Rabbits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rabbits are small mammals in the Leporidae family of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world. The male is called a buck and the female is a doe; a young rabbit is a kitten or kit. More than half the world’s rabbit population resides in North America. Their size can range anywhere from 8” to 20” in length and weigh more than 4lb. The fur is most commonly long and soft, with color variations of brown, gray, and buff. Rabbits can see nearly 360 degrees, with a small blind spot at the bridge of the nose. Rabbits are herbivores that feed by grazing on grass, forbs, and leafy weeds. The only rabbit to be widely domesticated is the European rabbit. Domesticated rabbits have mostly been bred to be much larger than wild rabbits, selective breeding has produced a range sizes from “dwarf” to “giant. Rabbits can turn 20 percent of the proteins they eat into edible meat, compared to 22 to 23 percent for broiler chickens, 16 to 18 percent for pigs and 8 to 12 percent for beef; rabbit meat is more economical in terms of feed energy than beef. Rabbit meat is richer in proteins but low in fat.