Feeding rabbits is vital to enhancing growth and production. Rabbit feeds contain all the necessary nutrients like energy, vitamins, and minerals that are essential. This article shows what rabbits eat in a day in Kenya.
Most rabbit farmers in Kenya feed rabbits on grass, young herbs, and crops as well as kitchen waste like green and dry grass, cabbage, and banana leaves.
There is no market for selling rabbits in Kenya, but you can sell them to local companies like the Rabbit Republic. You can also sell them to big hotels, restaurants, research centers, and supermarkets.
How is Rearing of Rabbits Practiced in Kenya?
Rabbits are one of the domestic animals being raised by farmers. Rearing rabbits has gained popularity because it is a profitable business people venture into. If you want to start rearing rabbits, little capital is required.
Rabbits are kept in cages which have enough space with proper ventilation, lighting, heating, and cooling systems. The cage should have feeders and drinkers.
Rabbit Breeds in Kenya
In Kenya, there are several rabbit breeds being raised. The following are the most popular rabbit breeds raised in Kenya: California, Chinchilla, New Zealand white, Flemish giant, Angola, Ear lops, Dutch
Chinchilla is the most preferred for its large mature weight, and New Zealand and California are popular for their fur and meat.
Gestation Period
A rabbit has a short gestation period of less than one month, which is between 28 and 31 days, and a female rabbit can give birth to two to eight bunnies at a time. Rabbits mature between four and five months and reproduce almost eight times a year.
Feeding Rabbits
Feeding rabbits in Kenya is done at least twice a day. They feed on grass, young herbs, crop residue as well as kitchen waste like green and dry grass, cabbage and banana leaves, and food such as ugali. Also, given commercial feeds that contain all nutrients like pellets and hay.
The rabbits should be provided with plenty of water. Rabbits should not be overfed but should be given the required nutrients. Avoid feeding them with wet leaves and only with dry leaves.
6 Benefits of Rearing Rabbits in Kenya
Rearing rabbits in Kenya has the following six benefits for commercial purposes:
1. Rabbits are growing faster, reaching maturity fast and becoming suitable for slaughter within 4 to 5 months.
2. Rabbits have a short gestation period, and each female rabbit gives birth to two to eight kids after two months.
3. Starting rabbit farming requires little capital and investment since you can start in a mall ventilation space.
4. All people can easily consume and digest rabbit meat because it is a very tasty and nutritious food.
5. Feeding rabbits is not costly because you can feed them on grass and plant leaves with their regular commercial feed.
6. Rearing rabbits can be a source of income and employment because you can sell grown rabbits and employ yourself.
Benefits of Rabbit Farming in Kenya
Rabbit farming in Kenya is one of the agricultural practices being practiced. It requires little capital to start rabbit farming since you can keep them in any part of Kenya provided they are housed properly and protected from predators.
According to the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, there are four breeds of rabbits in Kenya; California, Chinchilla, New Zealand, and Flemish Giant.
Rabbits reach maturity in 5 months and achieve slaughter weight at 3 months. They reproduce 3 to 4 times annually, and have 2 to 8 young rabbits.
Benefits of Rabbit Farming
In Kenya, rabbit farming has the following four benefits for farmers:
1. Their meat is white meat, which has good quality, is easily digestible and has low fat.
2. Rabbit urine is used as both an insecticide and a fertilizer.
3. Their skin and fur can be used in the manufacture of fashion items.
4. Rabbit droppings serve as tilapia food for those who have ponds.
How to Feed Rabbits in Kenya
Vegetables and Commercial Feeds
Rabbits feed on vegetables, grass, and also carrots. On average, rabbits should feed on two leaves per day for each rabbit. Feeding rabbits with vegetables will reduce the cost of production for Kenyan farmers.
Also, rabbits can feed on commercial feeds like pellets and hay, in that each rabbit should consume 25 grams of pellets per day.
Best Rabbit Feed
The best foods for rabbits in Kenya are pellets, hay, dry green plants and carrots, which contain all the necessary nutrients for the growth of rabbits.
How Often You Should Feed Your Rabbits
Feeding of rabbits in Kenya is done twice a day, whereby rabbits are fed on both commercial feed and purely green plants. For commercial feeds, rabbits should consume 25 grams of pellets per day and also be given 2 leaves of vegetables per day.
Rabbit feeds in Kenya include commercial feeds like pellets and hay, vegetables like kale, grass, sweet potato vines, carrots, fruits, and enough water.
The Rabbit Pellet Feed in Kenya
The price of rabbit pellets varies with the size of pellets and the type of pellet brand. A 2kg of rabbit pellets costs between Ksh. 90 and Ksh. 150, and a bag of 50kg rabbit pellets is between Ksh. 2250 and Ksh. 3750.
Rabbit pellets are sold mainly in the agro-vet shops in various places in Kenya and in some supermarkets that have stocked rabbit pellets.
Pembe rabbit pellets are a type of pellet that is formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of rabbits. It contains minimal starch and adequate indigestible fibre. Pembe feeds are well balanced for growing and adult rabbits. The cost of Pembe rabbit pellets is between Ksh. 500 and Ksh. 2300.
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