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ABSTRACT
Rabbit production systems in Kenya were studied; challenges to production were identified and recommendations to boost rabbit
productivity were suggested in this research. Four regions of Kenya with significant rabbit farming were selected: Rift valley (Nakuru
county), Central (Kiambu and Nyeri counties), Eastern (Meru county) and Coastal (Taita Taveta county) regions. Data were obtained through
a field survey, questionnaires and personal observations between August and September 2011. The study covered the key areas of rabbit
production including: general farm details, number of rabbits, breeds and breeding practices, housing, feeds and feeding practices,
Constraints to production and recommendations appertaining to the key production challenges. Results showed that rabbit production in
Kenya were mainly small scale (84.8%) principally for income generation and home consumption (89.6%). The majority (75%) of the rabbit
farms were owned by either the household heads or by the spouses. Farmers of higher education levels kept more rabbits compared to those
of lower education. The main breeds kept were New Zealand white (29%), Crossbreeds (24%), Californian white (12%), Chinchilla (11.5%),
Dutch (8%), Flemish Giant (5.5%) and French Lop (4%). The main breeding stocks were selected from own stocks or from the neighboring
farms (90%). Exchange of males (bucks) for breeding was observed among some rabbit farmers, either for free or at an agreed fee. The four
most important challenges to rabbit farming were rabbit diseases (71%), lack of market for rabbits (51%), inadequate husbandry (28%) and
lack of quality breeding stock (15.5%), insufficient funds (11%) and lack of rabbit feeds (8.7%). To address these challenges, sensitization of
the Kenyan population on the benefits of rabbit meat consumption should be promoted, farmers should be trained on proper husbandry
practices, better breeding stocks must be introduced to the farmers to avoid inbreeding, research on rabbit feeding and disease management
must be improved to provide information on proper husbandry practices so as to boost rabbit productivity.
Keywords: rabbit farming; rabbit breeds; rabbit feeding; rabbit challenges.
J. Agric. Sci. Appl. Volume 2, Issue 3 Sep. 2013 PP. 155-159 DOI: 10.14511/jasa.2013.020304 © American V-King Scientific Publishing
155
Journal of Agricultural Science and Applications (J. Agric. Sci. Appl.)
J. Agric. Sci. Appl. Volume 2, Issue 3 Sep. 2013 PP. 155-159 DOI: 10.14511/jasa.2013.020304 © American V-King Scientific Publishing
156
Journal of Agricultural Science and Applications (J. Agric. Sci. Appl.)
B. The Main Objectives of Keeping Rabbits Checkered back; ANG, Angora; CRSS, Crossbred; KW, Kenyan White;
ANG, Angora.
The main objectives of rabbit keeping were both for sale
and home consumption (89.6%). Other less important New Zealand and Californian rabbits were the most
purposes were as pets and source of farm manure (10.4%; common because their breeding stocks were readily
fig. 3). available (43% and 38% respectively). Larger litter sizes
and good mothering abilities were also cited for their
Despite the main objective being for sale, majority (65%)
popularity. The larger breeds such as the French Lop and
of the respondents had not sold any rabbits, reflecting the
Flemish Giant were mostly (80%) preferred for meat
underdeveloped market system. However, during the same
production. Borter and Mwanza (2010) and Hungu et al.
period, majority (73.6%) of respondents had slaughtered
(2013) had also observed similar trends. The most common
rabbits for home consumption hence achieving the second
breeds observed in this study (New Zealand White and
most important objective (home consumption). This was
Californian rabbit) have also been reported to be most
slightly different from Nigeria where similar studies by
popular breeds for meat production in other parts of the
Oseni et al. (2008) and Abu et al. 2008, revealed household
world due to their good growth characteristics and a high
food source to be the main objective with occasional sales.
meat: bone ratio (Lebas et al. 1997; Mailafia et al. 2010;
McNitt et al. 2000).
The majority (90%) of the farmers selected their
breeding bucks from their own stocks or through exchange
with their neighbours since these were the cheapest and
reliable sources. The main reason why breeding stocks
should be sourced off-farm is to avoid inbreeding. However,
this may not rule out inbreeding in Kenya as rabbits reared
by most farmers originated from the same source, the
National Rabbit Multiplication Centre, Ngong. Lack of
breeding records further worsened the situation as this made
development of a reliable breeding program difficult. The
non existence of organized rabbit breeding programs is a
characteristic of the developing countries (Onifade, 1999).
