Rabbit Production in Nigeria : Some Aspects of Current Status and Promotional Strategies

[EN] Sorne aspects of the current status and promotional of rabbit production in Nigeria were appraised in this study. was because such data are lacking and rabbit production offers a potential towards attainment of food security in terms of animal intake. Data were obtained principally from field survey, administration, personal observations and experiences authors, structured personal interviews of identified rabbit farmers, interview and observational data from agricultura! extension , personal interview and visitation to markets and retail outlets for , proxy information from distant collaborators, recorded data from establishments and published data. All the information was synthesized to provide an informative blend on major of rabbit production. From the data collected, it was found that production in Nigeria is largely a traditional, non-commercially , family-consumption targeted, and smallholder type operation an average of 2-7 does and 3 bucks. About 3.4-5.2% of the population may be keeping rabbits with women and children being mostly involved. Rabbit keeping is both intensive and semiintensive, sorne scattered free range backyard rearing was . Unlike the rural rabbit keepers, space is limiting for most rabbit keepers. Diets of rabbits in Nigeria are primarily forages, and legumes, kitchen wastes while commercial feeds are rarely . Bucks and does are under-utilized, with does producing about 20 rabbit per year and are usually offered for sale after four . Nigerian rabbits do not suffer any peculiar disease, however disease (mange) and coccidia infection are very common. There high peri- and post-natal mortalities, and it was estimated that mortality between birth and marketing was between 30-40%, highest in the young enes. The performance and reproductive of rabbits in Nigeria are strongly correlated with the leve! of . There exists a latent and growing market for rabbit meat Nigeria especially as an alternative livestock species. We propase strategies for sustainable rabbit production.