Rabbit meat is one of the best source of protein and healthier than other meats. As a result commercial rabbit farming in Kenya is becoming popular day by day. Rabbit meat contain more protein and less in fat than beef, turkey, pork and even chickens meat. For a long time, commercial rabbit farming in Kenya for meat production has not been taken seriously. But now, rabbit farmers in Kenya are now raising highly meat producing rabbits for commercial production of meat and they are earning good money by doing this business.
Benefits of Rabbit Farming in Kenya
There are several benefits of commercial rabbit farming in Kenya. The main benefits of rabbit farming business in Kenya are listed below.
- Rabbits are very fast growing animals like broiler chicken. They gain maturity fast and become suitable for slaughtering purpose within 4-5 months.
- Rabbit gestation period is less (generally between 28-31 days) and a doe give birth of kids after every 2 months. Each time one doe can give birth of 2-8 kids.
- Starting rabbit farming in Kenya requires very little capital or investment. Even, you can start rabbit farming business in a well ventilated small space.
- Food to meat converting rate is higher on rabbit than any other livestock animals.
- Rabbit meat is very tasty and nutritious. All types and all aged people can easily consume and digest rabbit meat.
- Feeding costs for commercial rabbit farming in Kenya is also very less. You can easily feed your rabbits kitchen wast materials, grasses, plant leaves etc. with their regular commercial feed. This will help you for reducing feeding cost.
- Commercial rabbit farming in Kenya can be great source of income and employment. You can successfully use your family labor for rabbit farming business. Rabbit farming is also very pleasuring and entertaining.
Starting Rabbit Farming Business in Kenya
Starting rabbit farming in Kenya requires very low investment. It’s very easy to set up and raising rabbits commercially. Here I am describing the steps for starting commercial rabbit farming business in Kenya.
Breeds For Commercial Production
Choosing suitable breeds for commercial rabbit farming in Kenya is most important. The common rabbit breeds used for commercial production in Kenya are California White, Flemish Giant, New Zealand White and some other local cross breeds. All those breeds are suitable for commercial production according to the environment and climate of Kenya. Choose breeds according to your desired production.
Housing
Making suitable rabbit housing is the most important part for rabbit farming in Kenya. Rabbits are very clean animal. They love to stay in neat and clean house with good ventilation system. You can raise rabbits in both deep litter and cage methods. Choose the method according to your production type and investment capability. Some important factors to consider which constructing house for commercial rabbit farming in Kenya are described below.
- Depending on the breeds, various breeds vary in their weight. Generally, an adult rabbit weights between 2-7 kg. And for commercial production 1200-1500 squire centimeter clean space is required for 1 kg weight. That means 80cm * 80cm space is required for a medium sized rabbit.
- Doe needs extra space for proper growth. 80cm * 115cm space is perfect for an adult medium sized doe.
- Keep the kids or young rabbits in a group until they reach 4 months of age. 20-30 young rabbits can be kept in each group.
- Proper ventilation system in the house is very essential. You can cover the walls, doors, roofs of a hutch with chicken wire netting or made up of bamboo or wood placed 20mm apart. This system is suitable for hot tempered areas.
- In cold tempered areas, you can easily make a house with solid wall and roof.
- Make a drain inside the house so that you can easily clean the house.
- Clean the feeding and watering equipment inside the house on a regular basis.
Feeding
Sufficient amount of nutritious and balanced diet food keeps the rabbit healthy and productive. For commercial production, you can feed your rabbits commercially prepared supplementary feed. This type of foods are available in the market. Along with this you can add kitchen garbage, grasses, leaves of various trees etc. This will help you reducing feeding costs. Sufficient amount of clean and fresh water is also required with proper nutritious rabbit feed.
Breeding
Rabbit grows very fast and gain maturity earlier. They become suitable for breeding within their 6 months of age. The gestation period of rabbit is less compared to other livestock animals. Generally, a doe give birth of kids after every two months. Each time one doe can give birth of 2-8 kids. Gestation period stays for 28-31 days.
Care & Management
Take some extra care and management to your rabbits. Vaccinate them timely to keep free from all types of rabbit diseases. Never feed them polluted or expired food. Try to monitor all their activities.
Marketing
Marketing process is most important part of rabbit farming in Kenya. Basically, there are no formal markets for selling rabbit products so far like chickens, goats or fish. But rabbit meat slaughter houses are coming up due to the high popularity and increasing demands of rabbit meat. Right now you can try the local market, restaurants and supermarkets. Rabbit meat has a huge demand in China and some other countries. So, if you have sufficient facilities then try to export to foreign countries.
