Rabbits & Guinea Pigs

Ms. CichonAgricultural 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” tallOver 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

Quiz Time

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

Quiz Time