Rabbit rearing brought them fortune

Yes, this not a fiction; but a real life story of Hulikere village. Young achievers Raghavendra, Niranjan, Pushparaju and Narayan have reaped success in rabbit rearing. They are not hiding their success, but imparting their experience and knowledge to those who come in search of them. Silently, they have pioneered a revolution.

The youth have started one Manjushree Rabbit Farm with the assistance of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) which has proved an inspiration to many.

The method

One needs a 10x4 ft cage for rearing a unit of rabbits. A unit consists of 7 female and 3 male rabbits. New Zealand White, California White, Cincila and African Black species of rabbits can be reared here, but not the wild rabbits. Rearing wild species amounts to the
violation of Wildlife Act which may attract punishment too.

Rabbit’s gestation period is just one month. A rabbit bores six times in a year. It delivers 3 to 10 offsprings at once. They can be sold after 100 days. A matured rabbit weighs up to 3.5 kg.

Food and health

Rabbits need simple food but careful rearing. Their food includes raagi, wheat, jowar flours, green fodder, and certain leaves.

“If reared in a hygienic condition, they don’t get any diseases. They may catch cold, fewer, etc due to fluctuations in the temperature. But treatment is easy and simple,” says Hulikere veterinary doctor Dr Sathish.

Rabbits can live in a temperature ranging from -2 degree to 38 degree celsius. The plains of Chikmagalur are suitable for rabbit rearing. Farmers in Uddeboranahalli, Kaduralli, Balenahalli in Kadur taluk have been admired by the occupation.

Market

One kg of rabbit meat costs Rs 120 in the market. Davangere’s Sudheendra Reddy, who gave rabbits to the Manjushree Rabbit Farm, himself runs a farm and now purchases rabbits commercially. Besides, there is good demand from the local market too. Unlike chicken or mutton, the rabbit meat contains less fat. Dr Sathish says the rabbit meat contains only 0.3 per cent fat.  Rabbit leather too has good demand.

Rabbit waste is used for preparing organic manures, which is rich with NPK. Each load of rabbit waste  values upto Rs 3,000.

Expenditure

One unit of 10 rabbits along with the cage costs Rs 13,000. To rear them, one needs Rs 6,000 per year. One may get about 200 rabbits in a year from one unit. Raghavendra says one can reap at least Rs 60,000 profit minus all expenditures. Interested may contact 9611638303 or 9741831656.