Every business goes with some problems. Don’t fear about marketing your products. Formal markets are not available right now. But the rabbit meat popularity and consuming rate is increasing rapidly. And a suitable market place is coming up soon. So, for earning some extra income, start commercial rabbit farming in Kenya.
I like your guideline onto how to raise rabbit farming in Kenya. Keep us motivated.
Thank you so much I like your guidance as far as Rabbit farming is concerned I am interested in commercial farming and need basic knowledge for a starter. secondly where are you located so that I can get intouch with you in person
Thank you
Regards
Maurice
Maurice
thanks , the advice is good i am interested in the rabbit farming
good work
Good day
I was happy to read over about rabbit farming. I am in Zimbabwe. I started Breeding rabbits in 2014. The project is going on well, except for the market. I am also afraid of increasing the production due to lack of market in my country.
I hope i will get sustainable help from you. Where can we get capital to commercialize this kind of good project? I have a couple of friends who have started also. They are on the same page as me.
Kind Regards
Taurai M
Hi ,am Umar in Uganda I just want to add on finding market strategies ,actually you can use international market because its gud and easy to use eventually it’s only way u can sell your rabbits if u have variety of rabbits and it’s the one I use.
Hey Mutumba umaru am Eve Kimuya from kenya and am interested with the international market please reach me soon +254717285092 thanks 🙂
hey eve did you get the market????
Hello Umar,
I am also in Uganda and just starting the rabbit project,
id wish to learn a lot from you.
kindly guide on how you can be contacted
Hi umaru im interested in selling the rabits because i hv plenty
Hello baset, where are you based as am looking to start my project with 20 rabbits .Am based in kenya
I like your guidance in Rabit farming.
kindly give more details as am interested in commercial farming.
The basics of a starter.
Thank you.
Regards.
Gabriel.
Iam interested in rabbit farming. Where do I buy the right breeds for farming around the lake regions in Kenya?
Can I get to know where you are located so that I visit you in person
hi i do rabbit rearing in bulk if you need breeds contact me 0700221488
Hello, am Benard from Makueni. I would like to start Rabbits rearing, bow much does it cost.each plz.contact. 0708194713
yea Dennis am Evans Nyapola from Bungoma but currently living in Mombasa..i want to start rabbit farming on a small scale..kindly send me your prizes for best rabbits that are used for commercial purposes through my [email protected]..0724253755
Kindly WhatsApp me +254705788202
Hi am viona from mombasa and I would like to buy 22 rabbits to start with. Please contact me on 0718,004,855 so that we can discuss more.
I want to breed rabbits in machakos.What breeds should i go for considering the climate?
Here is the full list of rabbit breeds which are used for commercial production. Choose any breeds depending on your desired production purpose. Thanks you!
http://www.roysfarm.com/rabbit-breeds/
Am interested in getting some Rabbit breeds to Uganda, could some one advise me on how to get them to Uganda and how much they can cost me each.
Thank you in advance
We have all these breeds at our rabbitry in Nairobi +254 706 237 943
Hi Pat. Do you deliver the rabit to Tanzania. Am in arusha and will love to buy some rabbit from your farm. Please let me know. Can be reached at +255784648301. Tina
am interested in rabbit keeping for commercial purpose ,but I have no idea on how I can start .please am requesting for guidance.
Why not feed them with natural grasses or organic ones. This would simply emphasize the word SAVING MONEY! 😀
advise on the relevant capital to start up a rabbit farm
Required capital for starting a farm depends on the number of rabbits and the farming system you are going to use. How many rabbits you want to start with?
Thats great im actually in the process of starting a rabbit farm.
Thank for your help
thank you for your knowledge.
am so much into starting rabbit farming and i thank you for the above information.
God bless.
Iam interest in commercial farming rabbits from Eldoret,Where do I buy right breed within eldoret // where do I get the feeds//total cost start of ten rabbits//market
Where can I get a new zealand white breed doe in Nairobi. Am in my early stages of establishing a Rabbit Farm. Anyone selling contact me please 0712243063
I have loved the information posted on net about rabbit raring. Am already doing it. It is very encouraging….
Thank you!
Appreciated. Kindly advice on commercial rabbit farming markets. Would stsrt in have construvtrd remaining to fix the cages only.Alsi do you sale breeder’s.
