Rabbit ram and its subspecies
The ram rabbit is a meat or decorative breed that was first bred in England. It got its name because of the drooping ears and the special structure of the muzzle. Over the past two centuries, several varieties of rabbits have appeared in different countries. In our country, they became known relatively recently. Most often, fold rabbits are now bred as decorative animals.
Rabbits of the Ram breed
The main signs of rabbits are rams
The ram rabbit appeared as a result of a mutation that led to lop-earedness. Two centuries ago, British rabbit breeders decided to fix the genetic anomaly. Since that time, the feature has been steadily passed from generation to generation. The result was the first fold-eared breed - the English Sheep. The animals got their name because they look like little lambs. Today there are more than ten varieties. Each has its own peculiarity, but they are all united by common characteristics:
- Drooping ears
- Large head
- Broad forehead
- Cropped blunt nose with a hump
The sizes of animals are different. Lop-eared rabbits are giants and dwarf rams. In young animals, the ears are straight, they begin to sag at the age of about 6 weeks. The nature of the rabbits of the rams is calm. Due to the special structure of the ears, they are not so sensitive to sounds and not too shy. True, breeding a breed of rabbits rams requires some effort.
Varieties of rabbits rams
The breed of decorative rabbits, rams, is not uniform in structure. Several varieties have been bred in different countries. To date, the following subspecies are known:
- English
- French
- German
- Meissen
- Dutch or dwarf
- Nappy
- Plush or corduroy
Subspecies have their own characteristics, but they are all united by common characteristics, which are described above. Breeding is best done within the same breed to maintain specific characteristics. Below is a brief description of the main subspecies.
English ram
The breed of rabbits, the English ram, was the first to be bred, and many other subspecies were derived from it. These animals have very long ears, about 60 cm. The record holders have a recorded length of 71 cm. Another feature is the shortened front and elongated hind legs. This characteristic makes the back of the case appear to be lifted up. The weight of the rabbits is 4.5-5 kg. English rams are very attached to the owner, if not properly looked after, they can run wild.
French ram
The French ram rabbit was obtained by crossing the German giant with the English fold. As a result, a real giant with hanging ears and a specific muzzle. They have a wide head with chubby cheeks, an elongated and widened back, a large breast. The length of the ears is around 45 cm.The color of the coat is different - red, blue, gray, black, white, Madagascar, etc. The weight of an adult is 4-8 kg. Large cages are needed to keep massive rabbits at home.
German ram
The rabbit of the German sheep breed has a short muzzle with a flattened nose and an extended jaw. The forehead is wide, between the hanging ears there is a kind of elevation that resembles a crown. The body of rabbits is not very long, but widened, with a short neck. The average weight is 4-9 kg. German fold-eared rams descend from French ones, were bred in 1933.
Meissen ram
The Meissen ram was bred in Germany in the century before last. Today, the breed is considered almost extinct and is under protection. The animals have a large head with chubby cheeks and a strongly curved nose. Fur grows magnificently between the hanging ears, forming a crown. The body is slightly elongated, stocky, females may have a slight dewlap. The coat evenly covers the entire body, its structure is smooth, colors can be any other than silver. Meissen rabbit ram is medium in size, weighs 3-5 kg.
Dutch ram
Dutch rabbits of the ram breed are typical decorative animals. They have miniature sizes, weigh 1.3-1.8 animals and are considered the smallest among their lop-eared counterparts. The body of the rabbits is short and wide, the legs are plump. The coat is fluffy and soft to the touch, it can be of any shade. The Dutch mini rabbit is considered the smallest breed among sheep. Breeding it as a pet has become very popular among Europeans.
Fleecy ram
The ram hairy rabbit is a very young breed, bred in the USA on the basis of the Dutch Fold rabbits. Differs in a wide variety of colors, about 20 shades are officially recognized. The fur of the fleecy rabbits is very fluffy and requires constant grooming and brushing. The muzzle is shortened, like the little body, because the animals resemble small balls. The weight of the fleecy rams is 1.6-1.8 kg. These animals are kept at home as decorative ones.
Corduroy ram
The corduroy fold rabbit is a very young species. Her breeding began several years ago in Australia and is still in its infancy. Plush or corduroy rabbit was named because of the special structure of the wool. It is short and soft, reminiscent of corduroy. The coat of Rex rabbits has a similar feature. The plush ram weighs 3-6 kg. Its content as a decorative animal is becoming more and more popular.
Rabbit keeping
Ram rabbit cages should be spacious so that the animals do not step on their ears. This is especially true for large varieties such as French, German or English. The floor in the cage is lined with shavings or sawdust. It is undesirable to keep rabbits on a net or on a pallet with cells, they are prone to pododermatitis. The depth of the pallet should be at least 15 cm so that the eared animals can freely dig their own burrows.
Decorative ram rabbits can be kept in an aviary. Its area should be at least one square meter. The aviary is installed in the shaded part of the apartment, away from windows and heating appliances. These animals are sensitive to drafts and cold. If the cages are outside, they need to be additionally heated in winter. It is also undesirable to expose the house in direct sunlight.
The cells should be cleaned at least once a week. Animals need to regularly examine their ears, remove dirt. Lop-eared rabbits are resistant to many diseases. Ornamental breeds live 10-12 years if the maintenance and feeding is correct. The meat rabbits are sent for slaughter earlier. To protect against infections, rabbits should be vaccinated on time.
Feeding rabbits
Proper feeding of rabbits is no less important factor in the health of animals than care and maintenance.There are no special requirements for the diet, the same feeds are suitable for lop-eared rabbits as for ordinary ones. The menu includes:
- Fresh green grass
- Concentrates - wheat, barley grains, rye, oats
- Vegetables - carrots, boiled potatoes, cabbage leaves, zucchini, cucumbers
- Fruit - seedless apples, pears, bananas
- Hay in the cold season
- Rowan, maple, oak, willow, apple, pine, Christmas tree twigs
There should always be fresh water in the cage. Don't forget about mineral supplements. Rabbits are given chalk, salt stone, or special ready-made complexes. If necessary, vitamins are included in the diet. They are necessary, first of all, for females and young rabbits. It is also worth feeding the animals with vitamins in late winter and spring.
Breeding fold rabbits
Sheep rabbits for breeding at home are not the easiest breed. If you cross an ordinary animal, with erect ears, with a lop-eared one, you get a not very beautiful hybrid. Such a crawl will have so-called helicopter ears, not fully drooping and not fully erect. Therefore, the mating of rabbits is allowed exclusively within their own breed.
Puberty in males and females occurs at 6-7 months, from this age they begin to be used for reproduction. For mating, the female should be placed next to the male. It is very important to ensure that animals do not become obese, their sexual instinct falls from excess weight. Pregnancy lasts about 30 days. Rabbits give birth from 3 to 10 rabbits. Dwarf breeds - 3-4 bunnies. Up to 20 days, the rabbit must feed the babies with milk. Then they are gradually transferred to adult feed. Special care for the rabbits is not needed, the females are excellent mothers, and the cubs have a high survival rate.
How much do ram rabbits cost? The price of animals of this breed is from 400 to 700 rubles per individual. Most often they sell the French breed. It has not only decorative, but also economic value. After all, the "French" weigh up to 8 kg, their fur and skins are of excellent quality. Other subspecies are more difficult to find and may be more expensive. It is important to remember that the ears of rams begin to droop after 6 weeks, fully formed by two months. Therefore, you should not buy rabbits at an earlier age, so as not to accidentally acquire a hybrid or another species.