Livestock farming is considered one of the most complex, resource-intensive and at the same time profitable areas of agriculture. However, this type of business is not necessarily characterized by multimillion-dollar investments in the purchase or construction of huge farms. For example, you can start rabbit breeding almost from scratch - just build a few cages and purchase young animals of a suitable breed.

Breeding rabbits as a business - profitable or not? If the entrepreneur has a free plot of land, a personal subsidiary plot and access to a feed supply, the answer will definitely be positive - even taking into account the fact that in this case the products can only be sold to private clients, acquaintances and buyers at the agricultural market. If we are talking about creating a large rabbit farm and maintaining a herd of several thousand animals, then such a project requires careful calculations, analysis of market capacity and the development of a full-fledged business plan.

Business Features

in general, and rabbit breeding in particular, is a fairly promising area for entrepreneurs for the following reasons:

• The rabbit meat sales market is only half full;
• The product is superior in dietary and taste qualities to beef and pork;
• The owner of a farm can count on tax holidays and various government subsidies;
• Due to low costs, the cost per kilogram of products is significantly lower than that of other types of meat, and the selling price is high due to limited supply.

Rabbit meat is used not only for preparing dishes in restaurants or at home, but also in the production of canned food, sausages, semi-finished products, as well as for providing meals to convalescent patients. Therefore, clients of a rabbit farm can be:

1. Meat processing plants;
2. Individuals with any level of income;
3. Catering establishments;
4. Medical institutions, hospitals, dispensaries;
5. Enterprises and educational institutions with canteens.

Rabbits reproduce and grow very quickly. After giving birth, the female is immediately ready for a new mating and, thanks to the possibility of combining the periods of pregnancy and lactation, can bear offspring up to six times a year. By the age of four months, representatives of meat breeds reach a marketable weight of 4–5 kg sufficient for slaughter, as a result of which meat production becomes almost continuous.

Choosing a breed for breeding

When considering where to start raising rabbits, you should first determine the priority area of ​​livestock farming:

• Meat production;
• Breeding of combined breeds (production of meat and skins);
• Maintenance of fur and fur breeds;
• Breeding ornamental breeds.

As a business, raising rabbits for meat, due to its high profitability, is most popular among entrepreneurs. The most common meat breeds include:

• New Zealand white;
• French ram;
• Californian.

Raising rabbits for meat and skins involves purchasing young animals of combined breeds with thick, beautiful fur and good meat yield:

• Gray and White giants;
• Riesen (German Giant);
• Soviet chinchilla;
• European and Poltava (Soviet) silver;
• Vienna blue.

To obtain rabbit fur or fluff, select breeds with beautiful thick wool of original colors. Despite the fact that fur-bearing rabbits have a smaller body weight, their meat is in no way inferior in taste to other varieties. Suitable for industrial breeding:

• Russian ermine;
• Rex white, blue, Russian, fiery, black;
• Angora English or French rabbit.

In a business plan for breeding rabbits, calculations must take into account the costs of forming a breeding herd. You should buy young animals only in nurseries or at special exhibitions after a mandatory examination by a veterinarian: the likelihood of purchasing sick animals of unknown pedigree at the poultry market is quite high. The cost of each specimen is determined by its age: meat and meat-skinned breeds are estimated at 420–450 rubles for each month of keeping on the farm.

Drawing up a business plan

Despite the apparent simplicity of the technology, the rabbit farming business has many subtleties that are sometimes unknown even to an experienced farmer. To assess the prospects for this type of activity, any entrepreneur can download a rabbit breeding business plan template for free and make their own calculation of the main economic indicators: a project presented in numbers is more visual than an abstract concept.

The business plan of a rabbit farm consists of standard sections (overview, production and economic), however, such initial data as the cost of feed, breeding stock, land, market prices for products are purely individual and depend on specific regional conditions.

In general, the project needs to consider the following issues:

1. Description of the product, its advantages and benefits, justification of demand;
2. Description of the enterprise, size of the breeding herd and expected increase in livestock;
3. Analysis of the capacity of the regional market, the presence of large customers and competitors on it, proposed mechanisms for the sale of meat, skins and other products;
4. Production plan - number and design of cages, desired location of the site, mechanisms for supplying young animals and preparing feed;
5. Financial plan taking into account expenses and expected income;
6. Strategy for searching new markets and enterprise development.

It should be noted that downloading a business plan for breeding rabbits and adapting it for your own purposes is much easier and cheaper than ordering the development of a project from third-party organizations for 50–60 thousand rubles. An additional advantage in this case will be that the entrepreneur will gain some experience in carrying out economic calculations, without which even the most profitable business becomes risky and unpredictable.

Options for registering activities

Methods for legalizing the operation of a farm also require consideration in a ready-made business plan for breeding rabbits. The simplest organizational form is a personal subsidiary plot - in this case, the entrepreneur may not pay taxes, but has the right to sell products only to acquaintances or private buyers at collective farm markets.

For private household plots it is necessary to register:

• Farmer's health record;
• Veterinary certificate about the health status of the animals and whether they have vaccinations;
• Certificate of laboratory analysis of meat and permission to sell;
• Sanitary certificate for a vehicle used to transport products.

In addition, in some regions the size of the breeding herd is regulated for private household plots. To get rid of such restrictions and be able to supply meat to retail stores, a business plan for breeding rabbits at home must include registration with the tax authorities as an individual entrepreneur or a peasant farm. In this case, it is necessary to choose a suitable taxation system: for a rabbit farm, the best option is the Unified Agricultural Tax at a rate of 6%.

In general, individual entrepreneurs and peasant farms are identical from the point of view of taxation and accounting - the main differences are that a peasant farm may have several owners, and the entrepreneur who created it has the right to receive a state grant under the agricultural industry development program.

Organizational matters

A significant drawback when raising rabbits at home is the limitation of the total number of adults in the farm depending on the distance to residential premises. Thus, no more than 20 animals are allowed to be kept within 20 meters from the house. Therefore, in accordance with sanitary standards, for the construction of a large rabbit farm, use a site protected from the wind, located at a distance of more than 300 m from the nearest houses, other farms, wetlands and landfills.

The area required to implement a business idea for breeding rabbits depends on the scale of the enterprise: all the structures necessary to maintain a herd of 1000 heads will be located on a plot of 10–12 acres. However, if you purchase or rent several hectares, the remaining territory can be used for growing feed crops - alfalfa, corn, beets or barley, which will ultimately lead to significant savings on the purchase of feed.

Raising rabbits at home from scratch involves using one of four common technologies:

• Breeding animals in closed premises with a controlled microclimate. In this case, the farm consists of one or more hangars equipped with artificial lighting, heating and ventilation systems. For small-scale production, a barn, garage or other outbuilding is used as such a room;
• Using Mikhailov mini-farms. This design allows you to fully automate the process of keeping animals - it is enough to fill the feeders once a week, pour water into the drinking bowls and clean the receiving bin with waste. Mikhailov cages are also equipped with heating, which is especially convenient for beginners - raising rabbits at home is practically independent of seasonal fluctuations in the breeding cycle;
• Keeping rabbits in multi-tier cages using the Zolotukhin method. The cages are placed along the walls in special long buildings (sheds) and covered with a common roof, which greatly simplifies the processes of feeding and cleaning using motorized equipment. The shed system is especially popular among summer residents and beginning farmers due to the possibility of arranging enclosures from scrap materials.

Technology for raising rabbits in a pit. At the same time, there is no need to build a farm - just choose a dry, elevated place and arrange a brick-lined hole 1.6–2 m deep with several holes there. In addition to the advantages in the form of simplicity of rabbitry equipment and minimal requirements for start-up capital, breeding rabbits in pits as a business also has significant disadvantages: in such conditions it is impossible to keep animals of fur-bearing and meat-skin breeds, and close contacts of individuals provoke the instant spread of diseases among them. In addition, when raised in a pit, rabbits become smaller and run wild due to the impossibility of carrying out breeding work with them.