Regards
S imon mbora
P.O. Box 29365
I need Flemish Giants and California white, how can I get them in Uganda. Whats the cost? Reach me on 256 752 252828. Need start this as business. Would also like find out if you can provide support for me to start farm?
give me your email then we shall talk
plz mail me
[email protected]
Hi, i am looking forward to establishing a rabbit house for 300 rabbits. kindly give structure design and approximate cost.
you can get meat hybrid rabbits from Moshi Tanzania. Can collect and travel by bus to Kampala easily!!
how about the weight of your rabbits?
Thanks
Dear Dr Swai,
I am looking to farm rabbits for personal consumption and if population surpases my needs would gladly sell. Please can you advise on the breeds you have available? I have a farm 48km outside Muheza, Tanga.
Kind regards
Hilda Bass
Adult Rabbit ; Meat breed 50000
Dear Dr Swai
I am starting a rabbit farm in Dar es salaam can I know the location of your farm so I can come to buy some seed rabbits and also have a practical experience of an operating farm?
Regards
Peter Shao
0659294600
Hello Peter. Where you able to get some seed rabbit on dar? Am looking for some please help. My number +255784648301
I would like to know the prices of Newzealand White,California White and Flemish giant ,I want to start rearing them and also where to buy them in Nyeri
doris, thanka alot for your education on rabbit farming, where can l get you so that we can talk more . am interested in rabbit farming
where is the rabbit market and where can l get the best breed
Hello,
I’m planning to start rabbit farming in Kinangop. Will cold weather affects them? What’s the standard dimensions of a cage? Is it true that rabbit urine is also harvested and if yes where is it being sold and how much?
Kind regards
Wilson
Wilson
Dimension of a cage vary depending on the rabbit size and breeds. For average size rabbits a 30 inches long, 20 inches high and 30 inches wide cage will be perfect. We don’t know about collecting rabbit urine and where it’s being sold. Please contact the person in your area who is doing this. Thank you!
I live in the UK and planning to return home and start rabbit farming. Been doing a lot of research and have seen some information about contract farming and independent farming, what’s your advise and the advantages? And if I went indecently , where do I buy the cages. My home is in Nyeri.
Many thanks.
We recommend starting any type of farming business independently. Because it has many advantages than contract farming. If you have enough money for starting and if you can sell the products easily, then you should start independently. You can purchase cages from the market or make custom cages from lathe shop. Thank you!
Hello,
I have over 50 rabbits on sale. New Zealand and Dutch breeds. Located at Nakuru District. Contact 0718686474
Hi Janet, am looking to start my project in March and would like to buy rabbits let me know how much and if you will deliver them to me in Shimoni kwale county mombasa .0718004855
Hello I would like to start rabbit farming .Are there some organisations that supports farmers financially for the starters?.
Try the rabbit republic, they help with financing farmers. Google them. I do not have their contacts.
I would start keeping rabbits for sale in Siaya. Which would be my nearest market. Need your advice and how to rear them
I Would Like To Start A Rabbit Keeping And I Am In Nandi County Where Can I Get The Breeds?
hello,am adil, i need a mixture of rabbbits from different regions,south afrika,newzealand
Hello Adil, I have white newzealand
Many thanks for your advice, God bless.
I have now received my starting 130 Rabbits they are doing well by now. My question is where can I sale rabbits poop andRabbits urine in Kenya. My farm is in Narok county. Please help.
@paul, kindly advice me on the cost of the rabbits and the housing, want to start the business early next year in Nyeri. Try to google rabbit farming in Kenya, have come across where to sell urine and droppings, mostly us the locals. Thanks
Advise on where to buy the right breeds?
YEAH……neeed the advise please..i want to start the farming right away….!!!
Am from eldoret and am selling crosses cal 0733958858
Hi eeveryone am a rabbit farmer and i am selling rabbits if you are in need just call 0716473554 thank you
How are you Caleb,where are you?i need rabbit
Where are you located in tanzania?
Advice Me Where To Buy The Best Breed Rabit
can we import from kenya to Tanzania (moshi)Flemish giant rabbits/new zealand white/angora and how much it will cost including transportation
Very impressed. Am planning to start a rabbit farm January 2016.
I am impressed that many people have interest in raising rabbit, for the best rabbit breeds visit National Rabbit breeding Centre Ngong & you’l be taught more about Rabbit welcome.
am a 3rd year student at kenyatta university and i wish to get a link to one of the farming enterprises in the country for my attachment purposes…..kindly anybody with a well set up farm farm to assist me please
[email protected]
Am ann from tala kangundo in machakos county. Am a smallscale farmer and would like to start rabbit farming but have no capital. please help me.
i need to purchase good rabbit breeds for commercial purpose. If you sell please email me. most preferably newzealand, california white and chinchilla . am located in Kenya.
