Satin Rabbit

1 Satin Rabbit Breed Overview

The Satin Rabbit is a meat rabbit breed, not kept in large numbers in China—usually not because of the breed itself, but because China has many meat rabbit choices, so there is no need to choose this one.

2 Satin Rabbit Physical Characteristics

Satin Rabbit (details)

The Satin Rabbit weighs about 5 kg, a large rabbit with dense, smooth fur—a typical meat breed. Its ears are small, upright at the back of the head, quite cute; it can actually be kept as a pet too.

There are over 150 rabbit breeds worldwide, each with different looks, like different human races or dog breeds. Rabbits range from huge to tiny, long- to short-haired, satin-smooth to many colors and eye colors, ear lengths, and head/body shapes. Rabbits are generally first classified by size, into four major groups.

The Satin Rabbit is a large breed; others in this group include the English Lop, New Zealand, American Rabbit, American Chinchilla, Californian, German Angora, Satin, Hoda Rabbit, Silver Fox, American Sable, V-ear Rabbit, and more.

3 Satin Rabbit Care Tips

Satin Rabbit (details)

The Satin Rabbit’s keeping and care are not special; just follow meat-rabbit principles. Kit and weaned-kit care differ. A brief introduction follows.

I. Kit management

Rabbits from birth to weaning are kits. Their bodies are not fully developed and regulation is poor, so care must focus on two periods.

1. Sleeping period: from birth to eye-opening. Kits only sleep and nurse; the doe nurses once daily for five minutes. Check daily that kits are full—a full kit has rosy, glossy skin and a round belly.

2. Eye-opening period: around 12 days after birth to weaning. Early or late opening relates to development; well-developed open early. If eyes are stuck with discharge, wipe open with a water-dampened cotton ball. Kits transition from milk to plant feed; too sudden a change often causes death, so focus on supplement feeding and weaning.

II. Young and junior rabbit care

A rabbit three months after weaning is a young rabbit. This stage grows fast but has weak disease resistance, needing special care or it develops poorly and dies.

In summer, feed mainly grass with wheat bran, corn, sorghum as concentrate. Green feed is watery, so sun-dry it to reduce moisture, effectively controlling young rabbit diarrhea and bloat. Also regularly add scallion, onion leaves, or garlic leaves. Disinfect utensils with potassium permanganate every 3–5 days to avoid coccidia oocyst contamination.

4 Satin Rabbit Living Environment

The Satin Rabbit’s sweat glands are underdeveloped; it dissipates heat mainly by breathing, so prolonged high temperature (above 35°C) and dampness cause mass death. Tests show the ideal environment is 14–20°C for adults and 30–32°C in the kit nest; dry, clean conditions greatly benefit health. The Satin Rabbit is also hygienic, often ‘washing its face’ with front paws, and positions eating, defecating, and sleeping in three fixed spots. If its anus, mouth, or nose is unclean, it is sick—find the cause and treat promptly.

5 Satin Rabbit Feeding Guidelines

Satin Rabbit (details)

The Satin Rabbit is a meat breed, so care includes fattening—giving excess-nutrition food before marketing to build fat and raise meat yield.

I. Young rabbit fattening

Fatten right after weaning; after 1–1.5 months, sell at 4–4.5 kg. Method: gather the rabbits to be fattened, fence-graze them for full exercise to develop bones and muscle, then cage them in the last half to one and a half months to limit movement.

Fattening nutrition: crude protein 20%, fiber 16%, fat 2.5%, minerals 11%, moisture 13%, 100–200 g compound feed daily. Start with green-led, concentrate-supplemented, gradually add concentrate, finally all concentrate in the last 1–2 weeks. If appetite drops, give some greens. Good fattening feeds: corn, brown rice, barley, rice bran, soybean cake, peanut cake, sweet potato, potato (last two better cooked).

II. Adult rabbit fattening

For culled breeders or juniors from breeding/production. Fattening 15–35 days, gaining 1–1.5 kg if good. Add some fennel, celery leaves, dandelion, plantain. After 20 days, if intake drops sharply, fattening is done—market or slaughter promptly. Bucks should be castrated to reduce feed use and raise meat yield.