Farm equipment

The territory of the future farm needs to be landscaped: clear the site for construction, ensure connection to electrical networks and uninterrupted supply of water from a well, well or water supply system. In addition, according to sanitary requirements, the area with cages must be fenced with a solid or mesh fence 1.5 m high. In general, rabbit breeding as a business requires the construction of several structures, including:

• Rabbit farms. In accordance with the selected conditions for raising rabbits, sheds with cages made of wood, OSB sheets and galvanized mesh are erected on the site, or rows of ready-made Mikhailov mini-farms are installed: each such block is designed to contain 20–25 rabbits and occupies 1.4–1.5 m² area;
• Feed shop. For storing feed, a barn of suitable size is used, and in its absence, a hangar capable of accommodating a supply of hay, feed and root crops. When the cost of grain is low, it is advisable to purchase and install a granulator and crusher in the workshop in order to be able to prepare the feed yourself. An area of ​​10–15 m² is also being developed here for storing tools and motor vehicles;
• Domestic premises. A small insulated house is needed for an overnight stay for a watchman and a veterinarian who monitors newborn rabbits around the clock. You can equip a room in the house for staff meals and rest, and allocate space for storing skins. If there is no suitable building on the site, a panel structure is erected or a 3x6 m block container is installed;
• Carnage. As a business, raising rabbits for meat involves setting up a separate building for slaughtering animals: finishing such a room with tiles and metal should allow for regular cleaning and disinfection.

The list of equipment for the slaughterhouse includes:

1. Devices with hooks for hanging carcasses;
2. Stainless steel tables and sinks;
3. Knives and cutting boards;
4. Refrigerated chambers for meat;
5. Recycler of offal and waste (diesel or gas cremator).

Manure collector. A manure pit equipped with an open canopy, at least 3 m deep, with concrete walls, is located at the maximum distance from the slaughterhouse and rabbit hutches (according to sanitary standards, at a distance of at least 100 m).

Farm construction costs

Name	Amount, rub.
Land plot 5 hectares with registration	110000
Drilling and well construction	130000
Electrical connection	5000
Installation of mesh fencing for a farm 50x50 m	62000
Purchase of 40 Mikhailov cells	480000
Feed shop hangar 12x12 m	160000
Arrangement of a manure collector	25000
Household premises 3x6 m	80000
Slaughterhouse premises	125000
Cutting shop equipment	50000
Low temperature meat cabinet	48000
Gas waste cremator 50 kg	115000
Mini tractor Belarus	287000
Hand tools (shovels, forks, rakes, wheelbarrows)	25000
Cell repair tool	15000
Buckets, shovels for feed, drinking bowls	10000
Total:	1727000

Feeding the animals

In a home business, raising rabbits involves including food waste, cabbage, various cereals and self-harvested hay in the animal's diet. However, with industrial maintenance, the entrepreneur will not be able to afford such a variety of feed, and therefore will be forced to purchase or procure:

• Green food - meadow grasses, potato and beet tops, corn, alfalfa;
• Dry food - silage, grass hay and branches of fruit trees, which animals love to sharpen their teeth on;
• Juicy food - carrots, potatoes, beets;
• Grain feed - compound feed, wheat, barley, oats, beans, corn grain;
• Mineral supplements - chalk, salt, bone meal.

The cost of a ton of hay is 5,000 rubles, root crops - 12,000 rubles, grain - 6,000 rubles, complete feed - from 8,000 to 12,000 rubles. Taking into account the daily feeding rate given below, in a business plan for breeding rabbits for a farm of 1000 animals, you need to allocate at least 500 thousand rubles a year for the purchase of feed.

Daily feeding rate, g

You can feed rabbits with ordinary water from a borehole or well, provided that it is odorless and free of foreign impurities. The water in the drinking bowls is changed every day.

Meat and meat-skinned breeds usually comfortably withstand changes in air temperature over a wide range, so they can be kept outdoors throughout the year. However, there are some factors to consider when breeding and raising rabbits:

1. Animals do not tolerate high humidity and drafts;
2. The temperature in the cells should not rise above 30°C and fall below –20°C;
3. The cage of the female with the rabbits needs to be additionally insulated and heated;
4. Cages should be dry, ventilated and well lit;
5. In cold climates, raising rabbits as a business involves building a separate room for wintering.

In a breeding herd, there are four to eight females per male, who reach reproductive age at five to six months. The rabbit is kept separately and during mating is alternately placed with the female rabbits. After 28–30 days, offspring of 6–8 rabbits can be expected from each.

The female is ready for a new mating immediately after giving birth, however, given the fact that she must feed the offspring with milk for 5–7 weeks, mating is recommended once every three to four months. When kept outdoors, the first mating is carried out in early April, and when breeding rabbits in heated cages, throughout the year. Thus, after 12 months, the offspring of one rabbit will number 40–70 heads.

Financial investments and expenses

Any involves the maximum involvement of all resources available to the entrepreneur. When considering, you should study the available material base and think through options for its use: for example, in a private farm, a slaughterhouse is set up in the summer kitchen, a feed shop is set up in the barn, sheds are built from scrap materials, and hay is prepared in the pasture independently. In general, the costs of setting up a farm are determined by the location of the existing land plot, the presence of buildings, water and power lines on it, and the size and cost of the breeding herd.

Initial Investment

A business such as raising rabbits at home is accompanied by ongoing costs, which can be determined in terms of the year of operation of the farm, taking into account constant fluctuations in the size of the livestock:

Current annual expenses

Profit and profitability

Income from rabbit breeding can only be calculated approximately, within the boundaries of the indicators, since neither the number of rabbits in litters, nor the survival rate of young animals, nor the final cost of meat on the market can be predicted in advance. The following minimum values ​​can be used as initial data:

• The size of the breeding herd is 100 heads, of which 80 are females;
• The average number of rabbits in litters is 6;
• The number of births in the first year of work is 2, in the second and subsequent years - 3;
• The maximum number of animals on the farm is 1060;
• The market weight of a meat rabbit is 5 kg;
• Meat yield from carcass - 60%;
• The cost of a kilogram of rabbit meat is 425 rubles.

Thus, in the first year it is quite possible to sell 960 carcasses weighing 3 kg each. The total income from their sale will be 1,224,000 rubles. When considering, we must also not forget about the sale of rabbit skins for 350 rubles per piece and manure for 1000 rubles per ton.

Consequently, the total annual income of the farm can be estimated at 1,580,000 rubles, which, minus taxes and current expenses, is equivalent to 495,640 rubles of net profit. The profitability of a rabbit farming business in this case will be 45% with a payback period of 3.5 years.

Advantages and disadvantages of business

Building your own rabbit farm is a fairly important step that requires a balanced approach. Most of the pros and cons of the rabbit breeding business are well known to farmers and owners of farmsteads, but a novice entrepreneur should definitely familiarize himself with them in order to clearly imagine the specifics of agricultural activity. Among the main advantages of rabbit breeding are the following factors:

1. Animals are characterized by high fertility and growth rate;
2. There is a demand in the market not only for meat, but also for rabbit livers, skins, manure and even baby rabbits;
3. Rabbit farming is one of the least expensive livestock industries;
4. You can start a business with a small investment at home - just buy a herd of 20–30 heads and build several cages;
5. The level of competition in the market is low, and demand is 50% higher than supply;
6. You can work at a preferential tax rate of the Unified Agricultural Tax, or completely avoid taxation when organizing private household plots;
7. If there are insulated wintering rooms or heated cages, rabbit breeding is not subject to seasonal fluctuations.

The disadvantages of the rabbit farming business are as follows:

• Rabbits are demanding in terms of living conditions and do not tolerate cramped conditions, high humidity and drafts;
• Animals need vaccinations and regular examinations by a veterinarian;
• The mortality rate among young animals can be quite high;
• Breeding rabbits requires cleanliness, dryness, and hygiene;
• Obtaining sanitary documentation is accompanied by a loss of time and money.

