The rabbit as a producer of meat and skins in developing countries

	The rabbit as a producer of meat and skins in developing countries
Contents:
		LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS; ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
		SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
	CHAPTER 1:	INTRODUCTION
	CHAPTER 2:	THE PRESENT STATE OF RABBIT PRODUCTION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
	CHAPTER 3:	THE EFFECTS OF HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES ON RABBIT PRODUCTION
	CHAPTER 4:	MANAGEMENT OF RABBITS IN TROPICAL DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
	CHAPTER 5:	RABBIT SLAUGHTER AND PROCESSING
	CHAPTER 6:	RABBIT SKINS
	CHAPTER 7:	POSSIBLE PROBLEMS CONCERNING ESCAPED STOCK
		REFERENCES

Chapter 6

Rabbit skins

In some cases, the rabbit skin is of more value than the rest of the carcase but it should always provide a useful income to the breeder to offset some of his costs. Rabbit skins, when properly processed and made into garments, are very attractive and command a high price. While it is not suggested that the production of fullyprocessed skins is within the capacity of small-scale breeders, dried or salted skins can easily be produced and, if due care is taken in their preparation, can give a good return.

The first essential with all furskins, whether from a rabbit or any other animal, is to prevent putrefaction taking place. Unless checked, decay will set in within a few hours of flaying and one of the first results, loss of hair, makes the skin totally unsuitable for use in fur garments. Therefore, all skins should be properly cured or preserved very soon after flaying. Methods of preservation include salting or sun-drying (or both) and simple rules will ensure that a top-quality cured skin is produced:

1. Cure as soon as possible after flaying.

2. If sun-drying, do so in the shade with the skins hanging flesh-out.

3. If salting, use a fairly small grain salt and apply carefully over all parts of the skin.

Small-scale breeders may keep their preserved skins for several weeks, to build up the larger loads required by skin dressers.

Processing of rabbit skins involves a long and complicated series of chemical reactions and physical treatments, including pickling (in acid/salt mixtures), tanning, dyeing, oiling and numerous finishing operations. A great deal of work is expended on improving the appearance of the fur, using brushing, combing, shearing and ironing techniques.

Rabbit skins are a major component in the international fur trade, with large numbers also being used for the manufacture of hats, trimmings and gloves. They can readily be dyed and also treated to imitate many other kinds of furskin (seal, beaver, ocelot, leopard, etc.). White rabbit skins are particularly in demand as they lend themselves to dyeing.

There appears to be a good future for the marketing of rabbit skins in Nepal, (Karki, personal communication) and Brazil, where they are reported to have a high market value for the manufacture of such items as blankets and garments (Karlic, personal communication).

The production and processing of rabbit skins and the manufacture of various marketable products from them could ideally be carried out by labour intensive industries, as in Malta for example (Joseph, 1975). Such industries would be relevant to the needs of rural communities in developing countries.