Harbin White Rabbit

1 Harbin White Rabbit Breed Overview

Harbin White Rabbit (details)

The Harbin White Rabbit is a carefully developed Chinese meat-and-fur breed that adapts to cold northern climates; kept in large numbers in the north, it is large and usually an economic animal, rarely kept as a pet.

Chinese name: Harbin White Rabbit

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Lagomorpha

Family: Leporidae

Genus: Oryctolagus

Species: Harbin White Rabbit

Breed traits: Strong adaptability, tolerance of coarse feed, high reproduction and dressing rates.

Appearance: Pure white coat, moderate head, large upright ears, large bright eyes, broad lower jaw with a dewlap; large, sturdy, balanced body, full muscles, strong limbs. Adult weight 6–7 kg.

Breeding performance: Average 5–6 litters per year, 8–9 live kits per litter.

Production performance: Average daily gain over 35 g before 70 days; dressing rate 53.3% at 90 days.

Distribution: Can be kept in most of China; suits scale farms, specialists, and households.

2 Harbin White Rabbit Physical Characteristics

The Harbin White Rabbit was bred by crossing the Belgian, Giant Spotted, Californian, Chinchilla, with local Harbin White and Shanghai Large-Ear White rabbits. Its main merits are stable inheritance, cold and coarse-feed tolerance, strong adaptability, high feed conversion, fast growth, high meat yield, and good pelt. The main issue is a small population, now being expanded.

3 Harbin White Rabbit Care Tips

Harbin White Rabbit (details)

The Harbin White Rabbit is simple to keep—a breed that adapts well—so it is being promoted in rural areas for higher economic returns. Its keeping method follows.

I. Ensure a suitable environment

When temperatures fall below 8°C in winter and spring, insulate cages and prevent drafts, especially for just-shorn or nursing kits. When summer room temperature exceeds 35°C (about 25°C ambient), bacteria multiply; manage moisture and ventilation to avoid environment-related disease.

II. Feeding points

Meat and fur rabbits are best at the young stage, often slaughtered then; angora rabbits are kept to adulthood or old for wool. Rabbits over 6 months are adults; 1–2 years best for wool and breeding; after 3 years production declines. Over-3-year rabbits have stronger disease resistance than young, so can be cared for a bit less.

III. Strengthen disease control, prevention over treatment

The Harbin White Rabbit has weak resistance and high incidence. The creed is prevention over treatment; many diseases end in death if found late. Diarrhea, if unnoticed, causes severe dehydration fast. Also, untrained treatment causes deaths; so manage strictly, observe often, control food, learn prevention, ensure healthy development.

4 Harbin White Rabbit Living Environment

Harbin White Rabbit (details)

The Harbin White Rabbit’s diseases usually relate to its environment; a clean environment avoids many unnecessary diseases. What counts as clean? Environment management follows.

1. Cleanliness: cages, litter boxes, and activity areas must be cleaned. We said rabbits can live without baths for life—the condition is a clean environment.

2. Ventilation: the rabbit’s room should be opened for fresh air daily. In winter, do not place the cage in drafts, but do not ignore ventilation while keeping warm.

3. Dryness: rabbits fear dampness; living and activity areas must be dry, no water. Do not keep it in the bathroom—a no-go zone because it is too damp and causes many diseases.

4. Low dust: unreachable places like under beds gather dust—forbid the rabbit there. Cat litter dust is too high to be ideal bedding.

5. Regular disinfection: each spring, disinfect the whole farm inside and out once, then every 10 days. Frequency varies by season—generally half-monthly in autumn, monthly in winter. Alternate disinfectants like Baidusha, Junjudi, Xiaoduling, lime, caustic soda, lysol.

5 Harbin White Rabbit Feeding Guidelines

Harbin White Rabbit (details)

The Harbin White Rabbit’s food determines marketing time, meat quality, and growth speed, so for breeders, cheap yet complete nutrition matters, along with feeding method and disease control.

I. Diversify feed and keep it stable

Complete nutrition ensures good growth, but feeds differ in content and amount, so mix many. The daily diet needs some protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins. Many breeders use pellets and mixed feed—sound practice. Single feed causes deficiency and metabolic disease. Change feed gradually, less to more, adapting palatability and digestion; ignoring this wastes feed and causes appetite loss and gastroenteritis.

II. Feed on a fixed schedule and amount

By rabbit habits, feed on time and in set meals; generally two meals daily, early breakfast and late, larger dinner. By feed, season, and stage, feed appropriate amounts.

III. Regular preventive feeding

Preventive medicine on a planned, scientific schedule. For coccidiosis prevention, weaned kits get 1 robenidine tablet daily for up to 45 days. For gastroenteritis and diarrhea, mix Zhilingling in feed, 1 g per rabbit daily for 15–20 days. Every 2 days mix olaquindox in feed, 1 tablet per rabbit for 15–20 days, preventing pasteurellosis and promoting growth. In summer, give Dijunjing every 10–20 days.