Conclusion

The attractiveness of the rabbit breeding business is fully explained by low competition, availability of technology and the possibility of rapid scaling. At the same time, working with animals requires certain training - without practical experience it is difficult to create optimal conditions for animals, choose the most effective mode of operation of the enterprise, and even simply cut up a rabbit carcass. In the following video, raising rabbits from the point of view of keeping and breeding technology is shown more clearly:

We must not forget that the efficiency and profitability of an enterprise is determined primarily by the availability of distribution channels. As such, you can use not only agricultural markets, but also wholesale companies, supermarkets, and butchers. Of course, by concluding cooperation agreements with them, the entrepreneur assumes some obligations regarding the volumes and timing of deliveries, however, there are simply no other ways to create a successful business.
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Breeding rabbits is a great idea for a profitable business. Rabbits are endowed with good fertility and rapid maturity. One adult female rabbit can produce more than 25 rabbits per year. And this indicator suggests that an entrepreneur can receive the same amount of skins for further sale and 60 kilograms of dietary meat. The beneficial properties of rabbit meat have been repeatedly discussed by nutritionists.

Business Features

Planning a rabbit breeding farm should begin with an awareness of the positive and negative aspects that the future entrepreneur will encounter when building and developing a rabbit farm.

The positive points include:

• rapid return on costs;
• rapid reproduction of rabbits under good conditions;
• significant profitability of the idea;
• small start-up capital for farming development;
• minimal competition;
• low taxation percentage.

Considering all the positive aspects, we can consider that rabbit breeding as a business will be a good starting point for increasing your home capital.

Breeding rabbits as a business, profitable or not?

To engage in rabbit breeding, you need to take into account all the disadvantages and advantages of this business, correctly calculate the maximum profit, and draw up a business plan. Only in this case can you count on the successful development of the chosen direction. The work of breeding rabbits does not tolerate spontaneous decisions. A businessman must evaluate his strengths and capabilities and be prepared for some unforeseen moments in running a household.

Having finally decided on the type of business, you should not immediately invest huge amounts of money in a new enterprise, limiting yourself in terms of living expenses.

A well-drafted business plan will help you correctly distribute all primary expenses. Also, every entrepreneur can turn to the state for help, which allocates subsidies and grants for agricultural development. Additional funds will never be superfluous for the success of the business. Therefore, when the farm begins to make a profit, the owner will appreciate the advantage of the funds allocated from the state.

Drawing up a business plan

Costs of doing business:

• designing animal cages - 40,000 rubles;
• acquisition of young animals (count on a quantity of 100 heads) - 40,000 rubles. The price will vary depending on the region of residence and the breed of animals;
• purchase of feed - up to 100,000 rubles;
• related services (heating, plumbing, veterinarian examination) - 15,000 rubles per year.

Expected payback:

• sales of meat from previously purchased individuals will bring about 2200 kilograms natural weight;
• the sale of skins will entail additional revenue. The price of a skin depends on its quality and size;
• rental of males for further reproduction is estimated at about 20,000 rubles.

Important: Considering that this will be a small rabbit farm, the business plan is drawn up with minimal investment and an approximate expected profit can be foreseen.

Options for registering activities

The next stage for starting your own business is choosing a legal form of business. An entrepreneur can register his type of activity in two options: as an individual entrepreneur or a peasant farm. Registration in the form of a peasant farm is particularly advantageous. This is explained by the fact that tax benefits have now been introduced for farms.

This system has its downside. When you retire, you can only count on the minimum age benefit. Working as an individual entrepreneur, a businessman can count on a defined pension, as he paid taxes on time. Before registering your farm, consider which option is more profitable for you.

Individual entrepreneurs have great opportunities to sell their own products. This will give a chance to sell meat not only in the market, but also in large stores and shopping centers. The Unified Agricultural Tax form of taxation helps reduce the tax percentage, taking into account the constant sale of agricultural products. The tax amount is 6% of net income.

Peasant farm (peasant farm)

Peasant farms have the same advantages as individual entrepreneurs, but with one distinctive feature. It can be issued by a certain category of citizens who own business property and can carry out agricultural activities.

Peasant farms do not require any documents: charters, names and special agreements. Every person is able to register a peasant farm in his name and become its director, in a word, a full individual entrepreneur. The main advantage of peasant farms is the possibility of receiving government subsidies and preferential tax rates.

IP (individual entrepreneur)

The IP form is most suitable for breeding rabbits.

To register as an individual entrepreneur, you need to provide the tax office with:

• passport and its copy;
• application to open your own enterprise;
• receipt of payment of state duty;
• a copy of the taxpayer identification code.

Important: To confirm your status, all these documents must be submitted to the Pension Fund.

Tax form for rabbit farming

The taxation system applies to all types of business activities, so for your own business you should choose the most suitable option. One of the beneficial and convenient forms of taxation is the simplified regime. The tax in this case is calculated from the difference between costs and income. Tax percentage fluctuates from 6 to 15%, But no more than 25% from the sum.

Economic activity type code

Individual entrepreneurs need to pay attention to the type of activity of OKVED. For a rabbit breeding business, the code is A.01.25.2, which involves raising animals on a farm. But there is a limitation in this paragraph: the sale of leather and skins of animals as a result of their illegal capture is not allowed.

Material and technical base

Breeding livestock will be convenient and profitable if the entire material and technical base, or at least its main part, is mechanized. The shad system is ideal for a rabbit breeding business. This design is a covered wooden or metal room with rabbit hutches inside.

Necessary sanitary requirements

There are special veterinary and sanitary standards for keeping rabbits. Their main requirement is that the animals must be kept clean. The appearance of individuals must be presentable. The premises must be periodically disinfected, and if insects and rodents are present, they must be destroyed. In case of illness or infection, you need to stock up on specially isolated cells.

Place for a mini farm

To build a mini-farm on your own territory, no additional permits are required. All an entrepreneur needs for this is material for construction and a certain area. The only problem is that the permissible distance from agricultural buildings to residential buildings is regulated.

Such matters are under the control of local governments. Therefore, before constructing a new building, find out whether it can be built in the planned location.

An excellent place for a mini-farm is on an elevated area or on an area with a slight slope.

Cages with pets should not be installed in low-lying areas, as they do not tolerate low humidity well. It is better to make the site for the farm concrete or fill it with gravel. The water supply system and storm drainage system must be adjusted.

On the mini-farm area 900 m 2 can be grown freely up to 900 heads. The overall picture of this project looks something like this:

1. Premises for breeding rabbits - 400 m 2.
2. Mini-workshop for processing or production of feed - 250 m 2.
3. Building for storing equipment and other materials - 50 m 2.
4. Construction for a slaughterhouse with refrigerators - 50 m 2.
5. Manure collector - 40 m2.

Important: when planning premises for keeping rabbits and other buildings, you need to take into account the possibility of free access and access to the cages.

The length of the cage for adult heads can be up to 150 cm, width - 80 cm. The height of the front wall is approximately 65 cm, the back - up to 45 cm. To make it convenient for staff to remove manure from the cages, the floor in them must be made with a slight slope back.

The best material for durable cages is galvanized welded mesh with cells of 20 by 20 millimeters.

The cages must be divided into two identical compartments - the feeding and nesting compartments. Between the compartments there is a mesh with cells measuring 35 by 50 mm or 25 by 25 mm. To save space in the cages, feeders should be placed under the manger. This design will allow you to accommodate up to 70 cages, which will make it possible to raise up to 500 units of young animals in good conditions.

Feed shop

This name refers to a room for storing large quantities of concentrated feed stocks. Compound feed and grain mixtures should be enough to feed for 3 months. If the entrepreneur has the opportunity, the mini-workshop can be equipped with a compact grain crusher with a capacity of 500 kg/h. The premises can also be equipped with equipment for the production of feed.

In the feed shop, you can allocate a separate room for storing equipment, additional feeders, and building materials.

Where to buy feed

Many reputable production companies can offer ready-made feed for all types of animals at wholesale and retail prices. When purchasing a large batch of feed, ask the seller for a certificate for the products being sold.

