Do you know the rabbit breed on your farm?

Rabbits in a farm.

Many a times, farmers who want to buy rabbits from us only tell me they want ‘a big rabbit’.
Apparently, most Kenyan farmers are not cognizant of the breed of rabbits they keep on their farm. The main reason why a farmer rears a certain breed is crucial as rabbits are reared for their meat, skin or pelt, research (by obtaining the plasma and testing drugs), pets etc.

We have 47 distinct breeds of rabbits world over according to the American Rabbit Breeders Association ARBA. Only about a dozen of these are reared, the most common being New Zealand White, Californian white, Chinchilla, French lop, Dutch, Checkered Giant, Giant Flemish, Angora and Rex.