In 1850, as a result of the crossing of the English lop-eared rabbit and the Flemish giant, scientists bred a new breed called the French Baran. The English lop-eared rabbit was bred by a natural mutation of the auricle, which then became a characteristic feature of this breed. The Flemish giant, on the other hand, was large, which influenced the results of crossing 2 representatives. French Baran is an animal of rather large sizes, which quickly gains weight, is unpretentious to food and conditions.
Rabbit breed French Ram
The adult representative of the genus reaches 4-8 kg, is famous for its shiny smooth coat, has an unusual shape of the ears.
Lop-eared rabbits quickly gained popularity, and in 1870 they became famous throughout Europe. The countries of the European Union have gained popularity thanks to the breeding of several species of French Sheep.
Lop-eared were previously considered exotic animals, thanks to hanging ears and a round massive head. At present, everyone can keep these animals. French Baran is a rabbit that looks very cute in the photo and in life.
Characteristic
It is believed that the French Baran breed rabbit is one of the most peaceful and friendly animals. Lop-eared pets get along well with children and pets.
Appearance
French rabbits are often compared with rams. All because of their appearance: hanging ears, a muzzle of a round shape, a nose with a fungus very much resemble the muzzle of a ram.
Lop-eared rabbits have the following features:
- weight about 10 kg;
- muzzle round with a convex forehead, voluminous cheeks, stand out against the general background, nose with a hump;
- the ear has an unusual structure: it hangs down on the sides of the muzzle, each ear is about 50 cm long and 10-17 cm wide;
- the body of animals is rather large, with a sunken chest, paws are large and strong, the length of the body can reach 60-70 cm;
- the back sags slightly, has an elongated shape;
- the fur is thick and soft, it can be dyed in different colors.
Baranov have an unusual ear structure. The French Baran rabbit hears almost nothing due to abnormally formed auricles. If, when buying a still very small animal, it is noticeable that the ears are of the usual shape and are not lowered down, you should not be afraid: the change in the structure of the ears begins only 6 weeks after birth.
The characteristic claims that French Sheep can have a wide variety of colors. The colors are so bright and beautiful that every animal lover can find a pet to taste. Rabbits can be white, gray, black, blue, spotted and variegated.
The most valuable fur colors are variegated and Madagascar.
Increasingly, French sheep are bred for economic purposes.
Upon reaching the age of 3-4 months they are slaughtered and get a few kilograms of meat, high-quality fur. Many people breed rabbits with the aim of further selling rare and young animals. Such a thoroughbred animal is sold on average for 800-1000 rubles.
In order for the rabbit to be guaranteed to buy, you need to carefully and responsibly treat the breed and choose the parents. Before purchasing a pet, you need to watch photos and videos of the French Sheep, as well as read the description.
Breeding
Cuts are carried out upon reaching the following age: in females - at 9 months, in males - at 5-6 months. During interceptions, you should not allow mating of animals of different breeds and subspecies, because subsequently rabbits are obtained with irregular ears, making them unsuitable for sale or obtaining offspring. For breeding, you must carefully select a partner for rabbits. The animals should be of the same species, have regular long ears located on the sides, the weight of the rabbits should be within 5 kg.
Weight NET-rabbits breed French Baran.
Rabbits french ram
Rabbits french ram.
Obese animals reproduce poorly. For mating, the female is placed with the male and wait about 7 days.
The female carries children on average 30 days. In one litter there can be 4-7 rabbits. If 12 animals are born, it is more difficult for the female to feed the offspring. Lop-eared rabbits are responsible mothers, they do not eat their cubs, but carefully take care of them. After 3 years, females are usually not taken for mating, since they often die during childbirth. Breeding of rabbits French Baran should be carried out by experienced breeders, then with the right approach it will be possible to get a purebred breed.
Feeding
The bunny loves to eat and is able to chew grass throughout the day. For this reason, pets are gaining excess weight, as a result, breeding French Sheep becomes impractical. Greens, dandelion, nettle and plantain are given as food. It is best to collect herbs, vegetables and fruits in your garden, as purchased goods can be stuffed with chemicals to extend the shelf life. In winter they feed with hay and vegetables.
It is permissible for rabbits to be given the following foods:
- broccoli;
- potatoes;
- beets;
- cucumbers
- carrot.
The diet also includes cereals, animal feed and fruits. You need to be careful when feeding the animals, as rabbits tend to have digestive problems. Fresh vegetables and fruits must be fed in small portions. It is forbidden to feed rotten and spoiled food, as well as to give beans, tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce or rhubarb.
Feeding is carried out 2-3 times a day in fractional portions. Throughout the day, animals should have fresh and drinking water at room temperature.
Care and maintenance
Due to the large size of the pets, it is customary to keep them in a suitable room. It is not recommended to keep the animals in cages with a mesh floor, as the mesh bottom rubs the delicate paws of animals. In whatever enclosures or premises pets live, it is important for all of them to observe certain conditions. The feeders should be metal, the drinkers should be nickel so that the animals could not inadvertently turn or gnaw them.
There should not be extra parts in the cells that could damage the ears of rabbits. Animals should be kept warm. Aviaries should be carefully protected from sun and moisture, always clean, without unnecessary items. To prevent rabbits from gnawing the wooden walls of enclosures or cages, spruce branches are placed in their feeders. So they sharpen their teeth without spoiling their home.
Placement in cells
The breed prefers to live in spacious rooms where several individuals can be raised without prejudice to animals. Rabbits really like to share space, because in this case they have someone to play with, and they are not at all bored. Due to the tendency to corns and pododermatitis, you should not make a cage with a mesh floor or walls. It is best to use flat surfaces for the cage. Pregnant females and males are best kept separately.
For one pet, the size of the cage should not be less than 0.9 × 0.8 × 0.6 m, and for those waiting for offspring of females - not less than 1.2 × 0.8 × 0.7 m.
Pets prefer to dig holes, so it will not be superfluous to install a pallet. Rabbits of the French Sheep breed are afraid of the cold - it is important to maintain the temperature in the cages all year round. Sometimes farmers place cages for sheep in a greenhouse, where they maintain the temperature with the help of heaters. Hay is spreading at the bottom of the cells, otherwise there is a risk that the animals will freeze the paws.
Accommodation
Lop-eared rabbits are affectionate and peaceful animals, calm and unpretentious to care for. Thanks to their well-developed intelligence, they are easy to train. Little children love animals, love to stroke their soft fur. The animals are harmless, they easily get along with other domestic inhabitants. Since French rams are nocturnal animals, they become sleepy during the day, while by evening the peak of their activity increases.
Pets can be placed in special enclosures. Before you put the rabbit in the aviary, you need to take a centimeter and measure the room. If the cage does not meet the required standards, the keeping and breeding of the Rams will slow down. Sometimes pets are released from their enclosures to run under the strict control of the owners. It is necessary to ensure that the animal does not accidentally injure ears on furniture. In proper conditions, sheep are able to live for about 7 years.
Disease and Vaccination
French sheep have a weak immune system and often suffer from diseases of the digestive system. Quite often, the ears and legs of animals are injured. It is forbidden to place animals on a metal mesh floor or on a fleecy carpet, as this contributes to the appearance and development of pododermatitis. Often, animals develop painful calluses on the pads of their paws, so you need to carefully monitor the condition of the pallet, change the hay and insulate the enclosure.
The rabbit's ears are often fixed above the head with special clamps to avoid possible frostbite and injury. When breeding French Sheep, it is important not to forget about regular vaccinations and other measures to prevent infectious diseases. It is recommended that all pets be shown to the veterinarian for a routine examination once every 6-12 months.