This certification documents the quality and safety of the products presented. High-quality feed contains nutrients, vitamins, microelements and has all the valuable properties that are necessary for the nutrition of your animals.

How to save on feed

The main expense in a rabbit business is the purchase of feed. Buying compound feed for rabbits is very expensive, it is not always possible to grow grain, and cutting the nutritional allowance is fraught with poor weight and decreased productivity in animals. The only correct solution to reduce your own costs is to make your own feed.

For these purposes, you will need a powerful grain crusher and a feed granulator. By crushing and grinding, animal feed is prepared for several days. Grain waste is also added to this composition. This is where the savings come in, because grain waste is several times cheaper than buying mixed feed.

Important: Separately crushed grain is not very popular for rabbits, so it needs to be mixed with ready-made feed.

For a small number of heads (up to 40 pieces), you can prepare root crops, succulent grass and silage for the winter. For livestock of 1000 or more, this procedure is useless. This will require a lot of time and the involvement of additional personnel. Hay can be used as preparation. They need to be stocked up in advance, and in winter this product will be an additional source of vitamins for animals.

A mechanized production process on the farm can save a lot of time. Automatic water supply will replace the labor-intensive manual delivery of buckets. A mini-tractor will not only be able to deliver food to the cages, but also take away the collected manure.

Slaughterhouse and refrigeration equipment

For mass slaughter of animals, refrigeration equipment must be provided on premises. As an option - an extension to the main visit with refrigerators. The slaughterhouse has an equipped area for blood drainage. A special furnace for burning waste and illiquid goods is also installed in the room.

A well-thought-out system allows you not to be distracted from the main process. This means that the work process should not be interrupted by other activities - slaughter, cutting, packaging and freezing.

Manure collector

The manure collector is a cesspool with concrete barriers and an open top. The depth of this place should be up to 3 meters, choose any width and length. The location of the manure collector is at the very end of the territory, away from the main workshops, cages and premises for storing feed supplies.

As for odors, they should not spread throughout the entire area. You should always monitor the filling of the pit so that it can be raked out in a timely manner.

What breed of rabbits is it profitable to breed?

The main product of any mini-farm is meat, so you need to choose meat breeds. Downy, crossbred and others do not need to be bred if your goal is business profitability. Although you won’t see much difference in weight between rabbits of different breeds, the meat rabbit still grows faster and gains good weight. The most popular meat breeds are Californian, White New Zealand, and Red New Zealand.

Meat breeds

The advantages of meat breeds include their rapid growth, meatiness, early maturity, and fertility. Rabbits at three months of age reach 4 kg, given that the average daily gain is 45 grams. Giant rabbits at four months of age reach a weight of about 5 kg.

Important: for high-quality breeding of offspring, do not purchase young animals from dubious poultry markets. There are specialized agricultural exhibitions where the best specimens for breeding are presented. At such an event you can find regular suppliers with a product guarantee.

Decorative

Keeping decorative rabbits has become fashionable among residents of apartments and houses. For this purpose, various dwarf breeds with an easy-going character and attractive appearance have been bred. An entrepreneur who plans to breed only ornamental species should evaluate all the advantages of the activity and pay attention to some of the disadvantages. It is very important to calculate your capabilities in advance.

Business process: raising and feeding rabbits

The business process of breeding rabbits for meat includes solving several main problems:

1. Organizing proper feeding of rabbits.
2. Planned breeding of animals

Organization of feeding

The rabbit is a herbivore, but to get valuable meat, grass alone will not be enough. Lush grass and natural food make up only 20% of the diet. The remaining 80% is made up of other feed.

There are a large number of diets for rabbits, but it is ideal to adhere to this regimen:

• in the morning, rabbits feed on lush grass;
• at lunchtime and in the evening, include feed and mixtures of grains in their diet;
• drinking bowls must be filled at all times.

Rabbit breeding

The breeding process also has its own scheme, according to which the number of adult rabbits and males for mating is calculated. So, for example, you can get litters from each female rabbit 3 times a year. In a year, one female can expect to give birth to up to 24 rabbits. Therefore, for every 10 cells with females there should be 1 cell with two males. Although the number of cubs born may vary, and the death of the young cannot be accurately predicted. Here we need to take into account the factor of natural selection.

Technology and methods of breeding rabbits

As for the technological process of raising rabbits for meat as a business, it is considered simple. Experts in this field offer various techniques, from ancient, grandfatherly, methods (retro) to assembly line techniques with quick results. And each method is effective in its own way. But 4 methods are considered the most popular:

1. Cellular.
2. Shadowy.
3. Yamochny.

To understand their essence, you need to consider each method separately.

Keeping rabbits in a cage is a convenient method. In such structures it is easy to organize feeding, caring for animals and cleaning. To protect from wind and rain, the cages should be installed under a canopy. Living rabbits outdoors contributes to their health, increasing their resistance to various diseases and the quality of their fur.

But it must be taken into account that severe frosts can have a detrimental effect on animals. Treatment and prevention of colds can result in additional expense.

Shed method

This system is capable of increasing profits and brings good results in unlimited areas. Cages with animals are installed in dense rows in several tiers. The floors in the cage itself are designed with a slope, this simplifies cleaning in the cages due to their self-cleaning.

Placing cages close together saves time in distributing feed. The shed system in its essence is the same mini-farm with the same distribution of rabbits on both sides.

This system is called the acceleration method. Its principle is to raise a special type of animal that grows quickly and gains the required weight. The main essence of the method is keeping animals in ideally clean spacious cages, feeding them regularly and supplying them with water. Rabbits must constantly eat and gain weight.

Another principle of this technique is late weaning of the cubs from the female rabbit. This method has gained popularity and is a success among rabbit breeding entrepreneurs.

Pit method

This technique is closer to the natural habitat of animals and has its pros and cons.

Advantages of the method:

1. In a familiar environment, animals grow rapidly.
2. It is possible to locate the farm in any area.
3. There are almost no expenses required for the construction of pits.
4. Cleaning holes requires a minimum of time.

Disadvantages of the technique:

1. It is difficult to raise a large rabbit in such an environment.
2. Inconvenient catching of animals for slaughter.
3. There is no way to control mating.
4. There is a risk of infection, which is detrimental to the offspring.

Ways of implementation

The main point of profit is the sale of meat and animal skins. To achieve a good result, you need to think through and consider all the ways. In other words, to achieve your goals and make a profit, you need to try not just one method, but all possible ones.

Own customer base

Acquaintances, friends, neighbors may fall into this category. It doesn't matter where they learn about your business, whether it's through word of mouth or an advertisement in a newspaper. The main thing for buyers is favorable price and quality of products. And over time, there will be plenty of people willing to buy fresh rabbit meat from the mini-farm.

Sales of rabbit carcasses through restaurants

This idea is very attractive, but very difficult. Offers to sell carcasses to such establishments are often rejected. Agree, not every restaurant has rabbit dishes on its menu. Although there are establishments where regular customers are gourmets who love unusual dishes. And if there is a diet food restaurant in your locality, then you can safely go to the administrator or chef and offer your products.

But in order to become a supplier of rabbit meat to reputable restaurants, an entrepreneur will need a conclusion from a veterinary service. The local sanitary and epidemiological station should also give an opinion on the quality of your products.

The shops

Establishments of this kind do not always sell rabbit meat. If they agree, they will require the appropriate documents, for the preparation of which the businessman will spend a lot of time and money. As an option, sales points can be organized to sell products.

Retail chains for selling prepared meat offer purchasing prices that are too low, which is unprofitable for your business. This sales method is suitable if production volumes exceed 6–7 tons of meat per year. In this case, you still need to think about selling the skins.

Additional sources of income

The owner of a farmland can make money not only by selling meat, but also by selling rabbit skins and droppings as fertilizer.

Selling skins is not always profitable if you live in a small region. Although there is always a buyer for every product, you need to find one. The skins must be in marketable condition and well cleaned.

