Popular Rabbit Breeds: A Comprehensive Guide

1. The New Zealand Rabbit, originating from the United States, is a prime choice for meat rabbits and one of the most renowned meat rabbit breeds globally. This breed is now widely distributed around the world, with three distinct colors: white, red, and black. Despite their different appearances, these colors do not share a genetic relationship. The white variety boasts the highest production performance, and the breeds introduced to China are predominantly white.

Appearance: These rabbits have pure white fur, pink eyes, and a balanced body structure, which are also significant features of meat breeds. They grow rapidly in the early stages, have high feed conversion rates, and offer excellent meat quality.

New Zealand Rabbits are extensively distributed in China, known for their frequent breeding and strong resistance to foot dermatitis, a trait unmatched by other breeds. They are wellsuited for intensive cage farming and make excellent parents for hybridization.

2. The California Rabbit, native to California, is a mediumsized meat breed.

Appearance: The rabbits have white fur, with deep brown fur on their ears, nose, lower limbs, and tail. Their eyes are red, and they possess plump muscles, lush fur, tight skin, and a wellgroomed appearance.

California Rabbits have excellent production performance, strong breeding capabilities, rapid early growth, tender meat, and good environmental adaptability. They are also resistant to viruses and have a gentle temperament. However, they are not as fastgrowing as New Zealand Rabbits, which is a drawback.

3. The Belgian Rabbit, with fur in shades of dark brown, chestnut, or light brown, has high lactation capacity, leading to rapid growth in the offspring. This breed is favored by Chinese farmers and is particularly suitable for rural areas, especially in the north. Belgian Rabbits have significant advantages in hybridization, but they are prone to foot dermatitis in cage conditions and have a high incidence of ear mites. Additionally, the litter size varies, and the offspring have inconsistent sizes and color inheritance.

4. The Taihang Mountain Rabbit, also known as the Tiger Skin Yellow Rabbit, is native to the Jingxing area in Hebei Province. It comes in two types: standard and medium. This breed is highly adaptable, diseaseresistant, and thrives on coarse feed, making it ideal for rural farming. Its advantages include stable genetics, strong fertility, good mothering instincts, strong lactation, and rapid growth in young rabbits. It is the preferred choice for rabbit farmers in northern provinces.

5. The Xibe Rabbit, both a meat and fur breed, features three color series: yellowishbrown, pure white, and straw yellow. These rabbits have dense fur, large ears (one standing and one hanging), welldeveloped muscles, strong limbs, and belong to the large rabbit category. Their large size, rapid growth, and ability to thrive on coarse feed make them popular among breeders. However, they are prone to foot dermatitis and ear mites, so careful attention is required during breeding.

6. The Harbin White Rabbit, with its white, coarse fur, red eyes, mediumsized head, large, upright ears, and strong limbs, is wellproportioned. This breed is widely raised in China and has good inherent performance. However, due to the lack of selective breeding and inadequate nutrition, some areas have shown slow growth and smaller sizes, which should be addressed.

7. The Large Eared Yellow Rabbit, originating from Guangzong County in Xingtai City, Hebei Province, is a breed derived from the Belgian Rabbit. Oxygen Pet Doctor Summary:

There are many meat rabbit breeds, and it's impossible for farmers to be familiar with all of them. Breeders should choose breeds based on their local conditions and farming scale, opting for nearby breeds for the best results!

Oxygen Pet Doctor Summary:

There are numerous meat rabbit breeds, and it's impossible for farmers to be familiar with all of them. Breeders should choose breeds based on their local conditions and farming scale, opting for nearby breeds for the best results!