BackPrecise management can achieve 100% litter survival in Rabbits

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Rabbit is a known prolific animal with a smaller gestation (pregnancy) period of about 30 days and very high rate of reproduction (breedable every month). It can give up to 14 kits (young one) in a litter (single birth) with an average of about 6 kits/litter. Survival of larger litter especially above 8-9 kits/litter is quite challenging, which require both finest management and doe (mother) with better mothering ability. Under optimum conditions, survivability of kits above 90% against all odds is always appreciable. Management includes proper care (bedding, regular check for straying etc.), timely and correct suckling/feeding of the kits and proper feeding of the doe, etc. during the period up to weaning (28-42days). Recently, a doe of Grey Giant breed aged 15months, having a body weight of 4.5 kg gave birth to 11 kits weighing 750g. With fine management practice and excellent mothering ability (caring and docile nature, sufficient milk availability with doe, etc.), all 11kits reared successfully and weaned at 28days of age. The total weight of all the weaned kits was 7.30 kg; means every kit weighed between 600-700g (average weight 663.6g). With this growth trend, 03-month weight of all these rabbits expected to be between 24-26kg with a sale value of Rs.4800-5200/- (@Rs.200/- per kg live body weight).  It signifies that a body mass 06 times of the weight of mother could be possible to achieve within a period of 90 days and in simple terms, it reflects the profit from a single rabbit. As rabbit farming is principally a supportive agriculture activity, use of such an excellent germplasm will definitely help in doubling the income of the farmers.