Alternative Livestock pt. 1

What is the term for male rabbits

Buck

What is the term for female rabbits

Doe

What is the term for baby rabbits

kit

What is rabbit birthing called

kindling

How old are junior rabbits

less than 6 months of age

How old are senior rabbits

more than 6 months of age

How old are intermediate rabbits

6-8 months of age (most common for larger breeds)

What are the most common uses for rabbits

• Pets

• show/youth programs

• meat

• lab animals

• wool (Angora)

• skin

Which rabbit is bred to use in labs

Dutch

Which breed of rabbit is the largest

Flemish giant

How much lighting and darkness exposure should rabbits have to breed year round properly

12 hours each

What is a major housing concern should we know for rabbits

• Temperature control: rabbits are temperature sensitive

• Manure management: frequent cleaning and composting

What age do small-sized breeds of rabbits reach puberty?

4-5 months

What age do medium-sized breeds of rabbits reach puberty

5-8 months

What age do large-sized breeds of rabbits reach puberty

8-10 months

What type of ovulators are rabbits

Induced ovulators

How long is rabbit gestation

30-31 days

What is a common rabbit breeding ratio

1 buck per 10 does

How do you evaluate if a rabbit is pregnant or not

Abdominal palpation at 12-14 days

What should you prepare and do during kindling

• provide a nesting box with bedding

• Examine the litter within 24 hours of kindling

• Remove undersize kits

• Monitor for hypothermia or starvation due to low milk production

• Don’t stress/disturb the doe (she will eat a baby or two if she’s stressed)

When do rabbit kits open their eyes

around 10 days old

when are rabbit kits weaned

5-10 weeks

What are the symptoms of Pasteurella Multocida (snuffles)

• runny nose/eyes

• sneezing

• coughing

What percent of a rabbit’s diet should be forage/hay

40-80%

What is coprophagy

eating soft feces to reabsorb nutrients

what kind of fermenter is a rabbit

monogastric, hindgut fermenter

What’s a key concern when handling rabbits

back injury, always support the hind legs

How much do bison’s weigh

1000-2200 lbs

How tall are bisons

5-6.5ft tall

How long are bisons

7-12 ft long

How long do bison’s live for

12-20+ years

What are the common uses of bison

• breeding

• hobby/exhibition

• meat

What law regulates bison meat

Agricultural Marketing Act

Is bison milked for cheese

no, buffalo cheese comes from water buffalo, not bison

How much land does one bison need

2-3 acres

What is the feeding practice in the winter for bisons

supplement hay and protein

When do bisons reach puberty

around 2 years

How long is bison pregnancy

275-285 days

When are calves born

Born in the summer

When are calves weaned

8-9 months

What are some key facility needs for bisons

• strong, tall fencing

• Corral-chute system and an appropriate squeeze chute

What are some key health practices used for bison

• record-keeping

• vaccines

• deworming

• observations