You can offer your products to fur manufacturing enterprises or private ateliers. Demand for products generates large incomes, and if this does not exist, the entrepreneur will have to especially carefully advertise the valuable product and the medicinal properties of fur skins.

Organic fertilizers have always been valued in agriculture. Selling such fertilizers in large quantities can bring significant profits. You can sell vermicompost obtained as a result of fermentation; it will become a real boon for summer residents. Highly concentrated liquid fertilizer is also readily purchased by gardening enthusiasts who seek to increase the productivity of their land.

Inventory

Any farm must be equipped with certain tools. Farm equipment:

• drinking bowls,
• feeders,
• cells,
• trolleys,
• buckets,
• pallets,
• grain crusher.

Income and expenses of a business raising rabbits

Raising rabbits on a farm with proper organization of production will bring significant income. Additional expenses will not be required if your property has its own territory and equipped premises of the required size. Bringing the premises into compliance with the requirements for keeping animals always involves additional costs.

Important: all costs for building cages, making feeders and purchasing the necessary equipment will be required only in the first year of doing business. In the second year there will be no such expenses, you will only have to pay tax, purchase feed and pay utility bills.

Rabbit farming as a business: advantages and disadvantages

Significant advantages of rabbit breeding include:

• profit at any time of the year;
• rapid growth of animals;
• rabbit fertility;
• low tax percentage;
• minimum competition.

The disadvantages of the business are:

• the need to prepare a package of documents for the sale of meat;
• frequent diseases of young animals;
• the need to comply with sanitary standards for keeping animals.

Breeding rabbits will bring its owner a good income, and a rabbit farming business will not require large investments. And if you set a goal for yourself, then you can become an entrepreneur of the highest level from scratch and have a business with constant profitability.

A rabbit farm is a type of farming that people have been doing since ancient times. Until now, the relevance of this activity has not subsided, and people continue to raise rabbits on their farms. This is also explained by the good payback, because rabbit meat is dietary and there is a great demand for it. In addition, if you breed rabbits for fur, this will be an even bigger advantage - then the farm makes a profit from the sale of both meat and fur. Every specialist probably knows all the intricacies of running a rabbit farm, but if you are just deciding to get into this business, our article is for you.

The goal of every farmer is to achieve great results in production and get the maximum from each individual. Raising animals such as rabbits is a great option for this. This is explained by the following points:

• ease of care. Rabbits can be kept in almost any conditions without spending large sums of money;
• high productivity. The entire herd is growing very quickly and developing well;
• demand in the market. Meat and fur are always in great demand, regardless of time and season.

Rabbit products:

1. Meat. It is considered the main source of income. Most farmers breed rabbits to obtain this particular product. Farmers usually sell meat not only at retail, but also wholesale, especially if they find stable customers from restaurants and cafes. Of the total weight of rabbits, about half of the meat is obtained.
2. Fur. It is used to produce various fur coats and other wardrobe items.
3. The rabbits themselves. They are highly valued as pets. Of course, in most cases this applies to purebred individuals.
4. Rabbit excrement. They are excellent fertilizers for various crops.

The profitability of keeping rabbits is 80%. This is a fairly high indicator indicating the success of the farm. The fertility of rabbits is well known to everyone: in a year, each female rabbit is capable of producing 30-35 young rabbits. This fact is a guarantee of a quick return on investment for the business. Rabbits gain weight very quickly: in 4 weeks the weight can increase 10 times, and after another 8 weeks its weight is already 2.5-2.8 kilograms.

How to start your own rabbit farming business?

If you're organizing it from literally nothing, you'll need some resources:

• the very place for setting up a farm and keeping animals. This should be a fairly large area on which you can place the room. Its minimum size is 15-17 acres. It is important that there are no residential buildings nearby, as this is prohibited by law;
• water, heating and electricity. Like all other animals, rabbits vitally need these components for full development and good health;
• equipment. This includes drinking bowls, feeders, and various cages for keeping rabbits;
• carnage. It will be needed for meat production itself;
• feed. Everything is simple here - the rabbits will need to be fed with something. You can buy food from trusted suppliers or make it yourself.

All of these resources are necessary even if you decide to set up a small farm for testing. You can add farm workers to this list if you don’t want to do it alone.

A huge part of the costs will be occupied by combined feed. In addition, it will require a lot of space to store it. Some people advise purchasing food for 2-3 months, but the best option would be to store food only for one month in advance. This way the food won’t spoil, and you won’t regret wasting money. The food itself is quite expensive. However, if you buy it in bulk, it will cost you much more profitably.

All rabbits prefer food such as hay and grains. Experienced farmers warn that many individuals refuse crushed cereals. Therefore, experts strongly recommend using various mixtures of crops.

If you are just starting out in this business, then the best option would be to create two or three farms and work on them. For them, literally 3-4 female rabbits and one rabbit will be enough for you. If we fully calculate the entire material volume that will be spent on building a farm, purchasing equipment and feed, then the amount of starting capital will vary from 80 to 130 thousand rubles. However, small farms will require less investment, and all your risks will be reduced to zero.

It is believed that in order for the enterprise not to go bankrupt, but, on the contrary, to develop, about 16 females are needed. This amount is enough for good productivity, especially considering that each of them will bring about 30 rabbits per year.

Table 1. Sample business plan

The legal side of rabbit farming

You can organize a farm in two ways: individual entrepreneur or private household plot. To understand these forms and understand their differences, take a look at the table.

Table 2. Comparison of individual entrepreneurs and private household plots

What to choose from this? Personal farming can be used if you do not intend to create a large farm. But then you must understand that the most expensive clients often choose individual entrepreneurs. In addition to these two forms, you can also choose peasant farms. This form is practically no different from an individual entrepreneur, but there are two distinctive features: the laws that apply to this form are presented rather vaguely, and you can receive financial or any other support from the state itself.

What to choose from this is up to you. However, to participate in the market it will be much better if you give preference to individual entrepreneurship, but if you are creating a small enterprise, you can use other forms.

How to buy individuals?

In the first stages, the farmer needs to think about the sex ratio of the rabbits. The most common ratio is 1 rabbit per 8-10 female rabbits. Determining the sex is not difficult: you need to put the rabbit on its back and raise its tail up. If you notice a small tube-shaped process, it is a male, and if it is absent, it is a female.

Where can I get rabbits? It is best to take rabbits from private organizations. There is no point in buying animals in a regular pet store - you can very rarely find them there. There is another way: find professional farmers who sell rabbits. You can find them through various Internet sites, newspapers, advertisements and familiar people. Rabbit breeders are present in every locality, and therefore there should be no problems with this.

When purchasing rabbits, you need to pay attention to the following factors:

• age of animals. It is best to take small rabbits, no more than six months old. This way you can save money, and in a couple of months the rabbits will still grow to a decent size;
• the appearance of a rabbit. Carefully examine the rabbit's eyes, fur, and face. If they are cloudy, disheveled and wet, then the rabbits are most likely sick. The fur of baby rabbits should be thick, fluffy and uniform. Ears should always be clean and tidy;
• weight of rabbits. Do not choose individuals who are overweight - they are bad for breeding rabbits;
• family relationships. Do not take a female and a male from the same nest. You can choose two nests, where you will take females from one and males from the other. But never cross-breed related individuals.

How to sell products?

After the farm has developed well, it is worth thinking about where to sell meat and fur. Typically, the farm produces its first income within a year of starting work. Before you sell products, you need to conduct a market analysis of the area in which you are located and determine the demand for it. Basically, demand is high, but competition, on the contrary, is low.

Product sales methods:

• thanks to advertising in online resources or local newspapers and magazines;
• calling some shops, restaurants and cafes. Rabbit meat is a delicacy, and therefore most will be happy to cooperate;
• posting notices in crowded places.

The most effective way is to use all three methods simultaneously. The main thing is that you should not sit idly by. We need to act, look for clients. Contact all the stores in your city - you will probably find those willing to cooperate with you. You can also contact meat processing plants.

