strategy is crucial for the success of your rabbit farming business. Identify potential buyers, such as local restaurants, pet stores, or furriers, and establish partnerships or contracts. Utilize social media platforms, websites, or local advertisements to promote your products. Consider participating in agricultural fairs or trade shows to showcase your rabbits and build brand awareness.

Financial Projections

Creating a financial projection for your rabbit farming business is necessary to determine its profitability and sustainability. Estimate the initial investment required for infrastructure, breeding stock, feed, and healthcare expenses. Consider production costs, such as labor and utilities, along with potential revenue streams from meat, fur, and other by-products. Regularly review and update your financial projections to make informed business decisions.

Risks and Mitigation Strategies

Like any business venture, rabbit farming comes with its own risks. Identify potential risks such as disease outbreaks, market fluctuations, or natural disasters, and develop mitigation strategies. Insurance coverage for your rabbits, equipment, and infrastructure can help safeguard your investments. Diversifying your product offerings or exploring alternative markets can also mitigate risks associated with a single product or customer base.

Starting a rabbit farming business requires careful planning, dedication, and a solid business plan. By conducting thorough market research, selecting the right breeds, providing appropriate housing and nutrition, implementing a robust breeding program, and developing effective marketing strategies, you can establish a profitable and sustainable rabbit farming operation. Regular monitoring, continuous learning, and adapting to market trends will help ensure long-term success in this rewarding industry.

Executive Summary

In this section, we provide a brief overview of the rabbit farming business, outlining our objectives, strategies, and financial projections. Our aim is to establish a successful rabbit farming enterprise that meets the growing demand for rabbit meat and related products. With a strategic location, well-planned marketing initiatives, and a focus on quality production, we expect to achieve significant growth and profitability.

Business Description

Our rabbit farming business will be located on a spacious farm that is conducive to raising rabbits. We will focus on breeding high-quality rabbits and supplying premium rabbit meat to local markets. By implementing efficient farming practices and ensuring strict adherence to animal welfare standards, we aim to build a reputation as a trusted provider of top-notch rabbit products.

The demand for rabbit meat has been steadily increasing due to its low cholesterol content and the rising popularity of alternative protein sources. By conducting a comprehensive market analysis, we have identified a significant gap in the local market for premium rabbit meat. This presents us with a valuable opportunity to enter the market and capture a significant share of the growing demand.

Our marketing and sales strategy will focus on establishing strong brand recognition and targeting key consumer segments. Through various channels such as social media, local advertisements, and direct customer engagement, we will promote the superior quality of our rabbit meat, emphasizing its health benefits and unique taste. By tapping into the burgeoning farm-to-table trend, we aim to attract health-conscious consumers and high-end restaurants.

Operations and Management

Efficient and well-managed operations are crucial for the success of our rabbit farming business. We will invest in suitable farming infrastructure, including spacious rabbit hutches and sustainable feeding systems. Our experienced team of animal husbandry experts will closely monitor the health and breeding cycles of the rabbits, ensuring optimal productivity and overall well-being.

Based on our market analysis and projected sales volumes, we anticipate strong financial performance in the coming years. Our revenue streams will primarily come from rabbit meat sales, along with potential income from by-products such as fur, manure, and pet rabbits. With careful cost management and targeted pricing strategies, we project a steady increase in our profit margins over time.

Risk Analysis

As with any business venture, there are inherent risks associated with rabbit farming. These include potential disease outbreaks, market fluctuations, and unforeseen weather-related challenges. However, we have developed a comprehensive risk mitigation plan that includes regular health check-ups for our rabbits, diversified marketing channels, and insurance coverage to minimize the impact of these risks on our business operations.

In conclusion, our rabbit farming business plan outlines a viable and lucrative opportunity in the growing market for rabbit meat. With a strong focus on quality production and effective marketing strategies, we are confident in our ability to establish a sustainable and profitable enterprise. By addressing the risks and constantly adapting to market dynamics, we aim to become a leading player in the rabbit farming industry.

Point of View: Rabbit Farming Business Plan

Introduction:

Starting a rabbit farming business is an excellent venture for individuals looking to enter the agricultural industry. With its low start-up costs, high reproduction rate, and growing demand for rabbit meat, this business holds great potential for profitability.

Market Analysis:

Before initiating any business, understanding the market is crucial. Conduct thorough research to identify the target market, demand, and potential customers for rabbit meat. Analyze competitors’ strategies, pricing, and distribution channels to develop a competitive edge.

Business Model:

Establish a clear business model that outlines the key activities, resources, and revenue streams. Determine whether you will focus on meat production, breeding, or both. Decide on the scale of your operation, considering land availability, budget, and market demand.

Infrastructure and Equipment:

Invest in suitable infrastructure to ensure the well-being and productivity of rabbits. Construct well-ventilated and secure hutches or cages with proper flooring, feeding systems, and waste management facilities. Acquire essential equipment like feeders, waterers, nesting boxes, and grooming tools.

Procuring Breeding Stock:

Select healthy and genetically superior rabbit breeds as your breeding stock. Evaluate breed characteristics such as growth rate, litter size, and disease resistance to maximize productivity. Establish partnerships with reputed breeders or purchase rabbits from trustworthy sources.

Feeding and Nutrition:

Design a balanced diet plan for rabbits based on their age, weight, and purpose. Ensure a sufficient supply of quality hay, pellets, fresh greens, and clean water. Consult with veterinary professionals or nutritionists to optimize the rabbits’ health and growth.

Healthcare and Disease Management:

Implement a strict healthcare protocol to prevent diseases and maintain the overall well-being of your rabbits. Schedule regular vaccinations, deworming, and routine check-ups. Establish a working relationship with a veterinarian who specializes in rabbit care.

Marketing and Sales Strategy:

Create a compelling brand image for your rabbit farming business. Develop a professional website, use social media platforms, and participate in local agricultural events to promote your products. Collaborate with local restaurants, grocery stores, and direct consumers to expand your customer base.

Financial Planning and Management:

Prepare a comprehensive financial plan that includes start-up costs, operational expenses, revenue projections, and break-even analysis. Seek advice from financial experts to secure suitable funding options. Implement effective financial management practices to ensure profitability and sustainability.

Continuous Learning and Adaptability:

Stay updated with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in rabbit farming. Attend workshops, seminars, and join online forums to network with experienced farmers. Be open to adapting your business plan based on market dynamics and customer feedback.

In conclusion, starting a rabbit farming business requires careful planning, research, and resource allocation. By following a well-defined business plan and adopting professional strategies, aspiring rabbit farmers can build a successful and profitable venture in this growing industry.

Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog and learn more about rabbit farming business plans. We hope that the information provided has been helpful in guiding you towards establishing a successful venture in this industry. As you embark on your journey, remember that professionalism, dedication, and careful planning are key factors that will contribute to your long-term success.

First and foremost, it is essential to develop a comprehensive business plan that outlines your goals, strategies, and financial projections. This plan will serve as a roadmap for your rabbit farming business, helping you stay focused and organized as you navigate through various challenges and opportunities. It should encompass aspects such as market analysis, target audience, production methods, marketing strategies, and financial forecasts.

Moreover, as a professional rabbit farmer, it is crucial to continuously educate yourself about the latest industry trends, advancements in technology, and best practices. Stay updated with relevant publications, attend conferences or workshops, and network with fellow farmers to exchange knowledge and experiences. Building a strong network within the industry can provide valuable insights and support, which will help you stay ahead of the competition and adapt to changing market demands.

In conclusion, embarking on a rabbit farming business requires careful planning, dedication, and a commitment to continuous learning. By developing a comprehensive business plan, staying informed about industry trends, and building a network of professionals, you will be well-equipped to establish and grow a successful venture in this rewarding industry. Remember, success does not happen overnight, so be patient, persevere through challenges, and always maintain a professional and ethical approach in all your business dealings. We wish you the best of luck in your rabbit farming journey!

Video Rabbit Farming Business Plan

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Q: What is a rabbit farming business plan?

A rabbit farming business plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the goals, strategies, financial projections, and operational details of starting and running a rabbit farming venture. It serves as a roadmap for entrepreneurs looking to establish and manage a successful rabbit farming business.

Q: What should be included in a rabbit farming business plan?

When creating a rabbit farming business plan, it is important to include the following key elements:

• A clear executive summary outlining the purpose and objectives of the business.
• An overview of the rabbit farming industry, including market analysis and potential target customers.
• Details about the farm’s infrastructure, including the type of housing, equipment, and facilities required.
• Information on the different breeds of rabbits to be raised and the specific production system to be implemented.
• Marketing and sales strategies to reach potential buyers, such as restaurants, pet stores, or individual consumers.
• Operational plans, including feeding and breeding practices, health management, and waste disposal methods.
• Financial projections, including start-up costs, expected revenue, and profitability estimates.
• Risk assessment and contingency plans to address possible challenges or unforeseen circumstances.
• Management and staffing structure, including the roles and responsibilities of each team member.

