Rabbits & Guinea Pigs Ms. Cichon Agricultural Education Department Rosholt High School

Rabbits

History Rabbits were once classified as rodents and now have their own category-Lagomorpha All domesticated rabbits came from the European wild rabbit – Domesticated by the French monks in the Middle Ages Rabbits then now of great economic importance – Rabbits were hunted for food and pelts

Uses Meat – High in protein – Low in cholesterol – Low in fat Research – Numbers decreasing – Used for disease fighting antibodies & skin irritation tests Fur/Wool – Divided into four groups Normal Rex Angora Satin Pets – Clean, gentle, and lovable

Breeds 60 breeds 45 recognized by the rabbit organizations Divided into 5 categories – Dwarf – Small – Medium – Large – Giant

Breeds Holland Lops Mini Rex Havana Angora

Breeds Netherland Dwarf Himalayan Polish Jersey Wooly

Housing 6-11 pounds = 30”wide x 36”long x 18” tall Over 12 pounds = 24”wide x 48” long x 18” Tray needs to be filled with absorbent material Need Air movement Need lighting

Feeding Pellets are good Timothy hay is good for a balance of fiber and protein Too many fruits, veggies, and green foods can cause fatal diarrhea- too much water content Treats are carrots, carrot tops, slices of apple, green beans, pieces of banana, pineapple, or papaya

Handling Never picked up by the ears Walk slowing and speak to the rabbit Gentle stroke from behind the ears while rubbing and stroking the animals head Slip one hand under it’s chest and belly and place the other hand behind the rabbit

Disease Enteritis – Inflammation of the intestinal tract Snuffles – Caused by bacteria – Sneezing with a white-colored nasal discharge Mastitis – Inflammation of a mammary tissue Weepy Eye – Inflammation of the mucous membrane on the inner eyelid

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Guinea Pigs

Facts Actually called cavy Seven different species Originally bred for meat production from South America at least 3,000 years ago Widely kept as a source of food by native people of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia It is not a pig

Uses Meat – High in protein – Low in cholesterol – Low in fat Research – Numbers decreasing – Used for disease fighting antibodies & skin irritation tests Fur/Wool – Divided into four groups Normal Rex Angora Satin Pets – Clean, gentle, and lovable

Breeds 60 breeds 45 recognized by the rabbit organizations Divided into 5 categories – Dwarf – Small – Medium – Large – Giant

Breeds American Abyssinian Peruvian Satin

Breeds Silkie Teddy White Crested

Housing Typical cage: Plastic bottom 3 or 4 inches deep with vertical wire bars Cages do not need covers or tops Aquariums will work Feed bowls should be heavy ware do it does get knocked over

Feeding Vegetarians Large front incisors teeth are very sharp and used to bite food Cannot synthesize Vitamin C so it must be put into its diet Favorite foods are lettuce, green leaf lettuce, kale, carrot, apples, pears, turnips, beets, and cucumbers

Handling Brushed daily Toe nails need to be trimmed Friendly and easy to handle Grasped firmly around the front shoulders with one hand and have its rear supported with the other hand

Disease Respiratory disease Swelling of neck Toxemia in late pregnancy Mites Teeth infections

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