Structure and features of the farm

A mini-farm is a kind of system for arranging rabbit cages, which are arranged in one structure. This helps to occupy a small area and simultaneously accommodate a large number of individuals on it. For example, on a small farm measuring about 2 square meters. m. you can house about 45 rabbits.

There are several types of mini-farms:

• decorative;
• mini-dachas;
• homestead;
• industrial.

The most common option is homestead farms, since decorative ones can only be used in the summer, and large farms will require equally large investments. Homestead farms are very compact and roomy, and do not require large investments.

There are two types of homestead mini-farms:

• single tier;
• multi-tiered.

You need to choose a mini-farm based on your own preferences, the size of the plot and the number of your livestock.

The design of each mini-farm includes the following items:

• stand;
• the cage itself (it is better if a department for walking animals is attached to the cages themselves);
• feeders and drinkers;
• nesting compartment;
• manure collector;
• top tier

For high efficiency, it is necessary to install a bunker feeder. She will comply with all sanitary standards. You only have to load the feed once a week, which is also a good time saver. The main feature of such mini-farms is good functionality and high autonomy. Thanks to this, the number of rabbits and meat will increase, and you will not have to spend much on their maintenance.

The designs of mini-farms are completely different, however, the most common is the Mikhailov farm, which is quite justified. Today, the farm built according to Mikhailov’s plan is considered a classic.

The structure of the Mikhailov farm

In order to build this farm, you will need the following materials and tools:

• lumber. The bars should be simple, of normal size (about 20-40 mm);
• plywood;
• iron;
• hacksaw;
• jigsaw;
• drill;
• hammer;
• scissors;
• pliers;
• nails;
• net;
• roof.

Mikhailov's farm is a design system that consists of three elements: upper and lower tiers and a stand. The upper one is complemented by a compartment for walking animals, the lower one – with items for feeding and watering. The second tier is also made as a jigging or mother tier. In one, rabbits are raised, and in the other, a female rabbit is crossed with a male.

Each cell should be approximately 1.5 square meters. She is able to accommodate about 18 rabbits. Mikhailov’s farm, in general, implies multi-tiered ones. Mostly two-tier trusses are used.

Advantages of Mikhailov's design

• autonomous cleaning. All rabbit excrement ends up in a special garbage compartment on its own;
• unlimited amount of food and water. The feed enters the feeders independently as they are emptied;
• the heating system guarantees maintaining a constant air temperature even in winter;
• absolute satisfaction of instincts. The farm itself is like rabbit holes and crawl spaces;
• functionality. The baby rabbits can be placed in a separate compartment without damaging them.

Table 3. How to make a truss according to Mikhailov’s design

Illustration	Description
	Step One: Make a Truss Stand. It will be served by a frame attached to 4 beams.
	Step two: install a walking compartment. It is located directly above the stand. Place the bottom tier on four beams.
	Step three: make the floor from slats laid at an angle of 45 degrees. Place a metal plate over them so that animals cannot damage the soft material. Important point! A solid floor must be installed in the young animal compartment. It is advisable to make this compartment retractable and line it with down or straw. The front side of the nest should be hinged.
	Step four: set up and so that you can refill them from the outside.
	Step five: take care of ventilation. To do this, you can simply raise the roof of the farm by 1-2 cm. Set aside the upper tier of the farm for raising rabbits.

You can place the finished farm anywhere. It is very compact and therefore will not take up a large area. Experienced farmers recommend installing the farm outside so that the rabbits can breathe fresh air. But at the same time, you will have to think about preventing a draft from entering the cells.

Video - Mikhailov's mini-farms. Assembly.

Features of the technique

Igor Nikolaevich Mikhailov was an experienced rabbit breeder. He compiled a method for breeding animals, which later became a classic version. Mikhailov worked on this design for a long time, but in the end he was able to create an acceleration technique that could provide good productivity.

Features of the technique:

• the need to use his mini-farm. Without it, you will not be able to breed rabbits properly;
• ensuring the cohabitation of rabbits and their mother. This is necessary for the proper growth of rabbits and increasing their immunity;
• rabbits will not be able to eat the waste;
• micraxel. Obtaining fur using Mikhailov's method guarantees high value.

As a result of following this technique, the farmer will be able to obtain about 110 kg of meat and 45 skins in one year. Thus, good profits and regular customers will be guaranteed to you.

Conclusion

The design of a mini-farm is very important in order to keep rabbits in good conditions. Today there are a large number of designs, but Mikhailov’s technique is the key to the successful prosperity of your farm.

Video - Rabbit breeding as a business: profitable or not?

In this article we will talk about a business that belongs to the agriculture niche. We will talk about a home business for breeding rabbits. This is a very difficult niche and may not be suitable for every entrepreneur, but if you have experience working with rabbit meat, then there is a high probability that you will succeed in this business.

Prospects

Back in the 70s, there were many fur farms in the Russian Federation engaged in breeding rabbits, but after the 90s, many of them ceased to exist. Because of this, today there is a significant demand for rabbits in the domestic market, which is very high, even taking into account the import of imported products from abroad. So you don’t have to wonder whether rabbit breeding as a business is profitable or not. The answer is clear: if you run your business wisely, it’s profitable.

Pros and cons of a niche

In such an area as the rabbit breeding business, the pros and cons are as follows:

• Short payback periods
• Fast and high income
• Possibility of selling several types of products

As for the downsides, the main problems in breeding rabbits are:

• Difficult to care for
• Shyness of animals. Stress in them can not only cause physical illness, but also lead to the death of the animal.

Business risks

Before starting your own business in a particular area, you should familiarize yourself with all possible risks and draw up a business plan. A rabbit breeding company as a type of business has the following risks:

High mortality of young animals. This problem can be solved by involving experienced veterinarians in all production processes.

Competition. Before starting a business, you should carefully learn everything about sales channels, target audience and direct competitors in the market.

Business registration

In a business like rabbit breeding, starting a business from scratch requires mandatory registration. A mini-farm can be registered in two ways: as a peasant farm and as an individual entrepreneur.

Peasant farm (peasant farm)

Peasant farming is a type of individual enterprise that has several main differences. The composition of a peasant farm may include people who have the right to carry out any economic activity, as well as own the property of the enterprise. However, by registering a peasant farm you become, in essence, an ordinary individual entrepreneur.

Another important advantage of peasant farming is that its registration gives you the right to government assistance.

IP (individual entrepreneur)

Individual entrepreneur is one of the simplest and most convenient forms of doing business, especially for rabbit breeding. The nuance is that peasant farms have certain gaps in the legal definition, due to which receiving each benefit leads to enormous bureaucratic red tape, neutralizing all the benefits.

As for the form of taxation, either a single agricultural tax or a simplified regime is suitable for a rabbit farm. In this case, you will need OKVED code A.01.25.2.

Necessary equipment

A business plan for breeding rabbits necessarily involves the purchase of equipment. There are several ways to keep rabbits. Namely: semi-free, in enclosures or cages. It must be said that the first two options are practically not used - the main emphasis is on the cellular system.

It allows you to maintain optimal feeding, breeding, and mating arrangements. In addition, being outdoors reduces the risk of spreading diseases.

Double single-tier cages are mounted on wooden poles so that 0.8-1 m remains from the floor of the cage to the ground. In the nesting compartment, the floor and walls are made of planks, in the aft compartment - mesh (the mesh is made of metal). The roof is made of boards and then covered with a layer of roofing felt. It is important to maintain a slope of 15-20 degrees. The floor in the cages should also be made at a slope of 5-7 degrees, for the outflow of the animals’ urine. Young animals are kept 3-5 heads per cage.

Shad system

The shad system has proven itself very well in keeping rabbits. It not only greatly facilitates care, but also makes it possible to mechanize many processes in this production. With its help, it is possible to care for more than a hundred female rabbits and more than 1000 babies at the same time.

There are about 250-200 cells in one shed. The dimensions of each cell are 140 by 70 cm (length and width, respectively). Front height - 55 cm, rear - 36.