Q: How can I make my rabbit farming business plan more professional?

To enhance the professionalism of your rabbit farming business plan, consider the following tips:

• Use a formal tone and language throughout the document.
• Ensure the plan is well-organized and easy to navigate.
• Include professional-looking charts, graphs, or tables to present data and financial projections.
• Use accurate and credible market research to support your analysis and forecasts.
• Provide detailed information on your experience, expertise, and qualifications in the rabbit farming industry.
• Include references or testimonials from industry experts or potential buyers to showcase credibility.
• Proofread the plan carefully to eliminate any spelling or grammatical errors.
• Consider seeking professional assistance, such as a business consultant or agricultural expert, to review and provide feedback on your plan.

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The basics of raising angora rabbits for wool

Angora rabbit wool is prized for its silkiness and warmth. Raising your own Angora rabbits for wool can not only elevate your personal spinning and knitting projects, but it can also be fairly lucrative.

“[Angora rabbits] will produce more wool per bunny for less amount of feed and care than any other fiber animal,” said Jenny Smith, owner of Underhill Fiber Farm at Gorham, Maine. “Angora rabbits produce 1 to 4 pounds of wool a year for the space of a three-foot cage [and] 60 bucks a year to feed it.”

Angora rabbit wool will also fetch a higher price than the wool from many other fiber animals. 

“Good quality angora is about $10 an ounce straight off the rabbit,” Smith said. “Sheep wool is $10 to $30 a pound, then you lose some when you wash it.”

There are 16 ounces in a pound.

Plus, harvesting wool from Angora rabbits is easier and less intense than it is for other fiber animals. 

“You just set the rabbit in your lap,” Smith said. “For a sheep, unless you have a strong back and heavy clippers, you have to hire somebody.”

Whether you want the softest scarf in town or are looking to make some extra money on your homestead, here are the basics of what you need to know about raising Angora rabbits for wool.

Which Angora rabbit should I buy for wool? 

If you are new to raising rabbits, Smith said that one Angora rabbit is plenty to start.

“That’s enough for a sweater, hat and scarf,” Smith said. “They’re productive.”

There are five Angora rabbit breeds used for fiber production: English, French, Satin, Giant and German Angoras. Other rabbit breeds , such as the Jersey Wooly and the American Fuzzy Lop, also produce wool, but the small breeds are significantly less productive and generally only used by hand-spinners.

The German Angoras are the most productive fiber-producing breed, generating between three-quarters and a pound of wool every year. 

“You shear [German Angoras] four times a year,” Robin Ford, co-owner of Growing a Rabbit Tree rabbitry in Newcastle, Maine. “They get used to sitting still, and they enjoy it in the summer.”

English and French breeds, however, do not require shearing at all — their wool can be plucked. 

Smith raises French-German Angora cross-breeds and asserts that the combination is ideal for wool production.

“The French Angora has a very low production of wool, but they [are] easy maintenance [because they are] not prone to matting at all and come in a huge number of colors,” Smith explained. “By crossing the two, we lose some of our fiber quantity, but we gain the color and easy care.”

Angora rabbit care

Though Smith said most aspects of Angora rabbit care are similar to that of other breeds, Angora rabbits are slightly more high-maintenance than their less-fluffy counterparts. For example, Angora rabbits require grooming between shearings.

“Good quality angora rabbits that have been bred for wool production require grooming once a month or less,” Smith said. “If your bunny needs to be groomed every day, there is something wrong with it — either bad genetics, or a bad environment.” 

Between shearings, Smith said to trim the wool “around their boy and girl parts and behind their ears.” Ford also said to clip the wool around their “cheeks and cheeks:” around the face and derriere. 

Smith said you can use a special blower to straighten the fur and lift dander and dust off the skin, which is especially effective for angora rabbits with dense coats.

Never bathe Angora rabbits, though. In fact, Smith said to touch and handle the rabbit as little as possible.

“Rabbits are like cats — they keep themselves clean,” Smith said. “The more you touch the rabbit, the more the rabbit is going to clean itself and risk ingesting wool and dying. They’re working rabbits, not pet rabbits.” 

Because of their long wool, Angora rabbits are susceptible to a condition called wool block, which can be fatal. 

“They get hairballs like a cat, but they cannot throw up, so they ingest it or goes into their intestines,” she said.

Ford added that Angora rabbits are also susceptible to tiny, biting wool mites.

“You can treat miles with a shot, which depends on their weight,” Ford said. “[On the bright side,] they don’t usually have worms.”

Smith also recommended providing each of your Angora rabbits with their own cage.

“They don’t like to share cage space,” she warned. “Most of them try to kill each other when they share cage space.”

Sometimes, though, Smith said that rabbits may die despite your best efforts.

“[Rabbits] have a life expectancy of 30 seconds to 12 years,” Smith said. “They don’t tell you when they’re sick. They just drop dead. It’s not always what you did wrong — it’s just that rabbit.”

Marketing Angora rabbit wool

Angora fiber can be sold spun, dyed or left its natural color. Because Angora rabbit wool is extremely warm and not naturally elastic, blending the fiber with other kinds of wool, mohair or cashmere will help make the fiber more marketable.

“Sheeps’ wool is the best,” Smith said. “It has memory and bounce.”

Smith said the best way to sell Angora rabbit wool is to spin and knit with it yourself.

“That’s the best way to market something — by talking about how wonderful it is,” she said. “Then you’ll find people who want to buy it.”

There are a number of distribution channels to sell Angora fiber. Ford sells her Angora rabbit wool wholesale to the Aroostook Fiber Mill. 

“I have a full-time job in addition to this,” Ford said. “It’s sort of my passion project.”

If you have the time, though, Smith recommended finding personal distribution channels. 

“Wholesale is not worth it,” Smith said. “A hand spinner at local fair will pay [more].”

For that reason, making the effort to seek out your market at fairs and craft events can be essential to successfully making a profit on your Angora rabbits. 

“The people who really want to buy it are going to be there,” Smith said. 

Smith said that some farmers and homesteaders will also raise Angora rabbits for meat and showing in order to maximize the potential profit from their working rabbits.

“They’re dual purpose,” Smith said. “Angora rabbits are very cost effective for your use.”

Sam Schipani loves pollinators, fresh herbs, and learning how to live more sustainably in small spaces. She has previously written for Sierra, Smithsonian, Earth Island Journal, and American Farm Publications.

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How to Start a Profitable Rabbit Farming Business

Do you want to start a profitable rabbit farm? Find here a rabbit farming business plan sample checklist for beginners.

As a matter of fact, rabbit farming is a low-cost livestock business . Additionally, raising the rabbit is one of the best options for small or landless farmers. Rabbits are very small animals. And they occupy a very small space.

The scientific name of the rabbit is Oryctolagus cuniculus. You can raise rabbits in backyards and even at home. Also, it is a great way of earning some extra money for housewives, stay-at-home parents, and students.

Benefits of Rabbit Farming

Rabbit farming is a profitable business. Additionally, it ensures good revenue for farmers and entrepreneurs. Find here 5 great advantages of the rabbit farming business.

First of all, rabbits are small-sized animals. So, they require less space, feed, care, and management. Rabbits can eat waste materials, and they are efficient at extracting protein from forage. Hence, it allows you to initiate a rabbit farm in your backyard, terrace, and even at home.

Secondly, raising rabbits demands a very small startup capital investment compared to other livestock businesses. However, it demands investment for preparing to house, procuring breeds, feeds, equipment, etc.

Thirdly, rabbits have a rabid growth ratio. It gains maturity very fast like broiler chickens. They become suitable for slaughtering purposes within 4 to 5 months. Hence, it ensures quick ROI.

Fourthly, rabbit meat is very nutritious and tasty. It is lower in cholesterol and fat and higher in protein. People of different ages can consume rabbit meat as a healthy animal protein option. Apart from meat, you can sell rabbit wool, skin, and as breeding stock.

Finally, the rabbit has a very high reproduction capacity. One female rabbit can give birth to kids every 30 days and 2 to 8 kids per delivery.

Is Rabbit Farming Business Profitable?

First of all, you can raise rabbits for many different uses. And they can play an important role in a small sustainable farming operation. Definitely, the most common use of rabbits is meat. However, you can also raise rabbits for pelts, manure, show, and laboratory use.

