The Soviet Chinchilla rabbit is a fairly popular breed among rabbit breeders. The beautiful color of the skin and the similarity with chinchilla fur make this breed very popular and expensive. The popularity of eared chinchillas is also given by the fact that they do not require special conditions of keeping. In addition, many people have now started to keep rabbits of this species as pets, thanks to their beauty and peaceful disposition.
Origin of the breed
The history of the appearance of the breed has an interesting history. At the beginning of the 20th century, breeders from France got Beveren, Himalayan and wild agouti rabbits.
As a result, they got an animal with a woolen coat similar to the coat of an American chinchilla, which as a result directly affected the name of the breed.
In 1913, eared chinchillas were first presented to everyone at an exhibition.
The unusual appearance of the animals immediately attracted the attention of many experienced rabbit breeders. Within a few years, the breed spread very quickly around the world.
In 1915, chinchilla rabbits were brought to England. And by the end of 1919, American rabbit breeders were bragging about their giant eared chinchillas.
Since 1927, American chinchilla rabbits were imported to the territory of the USSR, where the Soviet stage of selection also began, as a result of which another type of rabbit appeared in 1963 – the Soviet Chinchilla.
During selection, the breed was ennobled with French Chinchilla and White Giant. The successful variation of the animals was reproduced at breeding farms in the Novosibirsk and Saratov regions, with the help of zoological scientists.
Description of the breed
- Color – chinchilla (light blue)
- Fur is thick, uniform
- The fluff is dense, with dark tips
- Eyes – red-brown (sometimes blue)
- Ears are erect, up to 15 cm in length
- The physique is massive, elongated
- Chest girth – from 37 to 44 cm
- The average body weight is 5-7 kg
- Meat yield – 56-63%
Constitution of the breed
- The physique is large, strong.
- Compact body up to 70 cm long, with a developed bone base.
- The chest is wide, massive, deep, and some varieties have a sub-chest.
- The back is rounded.
- The sacrum and loin are elongated.
- The croup is wide, rounded.
- Paws are strong, straight, muscular.
- The head is small, with upright ears.
Fur and skin
Chinchilla rabbit fur is in demand in the global fashion industry. The characteristics of the properties and its appearance are almost no different from the fur of the American chinchilla, which is considered the most expensive in the world.
The color of the coat of the Soviet Chinchilla is silver, dark silver with a blue tint. The belly, the lower part of the tail, the inner part of the paws are almost white. The tip of the tail and ears are black. The eyes stand out with an illuminated wool border. A light wedge on the back of the head is mandatory.
If you blow against the wool of a chinchilla rabbit, you can see up to five zones of different color shades.
Main defects
Defects often occur in the offspring of chinchilla rabbits. Such rabbits are immediately rejected and raised exclusively for slaughter. Defective individuals are not suitable for breeding.
Among the defects that occur most often are the following:
- Excessively hanging croup.
- Spots on the wool.
- Changing the main color, mixing other colors (often red).
- Drooping ears.
- The back is hump-shaped.
Nature
Earwigs are distinguished by a quiet, calm disposition, benevolence. They quickly get used to people, gladly accept affectionate caresses, easily get used to a change of environment.
Peaceful chinchilla rabbits show increased aggressiveness and belligerence during sexual hunting.
Productivity
The Soviet Chinchilla is classified as a skin-meat breed. In just 4 months, you can get high-quality skins from the animals, as well as a large yield of tasty dietary rabbit meat (up to 65% of live weight).
Maintenance
Soviet Chinchilla rabbits do not require special housing conditions. They are unpretentious in food. The main rules are a properly prepared diet, compliance with sanitary and hygienic recommendations.
Care and hygiene
Recommended:
- Shade the rabbit hutch from direct sunlight.
- Protect cells from wind and drafts.
- The parameters of the cell for keeping based on one adult individual are 1.2 m x 0.6 m x 0.5 m.
- The optimal content temperature is +15 0 (the permissible range is +5 +25 0 C).
In winter, when the temperature deviates below the norm, the nutrition of feed should be increased by 15-20%.
- Maintain cleanliness in rabbit houses, change bedding.
- Periodically disinfect premises for keeping, rabbit hutches, inventory.
Pit breeding is unacceptable for Chinchilla rabbits. With this method, the animals will lose the quality of their skin. They will be dirty, untidy.
Feeding rules
The Chinchilla rabbit menu does not differ from what is recommended for other species. Animals are unpretentious in both care and food. Among the basic rules, it is recommended:
- Follow the power regime.
- Monitor the availability of clean water in the water tanks (water is heated in winter).
- Provide a variety of feed.
Animals are fed grass, hay, juicy root crops, vitamin and mineral premixes, compound feed, grains, and tree branches.
The amount of nutrition of rabbits should be controlled, because overeating threatens with obesity, which negatively affects the reproductive functions of the ears.
Diseases and their treatment
Chinchilla rabbits are prone to the same diseases as other breeds. Eared people often suffer from obesity, inflammatory processes in the stomach, intestines, and improper bite. Infectious diseases that can destroy livestock in a short period of time are a particular danger for animals. Among them are coccidiosis, pasteurellosis, myxomatosis, viral hemorrhagic disease.
Most diseases can be cured if early symptoms and timely diagnosis are detected. It should not be forgotten that only a veterinarian can make a final diagnosis, as he can prescribe rational treatment. Therefore, his advice should not be neglected.
The main preventive measure in the fight against infections for rabbits is vaccination. It is recommended to vaccinate animals in accordance with the established vaccination calendar approved by the State Veterinary Service.
Dilution
Rabbits of the Soviet Chinchilla become sexually mature in about 3-4 months. Individuals with the best production characteristics are sent to mating. Experienced breeders advise:
- Combine rabbits older than 6 months.
- Do not mix rabbits from related lines (to avoid defective offspring).
- Inspect the animals before mating (obese individuals or those with signs of illness are excluded).
- For mating, fit the rabbit to the rabbit-producer.
Chinchillas are quite prolific. Females in one litter bring up to 8 rabbits, taking into account that they can get pregnant 5-6 times a year. Newborn babies will rarely be hungry with such mothers. Rabbits of this breed reproduce up to 210 g of milk per day.
Soviet Chinchilla is a breed that has long taken root for breeding on rabbit farms throughout the country. At the same time, the scale of productivity is simply amazing – up to 20,000 heads are sold at each of them in a year.
Large manufacturers emphasize the sale of hides, which are highly valued in the world. For small farms, Chinchillas are animals that quickly pay off, that do not require special care, but at the same time provide breeders with both skins and meat.
Advantages of the breed:
- Quickly gain weight
- High yield of meat products
- High-quality skins with valuable, expensive fur
- Easily adapt to living conditions
- Unpretentious in content
- High fertility
Disadvantages of the breed:
- Large rabbits and a lot of feed are needed, which increases the material costs of the breeder.
How to choose the right rabbit
It is better to buy purebred rabbits or adult rabbits for breeding only from proven breeders or breeding farms. When buying a Soviet Chinchilla, they check the presence of accompanying documents, examine the ears, assess the state of health. A healthy chinchilla rabbit should be active, with bright eyes, meet the standards of the breed, and not have any defects.