The cages are installed in two tiers. Adult animals are placed in the lower one, and young animals in the upper one.

Breed for breeding

For breeding, hybrid breeds with good breeding stock (i.e., the number of rabbits that a female can give birth to and raise in a year) are usually preferred. To purchase them, contact the distributor of foreign breeding centers - they will not only help you with the choice, but will also select high-quality equipment.

Purchasing rabbits

You should also not buy pregnant females - it is unlikely that anyone would sell such an animal if it did not have serious problems.

Feeding rabbits

Among ordinary people who know about raising rabbits only by hearsay, there is an opinion that they only need grass and hay for adequate nutrition. This is nothing more than a myth. Hay and straw make up only a fifth of a rabbit’s complete diet; the rest comes from grain and flour feed. There are many options for creating a complete diet. For convenience, we provide a table with daily feeding rates for rabbits. They can be included in the “rabbit breeding” business plan with calculations for a specific enterprise.

Stern	Adult rabbits	Young animals aged, months.
		from 1 to 3	from 3 to 6
Grass of natural meadows	1500	200-500	500-900
Legume grass	1200	150-400	400-700
Green branches of deciduous trees	600	50-200	200-400
Beet tops	200	50	50-100
Feed cabbage	600	100-150	250-400
Cabbage leaf	300	100	100-200
Carrot	600	100-250	250-400
Fodder beet	200	100	100-200
Sugar beet	600	100-250	250-400
Turnips, rutabaga, turnips	400	50-100	100-200
Boiled potatoes	400	50-150	150-300
Raw potatoes	150	50	50-250
Silage	300	20-80	80-200
Hay	300	100	100-200
Cereal grain	150	30-60	60-100
Legume grain	50	10-20	20-30
Pancake week grain	20	5-10	10-15
Bran	100	5-20	20-80
Cake and meal	100	5-20	20-80
Meat and bone meal	15	5-10	10
Salt	2.5	0.5-1	1
Chalk	2	0.5-1	1

You should not increase the norm given in the table - this can lead to obesity.

In the second table you can see the annual food intake of the animals:

Physiological state	Annual count kormodny	Feed in kg.
		concentrates	hay	roots	green stern
Female rabbit and male during the non-mating period	33	3.46	1.19	3.23	4.48
Female rabbit and male during breeding period	32	4.16	1.44	3.84	5.6
Female rabbit	120	16,8	6	15,6	23,1
Lactating rabbit	180	62,4	21,1	57.2	83,35
For one head of young animals from 45 to 120 days	75	10,14	3,14	—	11.97
In total for 24 heads of young animals	—	243,36	75,36	—	287,28
Annual requirement of replacement young stock	42	5,25	1,89	5,67	8,19
Male annual requirement	365	47,50	16,40	44	64
Male share per female rabbit	—	5,93	2,05	5,5	8
For one female rabbit with offspring (24 heads up to 4 months of age)	—	341,36	109	91	420

How to save on feed?

Feed is the main expense on a mini-farm, so many people want to somehow reduce it. Store-bought feed is quite expensive, but underfeeding animals is not an option at all. The best solution would be to make your own feed.

All you need for this is grain and grain waste, a good powerful grain crusher and a granulator.

Here are three good balanced combination food recipes:

1) Recipe No. K-92-1 concentrate feed for adult rabbits.

2) Recipe No. K-91-1 concentrate feed for young animals.

3) Recipe for concentrated feed for rabbits of all ages.

You should not try to prepare silage or root vegetables as feed. This is a good solution for a small private farm with 15-25 animals, but on a farm scale it is unprofitable. Growing, collecting, harvesting... it will cost a considerable amount. An exception can be made only for making hay - it’s difficult to buy quality hay from the outside; it’s easier to make it yourself.

Rabbit breeding

Rabbit breeding as a business largely depends on the rate of reproduction of animals. It is better to reproduce animals according to this scheme (if you use a shad system, of course): in one shad of 60 cells, 14 cells with females and one cage with a male are placed on the upper tier. All other cages on the tiers are allocated for young animals. Each of the rabbits gives birth three times a year, then the cubs stay with the female for 2 months. Thus, each female produces about 25 rabbits per year, and the total increase is 300-350 animals per year.

Of course, calculating exact numbers will be problematic, but you will get at least 250-300 heads from one shad. If you have pure breed rabbits, you should not breed them separately - this will take a lot of effort and time; it is better to purchase replacement young animals every few years.

Protection against diseases

Vaccination provides good protection against diseases - of course, this does not guarantee a complete absence of disease. But it will help reduce the risks significantly. Veterinarians recommend annual vaccination with a complex preparation; other vaccines are recommended only during epidemics.

Waste management

In addition to producing meat and fur, the mini-farm can also use waste. For example, glue is made from paws and ears, and the ventricles are sold to dairy farms or meat processing plants. It's better to burn the rest.

Sales of products

Breeding rabbits for meat as a business requires the organization of stable sales channels for goods. Sales of finished products are an important plan in the rabbit production business strategy. There are three main options here.

Own customer base

Simply put, this is “word of mouth” - relatives, friends, acquaintances, acquaintances of acquaintances, etc. Do you think this option is frivolous? In vain, this category of people is capable of creating a good reputation, and such that the products will “fly away”. And you won’t need to spend on advertising. This is good for a start - then, of course, you can worry about something more ambitious.

At the initial stage, it is important to ensure an affordable pricing policy in order to attract the maximum number of people. In addition, direct farm sales do not require any additional permits.

Sales of rabbit carcasses through restaurants

At first glance, this is very profitable and tempting. But there is one significant “but”: it is a rare restaurant that includes rabbit dishes on the menu. So there will be little demand.

But, if you still decide to take such a step, do not contact the owner or administration - it is better to express your proposal to the chef. This is a really working way that will help you get an additional source of income. But here you will need permits - you will need to obtain a veterinary certificate form No. 2 from the veterinary department and the SES.

The shops

Selling products to stores is a good idea, but it is useless to target large supermarket chains, since the required volumes of products are very large there. And you will have to compete with large wholesale suppliers. Therefore, it is better to look for small butcher shops or shops - their owners will probably be interested in your products.

Additional sources of income

To generate additional income, you can also sell rabbit by-products.

Rabbit skins

As it was said in one film, “Rabbits are not only valuable fur...”. But this includes fur, because warm soft hats, muffs and even fur coats are made from rabbit. But in the Russian Federation today the situation with the sale of rabbit skins is quite complicated. But difficult does not mean impossible.

Meat is one of the most consumed foods, but despite the huge amount of its production and consumption, sometimes situations arise when this product may be in short supply.

Rabbit farming is a profitable investment

We often see this situation: in stores there are only a few types of meat, these are beef, pork and lamb. The rest of the meat, rabbit, is unprofitable, so it is not so often found on the shelves. If you use the opportunity correctly, it will only play into your hands: all you need is effort and initial capital.

In this article, we will tell you how to build a rabbit business, and also provide a preliminary business plan for raising rabbits at home or on a farm in the countryside.

Rabbit breeding as a business is no longer a new idea, but its implementation has not gained demand. This is the advantage of keeping rabbits: you can easily create a business, this will be facilitated by low competition in this market and the need for fresh homemade meat, because it will always find its buyers.

Yes, significant investments will be required, as in any other business, so before you start your business from scratch, think about how realistic it is for you to raise rabbits, and save a certain amount to start. Further, investing in a business will also be costly: maintaining a farm in conditions suitable for rabbits to live is not a cheap pleasure.

But there is no doubt that the profitability of rabbit farming will be high, because if you have initial capital, rabbit breeding as a business will be your most profitable investment.

Is it profitable to breed eared animals?

People who want to keep rabbits for business at home often wonder: is it profitable to breed rabbits? To answer this question, we can confidently say that rabbit farming is a profitable business.

Not only has competition in this matter not reached a high level, but the type of meat itself also plays an important role. The thing is that rabbit meat is best absorbed in our body (about 90%), moreover, it is practically low-fat, which is why it is dietary.