Rabbit meat is high in protein and low in fat, calories, and cholesterol when compared to most of the meats eaten in the United States. On the international market, European countries account for the majority of rabbit production. And China ranks second. However, rabbit production has recently gained attention as an effective means of alleviating poverty in developing countries too.

7 Steps to Start Rabbit Farming Business

Broadly, you can start this business in two ways. One is a commercial rabbit farm and another is at home. In both cases, you must craft a business plan before commencing the business. And your rabbit farming business plan must include a detailed financial projection too. Additionally, include your business objective and marketing policy.

1. Market Research

Before starting this business, you must conduct a market survey . Check the demand for the specific variety of rabbits in your locality. Additionally, identify the local farms that are already raising rabbits. Identify their marketing policy. Additionally, check the demand for the rabbit as a pet and for meat purposes.

2. Licensing

Before getting into this business, check the licensing issues of your state. In the USA, rabbits are protected under the Animal Welfare Act. Hence, it requires that all individuals or businesses dealing with rabbits must be licensed or registered with APHIS.

Rabbits may also be commercially slaughtered in accordance with state, county, or municipal guidelines. A limited number of commercial slaughter facilities exist across the United States. Small-species mobile processing facilities may help fill the need for producing fresh rabbit meat in sufficient quantities for a limited market.

3. Breeds for Rabbit Farming

There are several numbers of breeds available throughout the world. However, you must select the breed according to your specific requirement and the agro-climatic condition of your area. Here, we have provided a list of the most productive breeds that you can consider for your rabbit farm.

• White Giant
• American Chinchilla
• Checkered Giant
• Silver Marten
• Champagne d’ Argent
• English Spot
• Flemish Giant
• Newzealand White
• Newzealand Red
• Californian
• Siviet Chinchilla

4. Farming Method & Housing

Broadly, you can raise rabbits in two ways. One is a deep litter system and another is the cage system. However, in both cases, you will need to provide good housing. Because, you have to protect rabbits from weather conditions, rain, sun, and various types of predators like dogs or cats, etc.

You must provide ventilation, cooling, heating, and lighting systems in the rabbit housing. You must take additional care in the winter season. On the other hand, you can use insulated roofs to reduce excessive heat in the summer season and winter condensation.

Additionally, maintain a sanitary system regularly. Actually, proper sanitation helps to protect your farm from different diseases and pest attacks. Ensure that there are enough lights inside the house.  Moderate light management helps the rabbit to grow well and it is essential for their breeding.

First of all, you must provide good and healthy food for your rabbits. Actually, the right food ensures good health and proper growth. Generally, rabbits can eat and consume all types of grains, legumes, and green fodders like Lucerne, Agathi, Desmanthus, and various types of kitchen wastes including carrots, cabbage leaves, and other vegetable wastes.

If you want to provide pallet foods then also provide some green fodder. Additionally, provide sufficient drinking water to the rabbits.

6. Breeding, Care & Management

Rabbits become eligible for breeding within 5 to 6 months of age. However, use the male rabbits for breeding purposes at 1 year of age to get quality young rabbits. Always use healthy rabbits for breeding with proper age and body weight.

Take extra care of the male rabbit used for breeding purposes and take good care of pregnant rabbits. Proper care and farm management ensure higher productivity. Additionally, it helps to prevent disease and pest attacks too.

Also Read:  How to Start a Ornamental Fish Farming Business

7. Promote Your Rabbit Farming Business

Apart from the regular meat rabbit, there is a potential demand for organic rabbits. You can get more prices for organically raised rabbits.

You must tap the local market first. Additionally, you will need to establish the institutional clients also. Furthermore, meat processing units are also your potential buyer. Some producers slaughter their own rabbits for direct sales. Rabbits may also be commercially slaughtered in accordance with state, county, or municipal guidelines.

Also, consider selling rabbits as pets or show animals. Basically, there are thousands of ways you can promote your rabbit farming business in the local market.

About the Author: 99businessideas.com led by Rupak Chakrabarty is committed to helping beginners, entrepreneurs, and small business owners in starting, managing, and growing their businesses.

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Rabbit Farming – 14 Steps for Beginners to Start

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Commercial rabbit farming (also known as cuniculture ) is not a new business idea. People are raising rabbits as pets and for food from a long time ago. Starting this business is very easy, even the beginners can start this business easily.

Rabbit farming is also called ‘ cuniculture ‘. And cuniculture is an agricultural practice of raising and breeding domestic rabbits as livestock for their meat , fur or wool .

Actually we have to find out different ways of food production, to fulfill the food demand for growing population. The rabbit known as “Micro-Livestock” can be a great source of food production . There is a great opportunity of rabbit farming, and commercial production can be a great source of income and employment .

Rabbits need small place for living and less food for surviving. Rabbit meat contains high ratio of protein , energy , calcium and vitamins than any other types of animal meat. The amount of cholesterol, fat and sodium is also less than other meat.

Rabbit meat is very testy , nutritious and easily digestible for all aged people. Rabbits grow very fast and the female rabbit produce 2 to 8 kids every time. They can consume very low quality food and turn the food into high quality meat, skin or fiber.

Raising rabbit can be a great income source to the unemployed educated people and landless farmers . So commercial rabbit farming business can be a great way to meetup the food or protein demand and a great source of employment.

Table of Contents

How to Start Rabbit Farming Business?

Rabbits are small sized animal. So it’s very easy to start a commercial rabbit farming business . Make a proper business plan before starting. Here we are describing the most important steps for starting and operating a commercial rabbit farming business.

Step 1: Learn Practically

First of all, try to learn practically about this business. You can learn from existing farmers , agricultural institutions or through online courses . We recommend visiting numerous farms practically to gather practical experience .

Step 2: Complete a Rabbit Farming Training

Rabbit farming has been gaining popularity in recent years. And like any other farming venture, it requires proper training and knowledge to succeed. You can complete training from the methods mentioned here:

• Online resources
• Rabbit farming workshops and seminars
• Agricultural extension officers and
• From agricultural institutions

Step 3: Make a Business Plan

Make a good and effective business plan , and word according to the plan. A good and effective business plan helps to run the farm perfectly, and you will be able to make good profits if you follow the plan strictly. You can ask for help from an expert for making a viable business plan.

Step 4: Select a Good Location for Your Rabbit Farm

You have to select a very good location for starting your commercial rabbit production business. Try to select a calm area which is far from the residential area. Ensure good marketing and transportation system is available near your selected area.

Step 5: Determine the Products You Want to Produce

In commercial farms, rabbits are mainly raised for their meat . Rabbit meat has gained popularity in recent years due to its nutritional value and taste. Rabbit meat is a lean protein source that is low in fat and cholesterol, making it an excellent choice for health-conscious consumers.

Step 6: Choose the Right Rabbit Breeds

There are many rabbit breeds available throughout the world to choose. But all these breeds are not good for commercial production. Among those breeds Dark Gray (internal), Fox , Dutch , New Zealand White , New Zealand Black, New Zealand Red, Belgium White and Chinchilla etc. are highly productive and popular breeds. You can choose proper breed for your production, depending on the availability of breeds in your area.

Step 7: Choose Right Production Method

You can start raising rabbits in both deep litter and cage farming methods. Here we are describing more about this two types of raising methods.

Deep Litter Method: This method is suitable for you, if you want to raise a few number of rabbits. Concrete floor is more suitable for deep litter system. Make 4 to 5 inches depth litter husk, hay, straw or wood shavings. In this method, you can raise a maximum of 30 rabbits in a house. Keep the male rabbits in a separate room from the female. In deep litter system, risks of diseases is high. And sometimes, it may seem very difficult to manage the rabbit in this system.

Cage Method: For commercial rabbit farming business, cage method is the best. In this system the rabbits are kept in a cage, which are made with wire or iron plate. Cage system is very useful for raising a maximum number of rabbits. Keep sufficient space and necessary facilities, inside every cage. Keep the male and female rabbits separated from each other. Keep them together in a separate cage during breeding period.

Colony Method: The colony method involves housing rabbits in a group. This method is sometimes referred to as the “free-range” method. In this method, the rabbits are allowed to roam freely in a designated area, usually a large fenced-in area. This method is preferred by some farmers because it allows for natural rabbit behavior and socialization. However, the colony method can be more difficult to manage, as it requires more space and can be harder to monitor individual rabbits for health issues.

Pasture Method: The pasture method is similar to the colony method, but the rabbits are allowed to graze on grass and other vegetation. This method is preferred by some farmers because it provides a natural diet for the rabbits and reduces the need for expensive feed. However, the pasture method requires a large amount of land and can be difficult to manage.

