The study was conducted to farmiliarize rabbit meat in the society and income generation of the destitute women by rabbit raising. A small rabbitary was developed in the Department of Animal Nutrition. Experiments were conducted on production technology in both farm and farmers condition. To promote rabbit meat as a conventional food item, technique of panel test was followed, where cooked meat with rice/parota were served to the invited participants. After eating, participants gave their opinion on assessment sheets. Simultaneously, the superiority and importance of rabbits and their meat were highlighted on print and electronic media and through discussion meetings. Socio-economic impacts of rabbit rearing were studied through sample survey by direct interviews. A total of 24 women raised on an average of 4 rabbit (small farm) and 12 women raised an average of 50 rabbits (large farm) were randomly selected for collecting data on socio-economic impact of rabbit raising. A diet containing 21% CP was found significantly suitable for rabbit in their fertility, gestation, litter size, litter weight at different stages and kid weight gain up to weaning and latter period of their growth also. Diet containing concentrate misture of 75 g/h/d along with ad labitum green grass feeding was found suitable for growth and reproductive performances of rabbit under rural condition. A total of 622 people of different age, sex and profession took part in 6 different panel test. Rabbit meat color, flavor, juiciness, taste and overall quality were graded excellent by 41.05, 40.15, 23.70, 54.75 & 52.0; good by 42.85, 41.43, 23.23, 40.56 & 32.0 and acceptable by 16.10, 17.85, 33.07, 4.69 & 16.0 percent participants, respectively. And 87.50 percent of the participants expressed their desire for including rabbit meat in their regular menu if available. The protein and fat content of the meat were 17.55 and 7.0 percent. One male and one female rabbit were given to each of 115 poor women who were earlier selected and trained in 6 batches. The first batch of 15 women selected through BAUREC could not keep their rabbit alive due to negligence and faulty husbandry practice. The other recipients selected in Muktagacha area with the help of JNDP, a local NGO, successfully raised and multiplied rabbit through breeding. Later on each of these recipients distributed one male and one female rabbit to another destitute women selected jointly by project personals and JNDP as per contact. In this way rabbit raising became popular and expanded in Muktagacha area. Local baparies were motivated to collect rabbits from rearer door and supply Dhaka and other places, so a marketing channel had also been developed for rabbit in the area. Some motivated people were found to take rabbit meat with their family members. The average amount of gross return from per 4 rabbits per year stood at Tk. 1040.00 in case of small farms and from per 50 rabbit Tk. 60187 in large farm per year. Gross magin and net return over full cost stood at Tk. 540.00 and Tk. 514 in small farm and Tk. 24997.00 and 22333 for large farms. Finally, revenue cost ratio on the basis of operating cost and full cost were 2.08 & 1.98 for small farm and 1.71 & 1.59 for large farm. On the basis of cost benefit ratio it can be concluded that both small and large farms were profitable and small farms were more profitable. After adoption of rabbit raising, the income of the farmer from other agricultural & non- agricultural activities increased. But the income from labour selling deceased by 36.27 percent. The value of asset endowment also increased in both farm size and it was highest in poultry item (31.75%) for small farms and Rickshaw/ Van item (116.98%) for large farms.
Rabbit, meat, lactation,
Department of Animal Nutrition
1) To study environmental, social and breeding behaviors and food habits of rabbits.
2) To study the requirements of feed for reproduction and production and feed efficiency of rabbit.
3) To determine the quality of rabbit meat by chemical analysis and panel tests and to highlight its importance through seminars, discussion meetings etc.
4) To determine the cost of meat production
5) To motivate the people to include rabbit meat in their menu as a conventional food item.
6) Income generation of the destitute women through rabbit raising.
Forty female and ten male rabbits will be collected from Pirgassa Christian missionary farm at Madhupur or other local sources. Study will be conducted with these animals on their environmental, social and breeding behaviours and food habits. Feed requirements for growth, reproduction, lactation, production and feed efficiency will be determined. Suitable statistical design will be followed in conducting these studies.
Bangladesh Agricultural University Research Progress, Volume 13,
Proceedings of the Workshop 09-10 April 2003,
Bangladesh Agricultural University Research System (BAURES), Mymensingh
Bangladesh.
485000
The study was seen that all the indicators of estimating living standard of the poor women had increased after rabbit raising. Rabbit meat was also found acceptable to the people, rabbit farming had increased the total income, the value of asset endowment and level of living standard of the rabbit raising women. Thus introduction of rabbit raising might help in poverty alleviation of the country.
Report/Proceedings