Unique features of the German Motley Giant rabbits
The stroach rabbit, otherwise called the German butterfly or the German motley giant, is a fairly common type of large-eared animals. In breeding with farmers, they are of great interest all over the world. Why are these eared ears so good, besides dietary meat? Why are they chosen by breeders from all over the vast planet? Let's figure it out.
German motley giant
Origin
More than three hundred years ago in Europe, farmers bred rabbits for meat. By the middle of the 19th century, at the peak of the worship of music and poetry, breeders turned their attention to the color of the eared animal. It was decided to cross the Belgian Flandre breed with a regular black and white rabbit. In 1907, the bred breed was presented to the public and officially included in the list under the name German Motley Giant (in 1937, due to subsequent crosses, it was registered as a separate breed of Riesen rabbits)
Description and characteristics
Rabbits of the Strokach breed are considered giants because:
- Their weight is about 6 kg, there are individuals up to 10 kg.
- Adult rabbits have a muscular body.
- The giants are about 71 centimeters long.
- Large solid ears 16-18 cm.
- Short thick neck, strong legs.
- The eyes are large, the color is brown.
- The fur is about 3.5 cm, shiny, pleasant to the touch.
- Dotted patterns are arranged symmetrically on the sides.
The subspecies has three colors:
- on the back there is a black stripe of three centimeters (continuous), hence the name of the string;
- because of the black spot in the form of a butterfly on the face, respectively, the name (Butterfly);
- the name rabbit The German motley giant received because of the colored spots on the tail, sides.
In an artificial habitat, there are various mixed color options, but more often black and white representatives of the German giant rabbit breed.
Coloring and its features
When breeding the Strokach breed, it is always very difficult to achieve the correct color of the fur. Sometimes, with their unstable color, this is a difficult, practically unsolvable task.
Important: to achieve the desired color, it is necessary to cross a standard male with a white female.
In one litter, you can find individuals with a color inherent for this species, as well as snow-white, piebald, monochromatic. Therefore, rabbit breeders, when breeding thoroughbred eared eared, should at least possess the basics of genetics (know the dominant and recessive genes, be able to find an individual with a pronounced set of certain traits and select the appropriate pair for it).
Selection of individuals for breeding the Strokach breed
Tribal eared Strokach must be selected according to some principles:
- The most selective males should be crossed with the best females.
- The emphasis is on the male, it is he who should be distinguished by health and the necessary characteristics.
If the rabbit has underestimated indicators, then a healthy, powerful rabbit can pass on its genes to almost half of the offspring.
Purebred differences:
- shiny coat, bald patches, lumps are unacceptable;
- bright drawing, which should have clear outlines;
- weight 5-10 kg, discrepancy in kilograms is a sign of not purebred;
- eyes - only brown;
- animals are kind, without aggression, calm;
- variegated color appears with age, so monochromatic rabbits are often born;
- in adult German giants, the body is muscular, slightly elongated.
If you want to get the desired characteristics (traits), always keep an eye on the purebred animals used in breeding.
Sex differences in rabbits of the Strokach breed
A good farmer will always be able to distinguish a male from a female, knowing only specific signs:
- The weight of the male is 10% less than that of the female.
- The head of the rabbit Strokach and the rabbit has a difference, the former is elongated, and the latter has a rounded shape.
- The stork rabbit has wider ears and an athletic build.
It turns out that it is enough just to look at the livestock in order to immediately notice the necessary individuals (rabbits or rabbits).
Keeping and breeding rabbits
Rabbits The German motley giant is important to keep in spacious cages or open-air cages with a floor without metal nets. In summer, it is advisable to walk in a specially built spacious enclosure.
The living space of pets must be kept clean at all times. Although they can endure cold, inclement weather, rooms where the wind "walks" should be abandoned.
Rabbit breed The German giant does not tolerate darkness, but prolonged exposure to sunlight is unacceptable.
By 6 months, when the eared ears reach puberty, they can be mated. Rabbits bring 8-10 babies in one okrol.
Females are placed in separate cages before birth (pre-lined with straw). A soft, small box is placed there. The rabbit herself will begin to build housing for the kids. It is necessary to better monitor the nutrition of the individual, try not to touch it or disturb it. The female is a very good mother (in practice, there are no known cases of mother abandoning her baby). Due to the large amount of milk, the rabbit has a 100% ability to feed all the rabbits.
Rabbits open their eyes only for 10-12 days. In the third week, at night, they already independently get out of the nest. Separating the babies from the mother is recommended for the second month. If rabbits are taken from the female ahead of schedule, then they can gain weight poorly in the future, since this breed has a very close relationship between individuals.
After birth, the female needs constant access to drinking water. Otherwise (due to thirst), she may eat rabbits.
Diseases, prevention
For the prevention of diseases, it is necessary to vaccinate once every six months (vaccinations against HBV and myxomatosis). If manipulations are done by a veterinarian, then it is imperative to take a document where the date and data on the vaccine are indicated.
If animals are kept in warm conditions, then the likelihood of catching a cold is very small. If this happens, then it is necessary to separate the sick individual from the healthy one, in order to avoid contamination of the whole livestock by airborne droplets.
Weight gain
Unlike other breeds of rabbits, the German Giant gains weight evenly every month. By 3 months he has a good weight of 2.3 kg, and by the fifth - 4.5 kg, which is very beneficial when breeding rabbits for meat. Usually, eight-month-old individuals are taken for slaughter, but if they are kept longer than this period, then they will continue to remain in weight (but the meat in such cases becomes more rigid).
Feeding
The diet of the eared eared should contain green plants, flower stems, dandelions, clover, sedge. Do not deny your pet treats (they love fruits, vegetables, herbs (dill, sorrel, parsley)).
In the autumn-winter period, it is desirable to include vitamin and mineral complexes in food.
In winter, green forage is replaced with hay and straw. You can give the bark of fruit, coniferous and deciduous trees.
Roughage are recommended:
- millet;
- corn;
- oats;
- rye;
- legumes.
Tip: Change your drinking water more often, because it must always be fresh (this will reduce the likelihood of poisoning and the transmission of diseases that can cause death).
Home content
In our country, the Strokach breed is rarely bred as pets. This subspecies is large, so a lot of space is required to keep animals. Large funds are also spent on food. Due to its high weight, it is not recommended to buy it for children (for fear of hurting the child).
But, having such advantages as a kind character and quick addiction to a person, if you nevertheless decided to keep the animal at home, then buy toys for it, take care of specialized feed, good care, and most importantly, provide more free space.
How Much Are the Rabbits of the German Spotted Giant
Individuals are not recommended to buy in pet stores and markets due to low genetic indicators. Often there are fake documents, where all the characteristics of the animal are registered, including vaccinations. Better to purchase individuals from farmers or professional factories. The healthier the giant and the clearer the pattern, the more expensive the cost.
It is better to choose rabbits of the German variegated giant breed at the age of 2-3 months, their average cost is 1000 rubles.