Indoor Method: The indoor method involves housing rabbits in a building, usually a barn or shed. This method is preferred by some farmers because it allows for easier monitoring and control of the rabbits’ environment. However, the indoor method requires more resources for heating and ventilation, and can be more labor-intensive when it comes to cleaning and maintenance.

Tractor Method: The tractor method involves housing rabbits in a mobile cage that can be moved around the pasture. This method is preferred by some farmers because it allows for the rabbits to graze on fresh grass while also providing protection from predators. The tractor method is also more sustainable, as it allows for the rabbits to fertilize the soil while they graze. However, the tractor method can be more expensive, as it requires a specially designed cage and tractor.

Step 8: Ensure Good Housing

Good rabbit housing is a critical aspect of commercial rabbit farming business. Proper housing ensures that the rabbits are comfortable, healthy, and productive.

One of the most important factors in rabbit housing is adequate space. In commercial production the rabbits are kept in wire cages, with each cage providing a certain amount of space for each animal.

The amount of space required per rabbit varies depending on the breed and size of the rabbit. But they should have enough space to move around, stretch out, and stand up without touching the top of the cage.

Ensure good ventilation and also ensure their comfort and safety. They require a clean, dry environment, so cages should be designed with a solid floor or a tray to catch droppings. Add bedding materials such as wood shavings or straw to provide a soft, comfortable surface for the rabbits to rest on.

Rabbits require a certain amount of light to regulate their circadian rhythms and ensure healthy growth and development. So, try to ensure availability of adequate light inside their house.

Step 9: Provide Good Quality Feeds

Feed consuming rate and nutrient requirements of rabbits varies, depending on their age and breed type. For proper nutrition of adult rabbits, their food should contain 17 to 18 percent crude protein, 14 percent fiber, 7 percent minerals and 2700 kilo calorie/kg of metabolic energy.

Green leafy vegetables, seasonal vegetable, spinach, carrots, muller, cucumber, green grass and vegetable wastes are common food of rabbits . For commercial purpose, you can serve them poultry feed.

In accordance with providing nutritious feed , supply them sufficient amount of clean and fresh water according to their demand.

Step 10: Proper Breeding Management

Usually rabbits become mature and suitable for breeding purpose within their 5 to 6 months of age. But don’t use the male rabbits for breeding purpose until they reach their first birthday.

Doing this will ensure, quality young rabbits for commercial production. Always try to use healthy rabbits with proper body weight for breeding. Never bred the females, if they are ill.

Take special care to the breeding male and pregnant female rabbits, and provide them nutritious feed. The gestation period of rabbits is about 28 to 31 days. And each time a doe can give birth of 2 to 8 kids.

Step 11: Ensure Good Caring

Taking good care of the animals is very important for successful rabbit production business. Good caring not only keep the rabbits happy, but also help them to grow better. Monitor their health regularly, and always try to keep good contact with a vet in your area.

Step 12: Learn About Diseases & Their Prevention

Rabbit diseases can be a great challenge for commercial rabbit production. And it can impact the health and productivity of the animals. Prevention is key in maintaining the health of rabbits and preventing the spread of disease. Some common diseases that affect rabbits include:

• Pasteurellosis
• Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD)
• Myxomatosis
• Encephalitozoonosis
• E. cuniculi infection

Prevention measures for rabbit diseases include regular veterinary check-ups, proper nutrition, good hygiene, vaccinations and quarantine new rabbits.

Step 13: Vaccinate Your Rabbits Timely

There are two main vaccines available for rabbits: Myxomatosis and Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD). Both diseases can be fatal and are highly contagious, making vaccination essential for rabbits that live in areas where these diseases are prevalent.

Step 14: Marketing

In some areas, marketing rabbit products is not so easy. So it will be better, if you determine your marketing plan before starting. You can try your local markets or nearest town.

These are the common steps and ways for starting and operating a successful rabbit farm. Hope this guide has helped you! Good luck and may God bless you!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

There are lots of questions and queries related to rabbit farming business. Here we are trying to list the common questions and queries about this profitable business and trying to answer them. Hope you will find answers of your questions or queries. Don’t hesitate to ask us if you have more questions.

What is rabbit farming?

Rabbit farming is the practice of raising rabbits for various purposes, such as meat, fur, and even as pets.

How to start rabbit farming business?

First of all, select a good space for your business, then choose right rabbit breeds, make shelter for them, feed them nutritious food and always try to take good care of your rabbits.

Any rabbit farming business plan available?

You have to build your own rabbit farming business plan. A good and effective business plan helps to make higher profits from this business.

Is rabbit farming a profitable business?

Yes, definitely! Commercial rabbit production is a highly profitable business. And the most interesting fact is ‘rabbits grow very fast’. And you will be able to start selling and earning within a very short period of time (sometimes after as less as 3 months).

What are the advantages of rabbit farming?

It’s easy, require less care, food is cheap and you will get your invested money back faster that other livestock farming business.

What are the disadvantages of rabbit farming?

Initial investment for making cages and infrastructure costs are much higher in this business. Sometimes, marketing rabbits become a challenge in some areas. Because, rabbit meat is not as common as chicken in some parts of the world.

Is rabbit farming for meat profitable?

Commercial rabbit production is generally done mainly for meat production purpose. And rabbit production for meat is definitely profitable.

Any rabbit farming companies available?

Yes, there are many companies available in many countries. Consult with an existing rabbit producer in your area for having more information.

Is rabbit farming profitable?

Yes, definitely! Commercial or large scale rabbit production is highly profitable.

Which rabbit breed is best for farming?

Some good rabbit breeds for commercial production are New Zealand White, California White, Flemish Giant etc.

How do you farm rabbits?

How many rabbits do you need to be profitable?

It actually depends on your budget. You can start as less as with 10 rabbits and as many as hundreds or even thousands of rabbits depending on your budget.

Who eats rabbit meat?

Rabbit meat is very popular in many countries. But currently, China has the largest numbers of rabbit meat consumers.

What is rabbit farming called?

Rabbit farming is called cuniculture .

Is rabbit meat good eating?

Yes, most people find rabbit meat pleasant to eat. Rabbit meat has a mild flavor that can be seasoned to taste and used in many dishes.

What type of food rabbits eat?

Green leafy vegetables, seasonal vegetable, spinach, carrots, muller, cucumber, green grass and vegetable wastes are common food of rabbits. For commercial purpose, you can serve them poultry feed.

What breed of rabbit is most profitable?

Most profitable rabbit breeds are New Zealand White, California White, Flemish Giant, French Lop, English Lop, English Angora and French Angora.

How much money do rabbit farmers make?

It depends on numerous factors and not possible to tell the exact number. Please consult with an existing farmer in your area for having more recommendations.

How many rabbits can I start with?

The exact number depends on your budget and other available facilities.

What do farm rabbits eat?

Rabbits generally eat green leafy vegetables, seasonal vegetable, fruits etc. But for commercial production they are provided with poultry feed or commercial rabbit feed. These types are food are available in the market where commercial rabbit production is a common business.

What does rabbit meat taste like?

The meat tastes a bit like chicken, and it can be prepared similarly to chicken (though with a slightly stronger, meatier, earthier flavor).

What is healthier chicken or rabbit?

Rabbit meat is more nutritious than chicken meat, mainly due to it’s higher protein, phosphorus and calcium content. Rabbit meat also has less fat, sodium and calorie composition than chicken. So rabbit meat is more healthier than chicken.

How long does rabbit live?

Average lifespan of a rabbit is about 9 years. But farm rabbits are slaughtered within their 3-8 months of age, depending on the breed.

How long does it take to raise rabbits for meat?

Not too much. Rabbits grow faster than any other farm animals. They reach slaughtering weight between their 8 and 12 weeks of age.

How many babies can a rabbit deliver at once?

A healthy female rabbit can deliver up to a litter of 14 rabbits during each pregnancy, with the average being six kits.

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18 thoughts on “rabbit farming – 14 steps for beginners to start”.

I need daily tips on how to grow rabbit from day old

Contact any local breeder for learning practically. Good luck!

Hi, can anybody suggest the names of companies or farms export rabbit ?

Great info! Along time ago, I raised a few rabbits. I fed them “rabbit food from the store. Everything went fine until I fed them some grass from my yard. Later, I noticed they lost movement in their back legs. When they went to the bathroom — BOY WHAT A MESS ! They all later died. Years later someone said, they couldn’t digest the grass ——– it was the grass feeding that caused them to get sick. I want to raise rabbits again BUT, not like that !!. Can you help ????

Please don’t feed them only grass. You can provide some grass daily, but with other food. Thank you!

