Diet quality has been a major limiting factor of production in many rabbit programs. It has been observed that a poor variety of feeds is provided (eg: only grass) on many farms. Reasons include: insufficient farmer training and (or) low motivation, lack of a feeding strategy plan, season or natural disaster. Ideally, in the case of limited-resource farmers in the LDC’s, feedstuffs for rabbits should be grown on the farm using inexpensive and renewable resources. However, exceptions may exist, for example, where use of a limited quantity of commercial concentrates may be justified. While forage plots are strongly recommended, some successful projects have been designed that promoted a simple rabbit-garden integrative model. In 1993, the author served as a consultant for Heifer International in Zimbabwe, where it was observed that a project supported by GTZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit) trained farmers to adopt the rabbit-garden model where garden “wastes” were used as primary feeds, forages as secondary feeds, and concentrates as supplements that were prepared using local grains (eg: rapoko, mhunga and sorghum) and by-products of grains that were grown on the farm. Legume forages are typically the most important source of protein for rabbits (Cheeke 1986). Dietary energy can be derived from many sources. The feeding of stale bread and tortillas has been reported (Lopez et al 1999; Ramchurn and Dullull 2001. In addition, cull or surplus farm produce and kitchen scraps are often suitable as feeds for rabbits. The use of molasses blocks for rabbits is a feasible feeding alternative for many subsistence farmers (Finzi and Amici 1996, Le Thu Hha et al 1996, Ling et al 2003).
The composition of the diet invariably changes over season as certain ingredients become more or less abundant (especially between wet and dry seasons). Training of farmers to prepare a forage security plan is important. The key to a sustainable feeding program is that the number of rabbits on the farm does not exceed the on-farm feed supply.
Health
Rabbits are a rustic species ideally suited for backyard or small-scale rearing. In many development projects, even under harsh or limiting conditions, rabbits are never vaccinated or given antibiotics, dewormers, coccidiostats or other prophylactic drugs or heath promotants. Yet rabbits are often observed to be healthy and productive. These attributes bode well with the essence of sustainability. Of course, there are exceptions. In countries or regions afflicted with RHD or VHD and Myxomatosis, rabbits are particularly vulnerable. While vaccination may be necessary, it may not always be feasible at farmer’s level. Fortunately, in most LDC’s, VHD has not been introduced. However, when a first-time outbreak occurs in a country, results can be devastating. For example, the outbreak of VHD in Cuba in 1993 was indeed dramatic. The importation of meat from China was implicated as the origin of VHD into the Western Hemisphere (Lebas et al 1997). In the realm of sustainability, governments should obviously protect rabbit agriculture from sources of potential bio-contamination, or else sustainability is at stake. Outbreaks of Myxomatosis often follow the rainy season when mosquito swarms are prevalent, but the disease may also be spread by other biting insects, such as fleas and lice, so effective insect control measures at farm level are critical.
Under so-called primitive conditions, the more commonly observed diseases that can be controlled more easily than viral diseases are ear mites, skin mange, cocidiosis, and a variety of bacterial infections. Although most diseases are usually treatable if detected early (using local and effective remedies), the key is certainly prevention. It is imperative that proper and practical training of farmers, as well as of project support staff (eg: Extension agents) be conducted. In the author's experience, the root of most rabbit problems on small farms is faulty feeding and (or) poor sanitation practices, which can be addressed initially during farmer training. Secondly, and of equal importance, is timely on-farm visits (project supervision) by a rabbit project specialist, which is essential to ensure that sustainability is not sacrificed by rampant disease outbreaks that should have been effectively prevented or controlled. Other internal factors may exist (eg: climate, predation/thievery risk, and waste disposal), depending on the local situation.
Sustainable rabbit farming: Intermediate factors
Program dynamics
In terms of the anticipated project benefits of improved nutrition, occupational livelihood, empowerment of women, environmentally sound and more productive farms, how does the farmer participate to effectively adopt the SSRPM? In many cases, the farmer either directly participates in a formal development program or indirectly participates as a generation recipient from a previously trained and (or) experienced farmer. A development program plan or proposal should consist of several key components: project feasibility, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. Each component is critical and serves as intermediate factors that will support or guide farmers who are adopting the SSRPM (Figure 2).
A feasibility study first determines whether or not a rabbit project should be started. If a major constraint or barrier exists (eg: socially not accepted), a rabbit project should probably not be started. If the feasibility report recommends project initiation, then the project needs to be carefully designed, considering all the critical internal and external factors of the SSRPM. Project implementation and monitoring represent the actual life of the project (eg: farmer training, stock distribution, supervision, and farmer-to-farmer multiplication). Project evaluation entails a document of the project’s failures and successes from a learning or lesson point of view, so that future projects can be better designed. Proposals submitted to a development funding agency should generally address these five essential project components (for more detail, see the rabbit project manual [Lukefahr 1992]).
Sustainable rabbit farming: External factors
Ecological sustainability
The SSRPM is a planning tool that: 1) serves to aid the farmer to be a good steward of the environment, 2) provides a strong economic incentive to produce, and 3) contributes to the goodwill of the family and community. Ecological, economical, and social aspects are external or “environmental” factors of the SSRPM (Figure 3).