Am interested in starting this commercial rabbit farming. where can i get the right breeds for Central Region of Kenya specifically Kiambu
am emmy from uganda and am interested in starting a rabbit project, which breed is resistant to diseases and can produce many offsprings and where can i get such abreed here in uganda.
We have not enough idea about your location. Please contact any local expert. Thanks for your kind consideration!
thanks for the guide ,a tleast now i have a clue on how go about it.
i am pau l i syokimau kenya .which is the suitable breed for that area?
You can choose any breed which we have mentioned above. Thank you!
please i need some ready market for my rabbits if you can sent me contacts of potential buyers i would appreciate
that you for availing this information i will put more efforts on my project and am targeting to have over one hundred by December.you forgot to mention that rabbit urine gives best fertilizer and a liter costs over kshs.400 also its fur quickly heals wounds caused by fire burns
Thanks for the additional information! May God bless you!
Would you please contact me .I would like to know the market place for the urine . thanks in advance
am humbled God bless you
advice on the relevant capital to start a rabbit farm i would like to start with ten
This is very educational I did the rabbit farming when I was a small boy , just for fun
Heading to the pargh again bt now it’s gonna be commercial. Thank for this great advice.
You are welcome!
gd job to strat
My name is Robert Okwi from Uganda. I have been for a long time trying to identify which type of business to get involved in.
I am finally rested in farming and more so in Rabbit rearing.
I once attended a seminar in chicken rearing organized by an international organization and someone said that there is NO POOR farmer any more. I saw sense.
I am securing two acres purposely for this project and in the next three years I need to be identified as the largest farmer.
Keep me informed in handling this project.
We cordially wish your success! May God bless you!
I will do this project
Am in uganda and would like to start rabbit farming.i would like to know the cost of cages and feeds for 10 rabbits up to time of sale.
Some really quality content on this website. Thanks!
I am interested in starting rabbit farming. I need guidance on how to do that.Please reach me on [email protected]
I have 500 rabbits for sale…anyone interested
contact me at 0727953778
I am interested to buy 22 rabbits please contact me 0718004855 for prices and delivery
i have one month kienyeji chicks for sale. any one interested contact phone. no. 0723005016
Comment Text* iam Davies, i sell all types of Rabbits and Rabbit by products eg skin, urine and manure,delivery services available 0722575168
Am Viona from mombasa interested to buy please contact me 0718004855 for prices.
Dear Sir,
We are the manufactuere of rabbit feed supplements, we have very good products like growth promoters, and for fertility
Thank you,
Regards
This is nice website, i like it very much!
Comment Text* Am a potential small scale rabbits farmer. i love this article, I’m in this line of business.
Thanks a lot.
thank you very much..i have learned more about rabbits can i learn more about vaccinattions
Mwl.gasper mshana
I have about 40. Rabits now iwant to keep them for commercial but the problem is .market in tanzania help me plz
Can some one advice us on market for rabbit. That is the key to all these discussions with out were doomed.
Umar in uganda, i would like advice about rabitry, 0706889716
Comment Text*Those in Uganda that are interested in acquiring, starting or getting rabbits for breeders. Please contact me on +256754901075. I specialize in Newzealand white breed
Hii I have 76 rabbits, some are New Zealand white, California white, Dutch ready for sale….I need market ..help [email protected]
Thanks alot for your education,keep it up.In need of rabbits am in nairobi anyone with it inbox thank u
I’m researching on rabbit rearing to start it in my home in Nyanza, Bondo…this is very interesting and helpful RoyFrm, keep it up and don’t get tired of our questions.. thanks and God bless you.
Hi am Gabriel Kanjiri from Kenya, I practice small scale Rabbit Farming and I need to venture in export, someone who is interested can assist me or we can also partner. Kindly WhatsApp me: +254705788202 (Introduce yourself first)
Hi i am mawazo Winston mwakajinga from Tanzania I like to start a business of Rabbit anyone come inbox 0752767941
I and my girlfriend just started rabbit farming but from research we have discovered that there is market just not for small rabbit farmers. If we can come together and have large production volumes then we can be able to have the benefits of scale and also have bargaining power as we are selling our rabbits this will even create production partnerships. You can reach me on my email address [email protected] if interested in the idea.