J. Agric. Sci. Appl. Volume 2, Issue 3 Sep. 2013 PP. 155-159 DOI: 10.14511/jasa.2013.020304 © American V-King Scientific Publishing
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Journal of Agricultural Science and Applications (J. Agric. Sci. Appl.)
as suggested by Lukefahr et al. (2000) in Cameroon, where rabbit feeding (8.7%). The absence of reliable sources for
rabbits were used to empower women and children. quality genetic stocks of rabbits, inadequate feeds, lack of
However, Schiere (2004) encouraged the use of wire mesh funds and poor marketing system was also reported by
as opposed to wood for the floor so that the maze can Oseni et al. (2008) in a similar study in Nigeria. Lack of
letdown the droppings reducing disease incidences. This is awareness on the benefits of consuming rabbit meat
because a wooden floor would soak up urine and ammonia consumption influenced the consumer preference for other
which would accumulate in the hutch and also difficult to meats such as chicken over rabbit in Burkina Faso (Hoffman
keep clean. et al. 2004). In addition to the poorly developed market,
Schiere, (2004) noted unavailability of both veterinary drugs
E. Rabbit Feeds and Feeding Management and experienced animal health experts on rabbit diseases to
Majority of the farmers (57.2%) fed their rabbits on be a hindrance to rabbit farming.
locally available forages with minimal concentrate IV. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
supplementation (fig. 5).
Small-scale production systems directed towards home
The level of concentrate supplementation in the form of consumption and income generation were the most
pellets ranged from 20 g to 150 g with an average rate of 70 predominant in this study. The most popular rabbit breeds
g per rabbit and day. However, most of the farmers did not were New Zealand white and the Californian rabbit due to
provide daily supplement, but rather and only when the their readily available breeding stocks and ability to
concentrates were available. The low level of feed inputs multiply rapidly. Caged housing made of locally available
where forages form the greater proportion of the rabbit diet materials was the most common. Low input feeding was
in Kenya have also been reported by Borter and Mwanza common, with a majority of farmers using locally available
(2010) and Cheeke (1986) in other developing countries. forages with or without supplements. The main challenges
Furthermore, in this study, the intensity of feeding reflected included: rabbit diseases, lack of market for rabbits, poor
on the production levels and indirectly to the purposes for breeding stocks, inadequate funds and insufficient feeds.
which the rabbits were kept. For instance, Producers with
lower rabbit numbers (7.2, on average) used mostly locally Currently, there are efforts to commercialize rabbit
available forages as the sole diet and kept the rabbits mainly farming by the Kenyan Government through the revival of
for home consumption. On the other hand, those with rabbit multiplication centres to allow easy access to quality
relatively larger number of rabbits (23.8, on average), breeding stocks by farmers. However, these multiplication
mainly for commercial purposes, supplemented their rabbits centres are few and due to high demand for rabbits, farmers
with commercial feeds (concentrates). are forced to queue for a long time eventually resorting to
other sources, the fellow farmers. This therefore calls for
F. Challenges to Rabbit Production in Kenya additional rabbit multiplication centres. Further, rabbit
husbandry information and hutch plans are still not available
The most important production challenges encountered in the Ministry of Livestock Development and if available,
in the study areas were: Rabbit diseases (71%), lack of farmers do not get this information due to inefficient
market for rabbits (51%), inadequate knowledge on rabbit livestock extension services. Agricultural credit facilities for
husbandry practices, lack of quality breeding stock (15.5%), farmers are mostly offered by the commercial banks but
insufficient funds for expansion (11%) and inadequate farmers still cannot access such funds due to high interest
rates and probably inability to service the loans due to other
production challenges such as rabbit diseases and poor
marketing system. To improve on the local marketing
system, Sensitization of the Kenyan population on the
benefits of consuming rabbit meat should be emphasized.
Farmers also should be trained on proper husbandry
practices such as breeding, feeding, disease management
and record keeping. Last but not least, research on rabbit
feeding and disease management should be enhanced so as
to provide information on proper husbandry practices to
boost rabbit productivity.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
J. Agric. Sci. Appl. Volume 2, Issue 3 Sep. 2013 PP. 155-159 DOI: 10.14511/jasa.2013.020304 © American V-King Scientific Publishing
158
Journal of Agricultural Science and Applications (J. Agric. Sci. Appl.)
J. Agric. Sci. Appl. Volume 2, Issue 3 Sep. 2013 PP. 155-159 DOI: 10.14511/jasa.2013.020304 © American V-King Scientific Publishing
159