Thanks for the rabbit farming tips, might you have a training manual for rabbit farming, will be glad if you can share.

Can I feed the rabbits with maize seeds.

Yes, definitely!

I need guides for papaya, plantain, crop, pumpkin, goats, poultry, pig and rabbit business . Thank you Enefiok James Ekpo

Thanks for enlighting me on how to start a very good and profitable rabbit farming.

I want to no about rabbit

there are religious taboos to eating rabbits. people that eat kosher or practice judaism don’t eat rabbit, and consider them unclean and not fit for human consumption

Can you point me to a source of rabbit in Texas for ground rabbit? The shipping cost for my present source is almost as costly as the rabbit meat itself.

i just wanted to start rabbit farming but how to market it is my concern. please help

You should set your marketing strategies first, then start. If you can market rabbit or rabbit products, then you should consider other business. Good luck!

Thanks so much for you enlightenment on commercial rabbit farm. Pls my ques6 is, can I feed them poultry feed together with leafy vegetables and fruits?

Yes, you can!

Great information. i have learnt a lot

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Starting a Rabbit Farming Business – Profitable Business Plan

Rabbit Farming has seen considerable growth in the recent past as the world trends of traditional cattle farming have changed. The increase is due to the use of products obtained from farming in the food and clothing sector.

Rabbit farming is known to generate more profits in time compared to most other cattle farming businesses. If you own a large plot and plan to get into the farming business, rabbit farming can prove to be a great option. There are some things that you need to understand before you get into this business. Read on for details.

Space Requirement

The first thing that anyone wonders about before starting any business is the space required for the setup. For rabbit farming, the space setting is more or less flexible. You do not need an enormous farm space if you are planning to start small. If you are looking for a large-scale commercial business, the space requirement is comparatively more, but still not as much as many other cattle farming businesses.

You can raise around 50 rabbits in a small area if you plan out the space available properly. Decide on the space requirement based on the scale at which you wish to start the business.

Small Farm Requirements

If this is the first time you are venturing into any animal farming business, we suggest that you start small. There are very few things you would require to start a small rabbit farm. They are listed below:

• You can spend as little as $50 on rabbit kittens available from various sources across the world. If you have specific requirements in terms of rabbit kitten breed, the prices might vary slightly.
• Foods and vessels are needed to feed the rabbits. Purchasing the food and containers for rabbits requires a minimum investment. 
• Clean water is required for the rabbits to drink and stay healthy. Make sure you have a clean water source or procure clean water for your rabbits.
• A shed or a living space for the rabbit kitten is required. It can be a small space made of wood or similar materials. The shed should be free of pests and should not be too hot or cold, providing an optimal temperature for the rabbits to grow and breed. 
• Medicine and Pesticides are needed to keep the rabbits healthy and safe from infections and the living space free of pests and insects, respectively. 

Commercial Farm Requirements

If you are planning to start the business on a commercial scale, you would need the following:

• A comparatively larger space is needed to hold at least 100 rabbits. You need a minimum of 100 rabbits to start breeding on a commercial scale. You should have additional space, leaving space for newborn kittens.
• A more organized setup is required to allow enough space for the rabbits to live, feed, and play. You need to provide them a healthy requirement to grow and multiply.
• You can make use of machinery for pest control and cleaning of the farm.
• Ventilation is necessary for maintaining the proper living standards of the rabbits.
• Bulk containers and food to feed the rabbits are required to keep the rabbits healthy.
• Enough water supply should be available for the rabbits to sustain themselves.
• Purchase medication in bulk for the commercial rabbit farms.

How to take care of the rabbits?

Just having a farm for rabbits with the requirements is not enough. You need to keep a close check on your rabbits to ensure they are healthy and free of diseases at all times. For this, you must make sure of a few things. They are as follows:

1. Proper Supervision:  Whether you have a few kittens on the farm or many, supervise the kittens regularly. Make sure that each of them is eating and drinking as much as required. In case you come across some diseased rabbits on the farm, isolate them and have medical checks done. If not done soon, it will start affecting the healthy rabbits on the farm, which isn’t very desirable. 

2. Regular Medical Check:  A regular medical checkup needs to be conducted, making sure that each rabbit is healthy and disease-free. In case some rabbit dies due to disease, age, or any other factor, remove it from the farm immediately to avoid affecting the other healthy rabbits. Hire a vet to come for a visit to the farm at short intervals.

3. Proper setup:  Before starting the business of rabbit farming, make sure to set up the farm properly. You must design the farm in such a way that there is enough space for the rabbits to eat, drink, play around and live. Too many animals clustered in a small area will not provide optimal living conditions for them. The health of the rabbits is dependent on the living conditions. The setup should be well-ventilated, have enough air and light, and should not be too hot. You might think of keeping the rabbits in cages, which may be a good idea initially, but will affect the growth of the animals in the longer run.

4. Cleaning:  Regular cleaning of the farm is another aspect. You need to maintain proper ventilation, install a cooling panel and exhaust fans, and use jet sprays to clean the farm regularly, keeping infections at bay. Cleaning of rabbit excreta is needed to provide a clean living condition to these rabbits.

What do the rabbits eat?

You need to understand the eating habits of rabbits if you are investing in the business of rabbit farming. The food habits of these animals are not restricted to carrots, as we might believe. Ensure that there is no shortage of food and water on the farm for the rabbits to feed. 

• You can give green leafy vegetables to the rabbits. It can be an economical option of food for the business as well. 
• Food supplements are available to maintain the health and wellness of the rabbits.
• Make sure that you procure the food from reliable resources so that they are disease-free and healthy.
• Hay can also be a high nutritional option for rabbits. Procure the hay from authentic sources and ensure that it of high quality for the better health of the rabbits.

Breeding of Rabbits

To run the business, you must breed the rabbits on the farm. For this, you need to maintain a proper breeding condition on the farm. Smaller rabbits breed only after six months of age, while bigger ones need to grow till eight to nine months to reach healthy breeding age. Furthermore, breeding ages vary from one breed to another, so you must research before you start breeding on your farm. 

The weight and health of rabbits should be in check before they start mating. There must be a gap of six months before rebreeding of rabbits. Once a rabbit is pregnant, proper care is needed. You need to keep track of rabbits after mating as they take around 10 to 14 days to get pregnant. You can keep an eye out for symptoms such as aggressive behavior, increase abdomen size to differentiate between normal and pregnant rabbits. The pregnant rabbits litter the kittens in about 28 to 32 days, and each litter can contain up to 6 kittens.   

These kittens need to be fed the mother rabbit’s milk for 3 to 4 weeks. After that, they get accustomed to the environment and start feeding on their own. Rabbits can breed up to 4 times in a year. Ensure you have enough space for the kittens to grow on the farm.

Scope of Rabbit Farming

Rabbit farming is a very profitable business. The scope of rabbit farming is in the following aspects:

• The rabbit meat is known for its nutritional values. You can sell your rabbits in countries that have no restriction on the consumption of rabbit meat.
• Rabbit wool is quite popular in the clothing industry. You can sell rabbit fur to the wool industry at a very profitable price.
• Selling healthy kittens to people planning to start a rabbit farming business is also a profitable opportunity.
• You can find a profitable opportunity in the pet industry. Selling healthy rabbits to pet shops can be a profit-making business.
• Rabbit manure is rich manure used by gardeners and landscaping companies.

Know the breeds

Before you start a rabbit farming business understanding the industry and the different breeds of rabbits available is necessary. You can decide to specialize in a specific breed or multiple breeds, depending on your business plan. Cross-breeding might not be a good idea as it hampers the health of the rabbits. Some of the scopes of business and the breeds in the market are as follows:

For Meat: Rabbits farmed for meat with high nutritional value are:

• Satin Rabbits
• New Zealand White
• Blanc de Hotot
• Belgian Hare

For Wool: Rabbits farmed for their fur in the wool industry are:

• French Angora
• Rex Rabbits
• American Chinchilla

For the pet industry: Rabbits farmed for supply to the pet industry are:

• Dwarf Hotot
• Mini Rex Rabbits
• Netherlands Dwarf Rabbits
• Californian

How is the rabbit farming business profitable?

There are many reasons why the rabbit farming business is gaining popularity in recent years. Some of them are:

• Quick production:  A matured rabbit can breed four times each year with an interval of 6 months between its pregnancies. Each rabbit litter can consist of up to 6 kittens on average. 
• Low maintenance: Compared to most other animal farming opportunities, rabbit farming is a low maintenance option. It is not very capital intensive, or you do not require a large area for running the farm. Technology and set up cost is also pretty reasonable in rabbit farming.
• Low food and medication costs: Food, water, and medication required to raise rabbits are less if you compare to other cattle farming options. You need no fancy food for rabbits to grow and be healthy. The medications required to maintain the health of the rabbits are also inexpensive.

