The Rabbit Research Program at TAMUK

Director: Steven D. Lukefahr

 

The Facility Design

A rabbit research program was established in 1994 at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. The facility is 80 feet long and 17 feet wide. The building is narrow to help improve air flow to keep the rabbits cool. The barn faces a southeast direction to maximize the prevailing wind air flow for better circulation. Engineers have designed the barn to be 10° F cooler inside than the outside temperature. This facility has a metal roof with insulation underneath to help keep inside temperature cooler. These interventions are especially important with the extreme high temperature that do occur quite often in south Texas. During the cooler months there are adjustable plywood panels on both the southeast and northwest sides of the barn that can be lowered to protect the rabbits against drafts or storms.

Management

The rabbit stock (capacity of 40 bucks and 100 does) is managed as a commercial enterprise. A commercial pelleted diet is fed to the rabbits. Does are maintained on an 8 litter/year schedule that produces approximately 30 market fryers  per year. For example, a doe will be bred and 14 days later she will be palpated for pregnancy. If the doe is pregnant, 14 days later a nest box will be placed in her cage. The same doe would be serviced again 14 days postpartum. If the doe is not pregnant, she will be bred back immediately and palpated again 14 days later. The replacement does and bucks are first mated at 5 or 6 months of age. All rabbits are housed in commercial wire cages that are equipped with an automatic watering system. A part-time student manager maintains the research facility and keeps the operation going smoothly. Graduate students conduct research experiments as part of their specialization training.

 

Breeds of Rabbits

New Zealand White - The Ozark line of the New Zealand White (NZW) breed, specifically developed for the commercial meat rabbit industry, was obtained in the mid-1980's from Pel-Freez. In recent years, this line has been crossed with commercial lines from Florida and Louisiana. This composite maternal line is well adapted under hot and humid conditions. There is little to no fancy or show breeding in this line. Does exemplify desirable maternal characteristics, such as large litters, well developed nests, good milking ability, and strong maternal instincts. The breeding management regime involves a 14-day breedback system.

 

Altex - This is a commercial sire breed of rabbit that was developed in Alabama and Texas. Foundation breeds were Flemish Giant, Champagne d' Argent, and Californian.  The Altex was genetically selected for heavy 70 day market weights for over 15 generations. Color markings are that of a Californian (CAL), but weights are heavier ranging from 10 to 20 pounds. Altex x New Zealand White crossbred fryers typically reach market weight a week earlier than NZW purebred fryers. Another recommended cross is the mating from an Altex buck to a CAL X NZW crossbred doe. Breeding stock ($20.00) can be purchased. We sell at the door. It is emphasized that these are commercial-bred rabbits. They were not developed to do well at rabbit shows. We want our rabbits to be long-bodied with large ears, non-dense fur, etc., so as to be more heat tolerant and better litter producers. For more information about the Altex breed, the following paper can be read which was published in Domestic Rabbits Magazine (Sep.-Oct. 1996, 24(5):20-21).

 
bulletDevelopment of a New Commercial Sire Breed: The Altex
bulletFigure 1. Schematic representation of the breeding plan leading to the development of the Altex commercial sire breed
bulletFigure 2. Genetic trends for unselected and selected lines for 70-day body weight
bulletPhotograph of an Altex rabbit

Also, Dr. James McNitt (Professor, Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA) has developed a PowerPoint Presentation on the Altex.

Outreach Programs

Workshops are held regularly on rabbit management. Assistance is also provided to 4-H and FFA youth preparing for the county livestock shows. Dr. Lukefahr regularly consults with clubs and organizations involved in rabbit production.

Additional Topics Useful to Backyard or Commercial Rabbit Raisers

bulletAppropriate breeding stock
bulletBenefits of backyard rabbit production
bullet Heat stress management

WORLD RABBIT SCIENCE ASSOCIATION

 

AMERICAN BRANCH - WORLD RABBIT SCIENCE ASSOCIATION

  Visit the AB-WRSA homepage! 

Role of Rabbits in Developing Countries

bulletArticle by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on the role of the rabbit in developing countries

 

A Guide to Developing Successful Rabbit Projects for Poverty Alleviation:

  

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Lukefahr, S.D. 2004. Sustainable and alternative systems of rabbit production. (Invited paper). Proc. 8th World Rabbit Congress, Sept. 7-10, 2004. Puebla, Mexico. (http://www.dcam.upv.es/8wrc/) (Section: Alternative and Sustainable Production Systems).

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Lukefahr, S.D. 2007. The small-scale rabbit production model: Intermediate factors. (Paper presented at the 3rd Rabbit Congress of the Americas, Aug. 21-23, 2006. Maringa, Brazil). Published in Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 19, Article #69. (http://www.cipav.org.co/lrrd/lrrd19/5/luke19069.htm).

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Lukefahr, S.D. 2007. Strategies for the development of small- and medium-scale rabbit farming in South-East Asia. (Paper presented at the International Conference on Rabbit Production, July 24-25, 2007. Bogor, Indonesia). Published in Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 19, Article #138. (http://www.cipav.org.co/lrrd/lrrd19/9/luke19138.htm).

