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Breeding Giant Flanders rabbits

Representatives of the oldest breed of Flanders rabbits have a second name - the Belgian Giant. A small animal cannot be called a giant. Indeed, its dimensions are comparable to those of a medium-sized dog. Excellent physical performance attracts breeders when raising them for meat and skins.

Rabbit Flander has a quick wit and wit. You can safely give him a nickname - he will respond to it. Playful, cute, harmless - animals of this breed are increasingly being used as pets. It does not conflict with other animals, does not show aggression towards adults, and finds contact with children of all ages.

Giant flanders rabbits - Flemish

date of origin Flanders rabbits

The first mention of Flanders dates back to 1860, and global breed standards were officially introduced in 1893.

Exact data on when the dynasty was created has not been preserved: some believe that it has existed since the end of the 15th century, but most sources attribute its appearance to the 17th-18th centuries. The place of origin - the historical province of Flanders, which previously belonged to Belgium - does not cause controversy, because it is reflected in the name. The wide distribution of these fluffs in the 19th century was facilitated by the importation of many individuals into the United States, where giants still predominate among farm rabbits.

The Flemish giant is much larger in size and body weight than its "congeners"

The Flemish giant in size and body weight far exceeds its "congeners"L

Over time, in many countries, other subspecies were bred by livestock breeders: German, Spanish, Belgian, English, as well as white and gray giants, which were included in the Russian State Register of Breeding Achievements in 1993 and allowed for breeding and cultivation on the territory of the Russian Federation.

In terms of external characteristics, representatives of different subspecies have some differences from the "basic" type, however, they have enough in common.

For large breeds of rabbits, twice daily feeding is recommended. It is best to give the hay a delicacy ad so that the animal has access to it all the time. The ideal diet should include at least 40 grams of cereals and purees. It is an indispensable part of the daily menu in Flanders.

Necessary feeds included in the mash:

Raw pumpkin, well peeled from seeds, boiled potatoes, fodder beets

Raw carrots, white cabbage or cauliflower.

Some breeders are wondering if zucchini can be given to rabbits? Of course, it is possible and even necessary, but it is better to clean them of seeds.

Vegetables intended for feeding should be grated and mixed with the compound feed. The purchase of compound feed is associated with significant cash costs, which can be avoided by preparing such feed yourself.

This requires the following components:

wheat or barley in the amount of 30 kg; Corn - 15 kilograms

Oats - 5 kilograms.

Description of Flanders rabbits

Flemish giants can hardly be called "cute", because they are so huge and awkward. Despite this, some animal lovers keep Flanders as pets. If we consider rabbits as a source of meat or skins (in the direction of use, they are referred to as meat skin), then the appearance does not matter at all. In this case, consumer qualities and quantitative indicators are important.

For those who plan to start breeding Flanders rabbits, it is important to take into account that females reach sexual maturity only at the age of eight months, almost twice as often as in other breeds. The average number of young rabbits in a litter is 6-8, sometimes it can reach 9-12 individuals. Females have a high milk yield, so having a large number of young animals should not be considered a disadvantage.

A female can drive more than ten baby rabbits in a litter A female can drive more than ten baby rabbits in a litter

Rabbits grow rapidly and by the end of the second month of life they usually weigh about 1.6 kilograms, and after the third month they recover by another kilogram. Six months after birth, the average weight of a rabbit is 5.5 kg, and by the beginning of the 9th century, the mass of healthy individuals reaches 7 kg.

The average meat yield is 55%, which is much lower compared to pure beef breeds. However, given the large live weight, from an adult crawl of 6 kg, you can get 3.3 kg of meat, which is not so little.

In terms of the quality of the skins, Flanders is also inferior to specialized fur breeds. But due to the fact that raw materials of impressive size can be obtained from one individual, the skins of Flemish giants are in constant demand.

Standard Belgian Giant Breed.

However, I cannot just "bury" this wonderful breed in my mind, I insist on observing the breed standard for a true domestic Flanders, a purebred Belgian or Flemish giant, registered in regional catalogs. No one has canceled them yet, and they exist in parallel with the European Union in a number of countries.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Flanders rabbits

Some rabbit breeders believe that purebred Flanders are not suitable for breeding in Russia due to climatic conditions. Giants do not tolerate frost well. For this reason, the preferred choice is called rabbits of domestic breeds, which were bred on the basis of Flemings. To agree with the above point of view or not is everyone's business. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the most important pros and cons of the breed.