Steps to start the rabbit farming business

Some of the simple steps to start a rabbit farming business are as follows:

• Get the kittens: You need a minimum of 100 rabbits to start a rabbit farm. Out of these 100 rabbits, there should be at least 60 to 70 females and 30 – 40 males. You can procure from rabbit farm owners or commercial sellers.
• Get the setup done: Make arrangements to keep and raise the rabbits. The space must be open, with an optimal climate for breeding the animals. A place with less pollution can be a good idea for rabbit farming.
• Food and Water supply: Ensure that there is enough supply of rabbit food and water to your farm. It allows a healthy environment for the rabbits to grow.
• Register your farm:  You must register your business with the legal authorities of the country. Make sure that your farm meets all legal requirements to stay out of any trouble in the future.
• Make initial investments: You can have a minimum of $100 investment to start your business in Rabbit farming. However, make sure that you have enough backup funds in case you need them.

So, are you wondering if rabbit farming is a good idea to start a business? Be informed that it is a very profitable business venture. Many business owners and business enthusiasts are venturing into the rabbit farming business, owing to its scope and good profits. The best thing about this business is that it is not very capital intensive, and you do not require a large area to start. 

The few things that you need to ensure in terms of a rabbit farm are cleanliness, ventilation, the health of animals, quality and regular supply of food and water for the animals, medicine supply, and you are good to go. You will be able to see high profits in no time. However, before starting the business, Ensure that you meet all the legal requirements and all the legal documents ready. Start your rabbit farming business today and gain profits soon. 

Yes, Rabbit farming is a highly profitable business, especially for small-scale producers. Rabbits have a high reproductive rate and produce a large number of young in a short period of time. Rabbit meat is extremely versatile and highly sought after, making it easy to market and sell.

There are many different types of rabbit breeds suitable for rabbit farming, including New Zealand White, Californian, Dutch, Polish and Himalayan.

Rabbits need at least a 6 foot by 6 foot hutch for each individual rabbit for adequate space.

Rabbits eat both fresh vegetables and store bought pellets. Additionally, you may provide hay and fresh Timothy grass as treats.

The first step is to create a plan and develop a business model. Research the market and determine your goals and objectives. Next, secure the necessary supplies, such as cages, feed, and water bottles. Lastly, register your business and ensure that you understand and comply with all applicable regulations.

Clean the cages daily, provide fresh water and feed once a day, give them plenty of exercise, and make sure they are protected from extreme temperatures.

You can market your rabbit meat by building relationships with local butchers, farmers markets, and health food stores. You can also sell the rabbits directly to consumers through your own website.

Rabbits generally take three to five months to be ready for sale, depending on the size and type of breed.

Generally, rabbits should be vaccinated against Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD).

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Angora Rabbit: Whole New Wool

The Angora rabbit, the origin of the breed dates from the eighteenth century in Ankara (Turkey). The first time this rabbit comes to Europe is through France. In the Gallic country, the characteristics of the race are fixed, although it was in England where these were perfected. The origin of its name comes from its similarity with the angora cats, the name that in its turn comes from the capital in which they originated from Ankara.

The main characteristic of the breed is the appearance of a very long coat. These tips are the result of a mutation. This mutation causes them to be the animal’s misfits for the wild since the length of their coat is a handicap to reach the speed of movement, becoming easy prey for the predators.

The Angora rabbit’s hair is used as wool. This rabbit wool weights less than traditional wool and provides much more heat, which has led to a massive exploitation worldwide of this animal. It is also extremely soft to the touch. Nevertheless, its peculiar aspect has also generated that this is an appreciated companion animal. Its peaceful character has helped its presence in the houses of the whole world.

Characteristics of Angora Rabbit

The Angora rabbit, when discussing the characteristics of these rabbits we have to distinguish between the four species of angora rabbit that exist worldwide. According to their morphological characteristics, we can distinguish between:

• French Angora rabbit: It is the most similar to the common rabbits . This breed face and ears are surrounded by smooth fur. Its body is oval and the weight of this species is around 4-5kg.
• Angora Rabbit English: It has a coat more abundant than the previous one, mainly on the head, ears, and legs, and is smaller, not exceeding, in any case, the 4 kg.
• Angora Satin Rabbit: The color of its fur is responsible for differentiating it from others. In addition, their hair is shorter, but also smoother. The weight of this rabbit is around 4kg.
• Giant Angora Rabbit: This rabbit cannot be used for the textile industry since it does not change its coat. By its name already guesses that it is the greatest of the 4, being able to reach the 6 kg of weight. His coat is pure white.

The most characteristic color of angora rabbits is white , although due to its crosses this animal has gained other colors like cinnamon, Gray among others.

The Angora rabbit is very important that your food does not lack hay because it helps to avoid possible intestinal problems and even some rabbits like to use it also as a bed. This works for all rabbits.

In your daily food, you can look for foods that have vitamins, especially for your teeth. You can also give small pieces of vegetables like carrots (2 or 3 times a week). They like the leaves of the carrots, so once a few times and well washed, you will love it!

The Angora rabbit is very quoted in the textile industry since its hair is used to produce wool. It is considered to be one of the most appreciated materials in the textile industry.

Special Feature

The long coat of the Angora rabbits makes keeping this breed of rabbits more exhaustive than that of short-haired rabbits. With the angora will be necessary a regular brushing, once or twice a week as a minimum.

With this brushing of the fur, we will beautify the hair of our pet while avoiding the formation of knots that may disturb you. In addition, we will be protecting you from ingesting hairs, since Rabbits, like cats, brush regularly with their tongue. Brushing him removes dead hairs and prevents them from ingesting them later.

If we have this rabbit at home we must know that they need large spaces to live. Also, know that they are happy rabbits in temperate temperatures that do not exceed 30 degrees nor lower than 10.

They are very peaceful animals, somewhat calmer than any other breed as would be for example toy bunnies. It may be that this peace comes from the difficulty they have to move with the long hair they have, so they prefer to sit or lie down.

Rabbit Profile

Are angora rabbits expensive.

Yes, Angora rabbits are quite expensive. The price of an Angora rabbit can range from $50-$150 depending on the breed, age and quality of the animal. Additionally, Angora rabbits require more care than other breeds due to their long fur, so ongoing costs such as grooming supplies and vet bills should also be taken into consideration.

Can Angora rabbits live inside?

Absolutely! Angora rabbits are very social animals and can make great indoor pets. They are quite small, usually weighing between 4-6 pounds, so they don’t require a lot of space.

What is special about the Angora rabbit?

The Angora rabbit is a unique breed of rabbit that has been around since the 18th century. It is known for its long, silky fur and elegant appearance. The fur of the Angora rabbit is highly prized for its softness and warmth, making it ideal for use in textiles such as sweaters and blankets. In addition to its luxurious fur, the Angora rabbit is also known for its gentle and affectionate temperament. They are intelligent animals that can be easily trained to do simple tricks or follow commands. They are also very social animals, often bonding closely with their owners and enjoying human companionship. All these qualities make the Angora rabbit a popular pet choice among many animal lovers.

We hope this guide has helped you get more information on the Angora rabbit and its wool. As we said before, it is one of the oldest types of domestic rabbits and they are bred for their long fibers that produce a type of wool called Angora Wool. It’s important to note that because rabbits do not possess some allergy-causing qualities like other animals, their wool can be an alternative if you are looking for something different than what is typically available in stores today. If you need help with anything related to these topics or would like any additional information about our company and services please don’t hesitate to contact us anytime!

As A Reference: Wikipedia

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Farming Angora rabbits with love and care

Angora rabbits need a patient approach before their wool can be harvested. but the end-product is sought after by discerning consumers worldwide..

Based at Lion’s River in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, mother-and-daughter Angora rabbit and wool farming team Rosemary and Filia Dimitriades are fairly new to the business. But they are learning fast and their rabbitry is also growing at a swift pace. The Angora’s hair, or more correctly wool, is this rabbit’s ‘golden fleece’, providing for a high-end niche market worldwide.

Angora wool is seven times warmer than sheep’s wool, is exceptionally soft and silky and comes in a variety of natural colours. Adding to its appeal is the fact that Angora wool can be repeatedly and painlessly harvested from live rabbits, provided the technique is done correctly. In 2011 Rosemary, bored with retirement after farming sugarcane and free-range eggs with her husband, Dimitri, bought a breeding colony of five Angora rabbits from breeder Yolande Buhr, also from KwaZulu-Natal.