 

A Trainer's Manual for Meat Rabbit Project Development

A Heifer International Publication. This book was written as a series of lesson plans for professionals (e.g., extension workers, missionairies, Peace Corps volunteers, and social workers) who train poor people, especially in the lesser developed countries, how to start small-scale, backyard rabbit operations that are supported by on-farm resources to produce inexpensive meat, to improve small farms, and to increase family income. A section of the book covers the steps in designing and implementing sustainable, grassroots level rabbit projects. Copies are available by directly contacting Heifer (http://www.heifer.org)

 

 

The Rabbit - Husbandry, Health and Production by the eminent French rabbit research team: Drs. F. Lebas, P. Coudert, H. deRochambeau and R.G. Thebault (1997, 2nd Edition).  This is an outstanding text that covers technical aspects of rabbit production (published by the FAO).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By McNitt, J.I., N.M. Patton, S.D. Lukefahr, and P.R. Cheeke

 

 Rabbit production book 

 figures are courtesy of 

 Dean Goforth.

 

 

 

Sample Publications

Gonzalez-Mariscal, G., J.I. McNitt, and S.D. Lukefahr. 2007. Maternal care of rabbits in the lab and on the farm: Endocrine regulation of behavior and productivity. Horm. Behav. 52:86-91.

Jackson, R., A.D. Rogers, and S.D. Lukefahr. 2006. Inheritance of the naked gene and associations with postweaning performance and thermotolerance characters in fryer rabbits from an F2 generation. World Rabbit Sci. (Spain) 14(3):147-155.

Rogers, A.D., C.J. Lupton, and S.D. Lukefahr. 2006. Fiber production and properties in genetically furred and furless rabbits. J. Anim. Sci. 84:2566-2574.

Lukefahr, S.D. 2005. Genetics of the commercial meat Rabbit: The U.S. experience. (Invited paper). Baromfi Agarat 4(Dec.):77-80. (In Hungarian).

Lukefahr, S.D., P.R. Cheeke, J.I. McNitt, and N.M. Patton. 2004. Limitations of intensive meat rabbit production in North America. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 84:349-360.

Lukefahr, S.D. 2004. Sustainable and alternative systems of rabbit production. (Invited paper). Proc. 8th World Rabbit Congress, Sept.7-10, 2004. Puebla, Mexico. (http://www.dcam.upv.es/8wrc/)

Linga, S.S., S.D. Lukefahr, and M.J. Lukefahr. 2003. Feeding of Lablab purpureus forage with molasses blocks or sugar cane stalks to rabbit fryers in subtropical south Texas. Livest. Prod. Sci. (The Netherlands) 80:201-209.

Lukefahr, S.D. 2002. Opportunities for rabbit research and human development in the Western Hemisphere:  A rabbit revolution? World Rabbit Sci. (France) 10(3):111-115.

Lukefahr, S.D, and C.A Ruiz-Feria. 2002. Rabbit growth performance in a subtropical and semi-arid environment: effects fur clipping, ear length, and body temperature. Livest. Res. for Rural Development (Colombia) 15(2):HTML version. (http://www.cipav.org.co/lrrd/lrrd15/2/luke152.htm)

Medellin, M.F., and S.D. Lukefahr. 2001. Breed and heterotic effects on postweaning traits in Altex and New Zealand White straightbred and crossbred rabbits. J. Anim. Sci. 79: 1173-1178. (http://jas.fass.org/cgi/reprint/79/5/1173)

Rastogi, R.K., S.D. Lukefahr, and F.B. Lauckner. 2000. Maternal heritability and repeatability for litter traits in rabbits. Livest. Prod. Sci. (The Netherlands) 67:123-128.

Linga, S.S., and S.D. Lukefahr. 2000. Feeding of alfalfa hay with molasses blocks or crumbles to growing rabbit fryers. Livest. Res. for Rural Development (Colombia) 12(4):HTML version. (http://www.cipav.org.co/lrrd/lrrd12/4/ling124.htm)

Lukefahr, S.D., H.I. Nkwocha, H. Njakoi, E. Tawah, J.M. Akob, F.A. Kongyu, R.M. Njwe, and D. Gudahl. 2000. Present status of the Heifer Project International-Cameroon rabbit program: Back to the future. World Rabbit Sci. (France) 8(2):75-83.

Lukefahr, S.D. 2000. The National Rabbit Project population of Ghana: a genetic case study. In: Workshop on Developing Breeding Strategies for Lower Input Animal Production Environments, September 22-25, 1999. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Rome. ICAR Tech. Series No. 3:307-318.

Lukefahr, S.D. 1999. Teaching International Animal Agriculture. J. Anim. Sci. 77:3106-3113. (http://jas.fass.org/cgi/reprint/77/11/3106.pdf)

Lukefahr, S.D., and T.R. Preston. 1999. Human development through livestock projects: alternative global approaches for the next millennium. Wld. Anim. Rev. (Italy) 93(2):24-35.

Lukefahr, S.D. 1998. Review of global rabbit genetic resources: Special emphasis on breeding programs and practices in the lesser developed countries. Animal Genetic Resources Information (FAO, Rome). 23:49-67.

Brzozowski, M.L., S.D. Lukefahr, A. Frindt, H. Jasiorowski, and J. DeVries. 1998. Factors influencing rabbit production on small farms in Poland. Wld. Anim. Rev. (Italy). 90:47-53.

Lukefahr, S.D., H.B. Odi, and J.K.A. Atakora. 1996. Mass selection for 70-day body weight in rabbits. J. Anim. Sci. 74:1481-1489.

Lukefahr, S.D., and P.R. Cheeke. 1991. Rabbit project development strategies in subsistence farming systems: 1. Practical considerations. Wld. Anim. Rev. (Italy) 68:60-70.

Lukefahr, S.D., W.D. Hohenboken, P.R. Cheeke, and N.M. Patton. 1983. Characterization of straightbred and crossbred rabbits for milk production and associative traits. J. Anim. Sci. 57:1100-1107.

Back to Steven Lukefahr's Faculty Page

Last updated: September 6, 2007