About the Book
The New Zealand Rabbit Keeper's Handbook is a comprehensive, professional, and educational resource designed for anyone passionate about this versatile breed. Whether your goal is raising rabbits as pets, breeding for show, producing sustainable meat, or contributing to conservation, this handbook equips you with the knowledge, strategies, and confidence to succeed.
Inside, you'll discover:
Origins and Breed History - Trace the fascinating development of the New Zealand rabbit and its global recognition as a multipurpose breed.
Anatomy, Physiology, and Behavior - Understand growth patterns, digestive health, and social instincts essential to effective care.
Housing and Environment - Learn how to design safe, comfortable hutches for both indoor and outdoor systems.
Nutrition and Feeding - Balance hay, pellets, greens, and supplements while avoiding toxic plants.
Health and Veterinary Care - Early detection of illness, parasite prevention, spaying, neutering, and biosecurity.
Breeding and Genetics - Select for health and temperament while maintaining genetic diversity and ethical practices.
Raising Kits - Successful pregnancy, kindling, socialization, and prevention of losses.
Handling and Training - Build trust, practice safe handling, and introduce enrichment and litter training.
Welfare and Enrichment - Provide exercise, toys, tunnels, and stress management strategies.
Showing and Breed Standards - Grooming, conditioning, exhibition etiquette, and ARBA guidelines.
Meat, Fur, and Utility Production - Historical and modern uses, ethical farming methods, and sustainable production.
Record-Keeping Systems - Pedigree documentation, health tracking, growth monitoring, and digital management tools.
Citizen Science Contributions - Collaborating with universities, submitting data, and supporting research.
Rabbitry Economics and Business Models - Costs, marketing strategies, branding, and profitability.
Legal, Ethical, and Conservation Aspects - Animal welfare laws, responsible breeding, and maintaining genetic resilience.
Future Outlook - Technological advances, smart hutches, AI monitoring, and inspiring the next generation.
With over 16 in-depth chapters, this book combines science-based husbandry with modern innovations, ethical awareness, and sustainability practices. It is both a practical manual and a forward-looking guide, making it an indispensable reference for pet owners, breeders, educators, and small-scale farmers alike.
If you want to master every aspect of New Zealand rabbit care-while supporting welfare, sustainability, and the future of this remarkable breed-then this handbook is for you.
Perfect for:
✔ Pet owners who want happy, healthy companions
✔ Breeders focused on show quality or production efficiency
✔ Homesteaders and farmers seeking sustainable livestock systems
✔ Students, educators, and citizen scientists interested in rabbit research and welfare