As she enjoyed handcrafting, Rosemary imagined that she would harvest the Angora wool and knit it into items for friends and family, or even sell some for pin money. But animal-loving Rosemary soon became enamoured of her small rabbit colony and bought 23 more Angora rabbits from Yolande in early 2012. She wanted to increase the colour varieties and needed new genes to prevent inbreeding.

She was soon joined in her interest by Filia. “I’m a qualified teacher, but joined my mother managing the rabbitry and my father in running our ‘Gourmet Greek’ artisan cheeses and yoghurt production business,” says Filia.“Mom and I rescued 12 Angora rabbits from a backyard in Gauteng and then built a proper shed to house all the rabbits.” Today, there are between 90 and 100 Angora rabbits of different sexes and ages. Colour variation s have exotic-sounding names such as black chinchilla, tortoiseshell, chocolate seal, frosted and cinnamon.

Individual housing Dimitri designed and built a rabbit housing system in the 24m x 12m shed. Hygiene, space and rabbit welfare were his primary considerations in the design. “Angora rabbits are territorial and can be aggressive, so we have individual cages to prevent fighting and uncontrolled mating,” he explains. “Underneath the cages is a simple dung and urine drainage system that runs into plastic troughs at the end of each row. This keeps unpleasant smells and flies in the shed to a minimum and also helps to prevent germs spreading.”

Dung and urine troughs are emptied daily and flushed with water. The floor of the rabbitry is swept daily, and the drain system and floor are disinfected weekly. Dimitri has made the shed as rat- and mouse-proof as possible to prevent these rodents from spreading disease or biting the rabbits. The shed has 600mm high walls running its length and weld-mesh from the top of the walls to the roof eaves.

Temperature and ventilation are regulated through custom-made, height-adjustable, plastic curtains that can cover the weld-mesh if necessary. Filia explains that adult Angora rabbits are not too bothered by the Lion’s River winter temperatures that regularly drop below zero overnight. However, young rabbits (kits) born in winter – outside the preferred autumn and spring seasons – must be protected in nesting boxes until they have grown enough wool to insulate their bodies against the cold.

In summer, Angora rabbits can quickly get dangerously hot. To counter this, Rosemary and Filia open the shed’s curtains, set up electric fans to circulate the air and put ice in their drinking water. Water reaches each rabbit through a nipple-line system.

Feeding and health Angora kits nurse from their mothers until they have been naturally weaned at six to eight weeks. This ensures that they get a good start. “Weaned rabbits are fed Meadow Feeds’ Complete Rabbit Feed, although the daily ration for each animal varies according to its age,” says Filia. “Adults get 120g a day. Once they are weaned, the rabbits get a daily ration of fresh grass, hay and a piece of fresh fruit or a vegetable. Pregnant and lactating does get oats, boiled potatoes and bran . Some foods – raw potato, avocado and the seeds of apples and pears, for example – are toxic to rabbits.”

Each rabbit has a name and every cage a number. Details are stored on a data base and health and breeding status is monitored and recorded. “We name our rabbits because they’re special,” Filia says with a smile, while her more pragmatic father sits nearby shaking his head in disbelief. Angora rabbits are at high risk of developing wool block, a potentially fatal blockage in the digestive tract. This condition is caused when the rabbit, while grooming itself, ingests wool. Rabbits affected by wool block are treated as soon as possible.

The rabbits are dosed every three months with Ivomec oral to control internal and external parasites, such as wool mites. Sick rabbits are immediately medicated on-farm or, if necessary, taken to the Umgeni Veterinary Clinic in Hilton, about 20km away, for treatment. Angora rabbits are particularly prone to skin and eye infections because the wool absorbs moisture and urine readily and does not dry quickly. Rosemary and Filia therefore keep the animals as clean and dry as possible and treat infections promptly.

Breeding Mating starts from 12 months. This ensures that a doe is mature before breeding and can provide one wool harvest before she births her first litter. “Mating decisions are based on wool quality and colour. We use a buck to enhance positive traits, and correct any weaknesses in a doe, through the offspring. We don’t put much emphasis on breeding rabbits to compete in shows, but we want to breed them to Angora rabbit breed standards so we can benefit from best quality wool. Breed standards don’t allow for white or pied patches on individual rabbits.”

An Angora rabbit doe is typically productive until five years old. Rosemary and Filia plan to prevent in-breeding by replacing bucks with different bloodlines from other Angora rabbit breeders. Bucks must be replaced every three to five years, depending on their health and how extensively they have been used in the colony. Angora does gestate for 28 to 32 days, and to ensure that the kits are not born in mid-winter, the Dimitriades mate their rabbits only in autumn and spring.

“Setting breeding seasons makes it easier to manage the colony’s health,” explains Filia. “If we allowed does to birth year-round, it would be more difficult. For mating, we always take a doe to a buck because the doe is territorial and can attack and perhaps injure a buck that moved into her cage. The pair spend an hour or more together, while we monitor them in case the doe starts attacking the buck. “Litter sizes in our colony vary from two to nine kits.”

Harvesting Wool is carefully hand-plucked from the chest, back and sides of Angora rabbits. Filia says that a single adult typically produces about 300g of prime plucked wool every year. Good quality A-grade Angora rabbit wool of 12 to 16 microns currently sells for about R2 000/ kg. While B- and C-grade Angora rabbit wool sells for much less, it still fetches a higher price than sheep’s wool.

Rosemary and Filia are stockpiling Angora rabbit wool until they have enough to sell it as is, or to have it knitted into saleable value-added products. If the latter option is chosen, the business will offer casual employment to local elderly citizens. “Farming Angora rabbits is very rewarding but these rabbits require intensive care,” admits Filia. “In particular, they need grooming to prevent their wool from becoming matted with urine, dung and dirt.

And it’s also necessary to make sure they don’t get ill.

“For children wanting a rabbit as a pet, I’d recommend a breed bred specially as a pet, not the Angora.” She adds that although Angora rabbit wool products are appealing, she would never recommend harvesting Angora rabbits as a primary income. “We farm Angora rabbits because we have a passion for the animals and their wool,” she says. Rosemary and Filia aim to have about 200 Angora rabbits by the end of 2014.

Phone Rosemary or Filia Dimitriades on 033 234 4338 or email [email protected] .

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Rabbit Farming Business Plan, Cost, Profit Margin in India

Table of contents, small farms or medium scale farms, requirements for small rabbit farming, for commercial rabbit farming, requirements to plan for commercial rabbit farms, care management for rabbits, feed management in rabbit farming, care for pregnant rabbits, knowing the behaviour of the rabbits, different species, opportunities in rabbit farming, follow these points to specialise in a particular business, profit margin in rabbit farming, main reasons for huge profits are, costs involved in medium scale rabbit farming.

Introduction: Hello livestock farmers, we are back with a great information of rabbit farming business plan in India, cost and profit margin in rabbit farming. Rabbit farming is a different approachand a change from the traditional cattle farming is being done all over the world. This has created a space in business recentlybecause of its use in food sector and wool sector. Like any other livestock business rabbit farming also works the same way, but with higher returns in a short period of time. You can start your extra income by developing proper knowledge on care and management of rabbits. In this article you can gather the important information required for commercial rabbit farming business which you can start. What are we waiting for? let’s look into rabbit farming business plan along with cost and profits in rabbit farming.

A step by step guide to rabbit farming business plan

The main purpose of raising rabbits is for its meat and few other products. Following are the steps which should be followed carefully for the business plan which is given below to start your own profitable rabbit farming business.

Are you planning to small farm or a commercial farm?

Investment decides whether you should do it in a small farm or a commercial farm place with extra arrangements. Rabbits can be grown in any place until they have enough space to run around and play. In an area of 500 square feet the number of rabbits that can be accommodated is approximately 80-100. One basic thing to remember is that, the activity of the rabbits grown should never stop due to scarcity of space. So, consider this before you plan to raise rabbits.

Small farms are never less in any quality when compared to huge setups. It is the proper care management which brings favourable results at the end. Rabbits can be grown in terrace, backyard or even your balcony. But the number grown should always be much lesser than the space they live in.

The following things are required to start a small farm of Rabbit.

Rabbit Kittens-  Start your business from a small point. Just take about 25-30 rabbit kittens to start a small farm.

Food- You just need a little investment for rabbit feed.

Containers- Use small bowls and containers as utensils for rabbit feed.

Shed-  Make your own small shed for the rabbits to protect them from climatic changes and other harmful situations. Keep the shed free from pests by cleaning it at regular intervals. Use antiseptic sprays and other similar medicines to keep the rabbits out from any diseases due to insects.