Quite a few people today are going on a diet (the reasons for this phenomenon are very diverse), so dietary meat will certainly be popular among this category of consumers. There are also many dishes that would simply lose their flavor without rabbit meat.

Rabbits provide tasty and dietary meat

If you put in some effort, you can quickly establish contact with retail outlets, or, if you're lucky, even with a restaurant. In this case, you will have the opportunity to set your own price for the product.

• market with little competition;
• demand for meat;
• own price for manufactured products;
• profitable business.

The downside is large capital investments.

I think you no longer have any doubts about whether it is profitable to breed rabbits. But here, as in any business, acumen is very important, so if you are starting a business from scratch, try to immediately establish contact with the consumer market so that rabbit breeding as a business does not bring you losses.

How to develop rabbit farming professionally?

Rabbit farming as a business in our country is underdeveloped. Keeping rabbits at home is more typical for rural residents, but it can only be called a business with a stretch: the number of animals usually does not exceed fifty, and they are raised exclusively for personal purposes (own meat).

Mini-farm - the optimal solution for beginner rabbit breeders

The main reason for the unprofitability of the rabbit business is that farmers simply do not have knowledge in this area. Regarding breeding rabbits at home, then, taking into account normal conditions, the animals could even live in an apartment.

But there is no better option than raising rabbits on a mini-farm or farm, because there are completely different conditions and, even more so, the opportunity to expand the business.

Acquisition of the younger generation

Starting a business from scratch is always difficult; this article will tell you what to do and in what order.

The first step will be the acquisition of young animals. You need to determine for what purpose you will raise rabbits: for meat or skins.

If the focus is on meat products, then the emphasis should be on early maturing breeds of rabbits:

• giant (gray, white);
• silver;
• chinchilla.

At two months of age, such rabbits can weigh up to 2 kg.

White giant rabbits

In the case of raising animals for skins, breeds must be selected based on their fur (it must be thick and of an unusual color):

• Alaska;
• fiery black;
• Thuringian.

It is worth saying that in Europe such breeds have long been bred on a large scale. These species are still rare in our area, so they will be a little difficult to buy, and their skins will be expensive in cost.

But in reality, there is no point in raising rabbits just for their skins, since there will be nowhere to put the products. In order for the skins to be of high quality, careful care of the animals is required: separate cages (so that the fur is not damaged in fights), which will incur extra costs. In addition, such breeds weigh little and grow much more slowly.

This means that breeding rabbits will be profitable if you get rabbits of such breeds as Flanders, silver, chinchilla, and gray giant. These breeds weigh a lot, reproduce quickly and have high-quality fur. As a result of experiments, you yourself will choose which breed will be optimal for farming.

Buy adult rabbits from the very beginning; the ideal option would be to purchase a pair of females with a male. Typically, a female can give birth six times in a year (6-7 rabbits on average). As a starting point, this is a great option.

For breeding you need to buy adult rabbits

Farm space

When you start a business for breeding these animals from scratch, you need to pay attention to the area where the animals will live. A good option is a farm in a place remote from the city, quiet and peaceful.

In principle, five acres of land will be enough for you, but it is better to have plenty of space (if you are going to start a large-scale business).

Since it will be possible to build a room in which food will be stored, or make a lawn for rabbits to walk.

If you live in a private house, then everything is much simpler here: a barn or shed can become a home for animals, the main thing is that it is warm and equipped for rabbits to live in.

Let's summarize: in order to build a farm from scratch, you will need a spacious plot, preferably in a village (in an apartment, rabbit breeding is possible exclusively for your own purposes).

A promising site is if it has space not only for a rabbit farm, but also soil for growing animal feed (your own clover, oats, and alfalfa will save you a lot of money in the future).

Raising rabbits requires a lot of space.

Habitat arrangement

Rabbits are bred in two ways: in cages and in pits. We will look at them in comparison and determine which method is more profitable and convenient.

The cage requires a lot of care: it needs daily cleaning, and it takes a lot of time to pour food and water into each cage. The advantage of raising rabbits in pits is that they are cleaned once a week, and the food is poured into a common feeder, which is much more convenient.

If we take a closer look at cleaning the premises where animals will live, then manure is much easier to remove from the floor in pits with a shovel than to pick it out of the cages.

Another important detail for the farm owner is the productivity of animals, their ability to reproduce quickly. And here again, keeping animals in pits wins: in such conditions, there are practically no cases of empty nesters (missed pregnancies). For comparison: in a cage, a female rabbit can give birth up to four times in one year, while when breeding in pits, this number increases to approximately eight times.

Another factor is feed usage. When breeding rabbits in pits, food is used more rationally, since it is not wasted: there will always be an animal willing to eat.

A group of rabbits in a pit

There is an opinion that by running through burrows, rabbits gain weight more slowly. But that's not true. Rabbits raised in pits, on the contrary, weigh 200-300 grams more than cage ones, since they have an accelerated metabolism.

Up to two hundred rabbits can be kept in one pit, but it is recommended that the number of animals does not exceed one hundred. Again, savings: instead of so many cells, one hole that will save food, labor, materials and space.

In addition, the risk of rabbits being stolen is reduced, because in this case the animals will simply hide in holes, from where it is much more difficult to get them out.

As you can see, raising rabbits in pits is much more economical and convenient than keeping them in cages; you will simply simplify the care of the animals and the premises. But the choice is yours.

Purchase of feed

In order for rabbits to gain sufficient weight, their diet must include a complex of nutrients, vitamins and microelements. Compound feed in this case is an ideal option, but it should not be a single food; add hay, fruits, vegetables, grains, and mineral supplements can be given in winter.

Hay is an important component of a rabbit's diet.

Business plan

Here we will roughly calculate what the initial investment should be, what future expenses will be, and what profit rabbit breeding will bring you in the future.

Expenses

Land rent will cost on average from 20 to 80 thousand rubles per year. If you have your own plot, this amount is not taken into account.

Purchasing cells

If you purchase Mikhailov’s mini-farm, its purchase will cost you 19 thousand rubles (calculated for 20 individuals). For industrial cultivation you will need at least three of these cells – already 57 thousand rubles.

If you are going to raise rabbits in pits, the amount will decrease significantly - you will only need a minimum of materials to furnish housing for the animals.

Mikhailov's mini-farm

Buying rabbits

If we take the average cost, then one individual rabbit is estimated at 300 rubles (of a regular breed). Considering that you will need approximately 60 animals, you will spend 20-30 thousand rubles on this.

Purchase of feed

The fattening period lasts four months, during which time the amount of food eaten by one rabbit reaches 15 kilograms. Let’s take 12 rubles for the estimated cost of feed, then the total costs will be about 30 thousand rubles.

In total, the starting investment should be from 120 to 170 thousand rubles, but this is only if you initially decided to launch large-scale production.

Income

On average, a female rabbit produces from 36 to 48 offspring per year. If all the rabbits survive, then each individual, upon reaching four months of life, will weigh 2-3 kilograms. By simple calculations we get 144 kilograms of meat per year (and this is only from one rabbit).

With the cost of rabbit meat being 200 rubles/kilogram, the revenue for the product will be 28.8 thousand rubles.

The sale of rabbit skins (if you take 48 offspring) will amount to an income of 9.6 thousand rubles.

Beautiful rabbit skins are highly prized

Of course, this business plan was made without taking into account force majeure, losses, and so on. When you draw up a business plan for rabbit breeding, take into account the mortality rate of young animals - 30% per year.

Rabbit farming is a profitable business if you start it right. Yes, it will require a certain initial capital, arrangement of life and care for animals, control of the life of rabbits, their nutrition and productivity. But what kind of business will become profitable without effort?

Naturally, it will take a lot of your energy to start your own business from scratch. But in general, if you take up the business with grasping hands, calculate everything correctly and invest money wisely, then raising rabbits will not only pay off within one year, but will also help the farm owner in the future to receive a stable income from the development of the business.

Accounting