Water- Provide adequate water supply to the rabbits with clean water throughout the day.

If the investment amount is quite high, you can choose to start the business in a higher level. This might include the installation of certain technical tools in the farm since the count of rabbits here will be high. As a single individual, it is not possible to take complete care of the rabbits in the farm.

You should not miss the How to Grow Leafy Vegetables in Pots .

The basic requirement to multiply the number is the rabbit kitten. Have at least 100 rabbit kittens to increase your number in future.A well-planned setup or a shelter for them to grow and play. The layout should be planned properly calculating the number of rabbit kittens in the present and the ones which be produced in future.Surplus water supply to avoid circumstances of shortage of water for cleaning and drinking.Regular supply of food for the rabbits on a daily basis.

It is advisable to have contracts to ensure break-free flow of food.Containers for the rabbits to eat. These containers should be purchased in bulk to ensure all the rabbits in the farm have healthy food.Pest control devices and medicines should be a part of the farm.Proper ventilation for the rabbits to give them a natural environment.

These are the basic requirements to initiate a rabbit farming business. But apart from these you have arrange will need certain other things to be present in your farm due to geographical or climatic changes.

Proper supervision

After setting up the farm, the rabbits should be taken care of with utmost dedication. Half of the rabbit business fails as the owners fail to take care and they end up shutting the business finally. You should understand that this business deals with a living thing and it is mandatory to check for their safety and health always. Regular check should be done to make sure if the rabbits are healthy enough and they are alive or not. Some rabbits die due to diseases which might not have any spottable reason. Leaving the farm with dead ones will directly affect the health of other rabbits.

Medical check-up by a veterinary doctor is necessary if rabbits are grown in small farms, there is no need for a formal medical check-up since they are under close supervision. But if the rabbits are grown in large areas and are huge in number, they do need a regular medical check-up. If skipped, disease might spread all over the farm causing a great trouble.Layout design isthe most important one as it should be designed in such a way that each rabbit in the farm has a minimum of 1 square feet area to play and run around. Considering the health of the rabbit, it is better to let them free in a selected area with a proper compound around it. Caging them might be easy, but it will have a sizable impact on their growth, hence it would be better if you can provide proper space even though if they can grow. But take care that total area chose should be well-conditioned with air and water.

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The most important part of rabbit farming is proper feeding. The rabbits grown should never stay out of food even for a minute when they want it. Same goes for water which will be needed all day.

BreedingRabbits can be fed with any variety of greens, vegetables especially carrots, etc. This food will be both nutritional for the rabbits and economical for the people owning the business.

As an occasional treat, vegetables and other food supplements can be provided to create a slight change in their diet.

Hay should be given every day and make sure that you don’t use lawnmower hay.Hay is highly recommendable due to its availability and nutrient rich feature.

Try to provide food from same source to ensure disease free growth. Changing the source from where you get food will be a tedious task, so make sure about this point before you start the business.

Breeding is something which again deals with the health of the rabbits. Just as how to care for food, breeding should also be handled properly. A rabbit attains the breeding state at the age of 6 months. This age limit is for small breeds. But for heavy breeds, breeding should take place only at the month of 8 or 9. Rebreeding can take place after an interval of 6 weeks.

Breeding is not a simple process. Proper study of the breeds is required before you purchase the breed, which you should be known before breeding. Rabbits should be allowed to breed with the male rabbit only of the weights are complimenting each other.

Giving maximum care to pregnant rabbits is important and for this you must identify the pregnant rabbits. The symptoms will often turn positive, but at times may be just a false assumption. Rabbits become pregnant after 10 to 14 days from mating. You can observe certain symptoms like increase in size of abdomen and slightly aggressive in behaviour. You can check rabbit pregnancy by touching gently touch the rabbit’s tummy if you feel she is pregnant. You will notice grape sized structure moving.

Incase if you miss this: How to Grow Vegetables in Winter .

The pregnant rabbit litters its kitten after 28-32 days. The average number of kittens produced per litter is 6. Feed the pregnant rabbit with enough of nutrition rich food to have healthy kittens of a pure breed. It is better to avoid cross-breeding to some extent, since it may spoil the health of the rabbits.

The baby rabbits are fed with milk from the mother rabbit in a very clean environment. In 3- 4 weeks, the baby rabbits adapt themselves to the new environment, feeding on their own. This goes as a routine and a matured rabbit can give birth 4 times a year. This stays as an evidence to have multiple rabbits in a very short period of time.

The different habits of the rabbits should be keenly noticed to find the exact state of health. Not only this, misinterpretation should not happen while observing them. They too have different states of mind depending on their activity. Some may be aggressive all time and few others may stay calm the entire day. Handling them properly is very important. In case if you find harsh behaviour in them, separate them out from the crowd to save others.

There are a variety of species in rabbits. It is your choice to choose the right one which suits your layout and environment. The climatic conditions of each country, also affect the growth of the rabbits. Though proper care and setup can grow any variety of rabbit, their nature of living should not be disturbed. If you wish to grow 2 or 3 species at a time, maintain them separately.

Rabbits are one among the protein rich meats in the world, and to mention they are top ranked for their nutritional value. Thus, in countries permitting the consumption of rabbit meat there is an opportunity in food sector.Rabbits are known for their meat and valuable fur. This factor makes the opportunity a valuable one in wool market.Selling rabbits for other owners, wishing to start a rabbit farm is also a profitable business.

Pet shops also look for healthy rabbits to run their business, so you can make a very good business in all these point of views. Thus, you can sell the matured rabbits or kittens after a certain period of time to these pet shop owners.

For people who cannot handle multiple businesses at a time, focus on one particular target. If you want a business in wool industry, grow rabbits which are known for their quality fur. Develop contacts with such industries which use rabbit fur and create a contract with them. Species which are great in fur are Rex, French Angora, American Chinchilla.

Rabbit business are carried out which will earn reasonable percent of profits for the owner. Rabbit farming is one among the most talked businesses that stands first in realising maximum profits. The point here is, other business ideas do earn profits but only after a period of time. Rabbit farming exceptional from that generates income just in 6 months after the start of the business. Survey says, profits are double the investment or even more than that if management is proper.

Theseare the main reasons for huge profits compared to other farms-

Low maintenance charges

Even if farming is carried out in large farms, the costs incurred will be high only when it is compared with the costs in small farms. But if taken along with other businesses, it’s a really low investment. There is no technological cost associated with this type of farming.

Fast productivity

Rabbits give birth fast and this increases its number, as the number of rabbits in the farm gets doubled very soon. Even if you sell rabbits every day, the number remains stable always.

Less Cost for Food

Thefood provided to the rabbits is really less of cost compared to the feed cost. Hay, cabbages, greens are very cheap items in the market. Even if purchased in bulk amounts, it will cost only quarter part of the income.

You may also consider Home Fish Farming in India .

Cost involved in cages for breeding rabbits – Rs.20,000 Cost involved in cages for non-breeding rabbits – Rs.10,000 Cost for baby cages – Rs.10,000 Costs for young rabbits after weaning – Rs.30,000 Costs involved for feeding bowls and water nipples – Rs.10,000 Costs involved in buying rabbit kittens for breeding (Female-40 and male-10) – Rs. 60,000 Costs involved in feeding all the rabbits – Rs.1,20,000 Total costs involved for medium scale Rabbit Farming (50 in number) – Rs.2,60,000. Conclusion

Rabbit Farming is thus a promising business which makes huge profits and thus makes you to start a business. Plan well before you start Rabbit Farming Business in India and also maintain your farm well after starting it. Manage the income properly by spending wisely on the food, cleanliness and every need of the rabbits. It is necessary to supervise the farm closely by allotting a special person for it. Spend more on cleanliness and medical expenses for interruption free farming.

Also, take care of the temperature of the farm to ensure active energy of the rabbits. If the rabbits do not feel comfortable due to temperature, unfavourable situations might arise leading to poor movement. If possible, learn the symptoms of various diseases that can occur in rabbits and treat it by yourself if the condition is serious which you can achieve it by continuous contact with the Veterinary doctor. Maintain certain medicines ready all time to treat injuries or any wounds. This will help you to lessen the chances of death. Treat the rabbits like they are your own pets because these things can also influence the growth and better survival. Rabbits are also like dogs which will long for affection and play time. Do not allow them to grow without interactions. Try to interact within them whenever possible which will actually fasten their growth and doubles their population within very few months.

That’s all folks about rabbit farming business plan in India, cost and profit margins of commercial rabbit farming. You may be interested in How to Start a Goat Farming Business .

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