Malik Rabbit Farm is not only home to one of the largest rabbit farms in Chakwal but also boasts the largest rabbit farming operation in the entire country. With a farm consisting of four thousand rabbits, the owners are earning six to seven lakh rupees monthly. Let’s delve into the scope of rabbit farming and business in Pakistan. Has it truly become a lucrative venture? In today’s article, we’ll speak with Malik Waqas, the owner of the country’s biggest rabbit farm, who possesses over four thousand rabbits and more than sixteen breeds. Let’s engage with Mr. Malik, who has invested millions and nurtured thousands of rabbits here, to understand the costs involved and the profits they generate every month.
Question: First of all, please tell us what should be in the mind of someone who wants to start rabbit farming in Pakistan.
First and foremost, if you intend to start any farming, remember that if you do not have a love for the animal or the passion for raising it, always stay away from this work and pursue another business. When discussing the scope of rabbit farming in Pakistan, from my experience, I have learned that there can be no loss in rabbit farming as long as you know all the basics.
Question: Sir, you have built this rabbit farm in Chakwal with millions of investments, what were your objectives behind it and what did you want to achieve from it?
We intended to start rabbit farming as a meat farm. However, as time passed, we began to encounter many beautiful breeds of rabbits, and we imported pairs of almost all kinds of beautiful breeds from foreign countries. The benefit of this was that not only did our farm start being used for meat production, but also many enthusiasts who are fond of pets and want to keep beautiful rabbits as pets started buying rabbits from us. Not only in Pakistan but now we are also considering exporting these beautiful rabbits after breeding them.
Question: How did you come up with the idea of this farming, how much effort have you put into it?
Well, when we started this, at that time there was no concept of any kind of rabbit medicine or farming in Pakistan. I used to work in a company, and from there I got the idea to set up a farm for rabbit meat. When we started this meat farm, we saw that the market was empty, and people were very eager to eat high-protein rabbit meat.
Question: How much land does your total farm cover, and how much investment did you have to make for it?
Our total farm is approximately three kanals in size, for which I have invested nearly two crores so far. Currently, I have around four thousand rabbits here.
Question: What is the total capacity on your farm for keeping rabbits, and besides that, which breeds have you kept here?
Well, if we talk about the total capacity, we can keep approximately nine thousand meat rabbits on our farm. As for the breeds, we have American breeds, Dutch breeds, Belgian breeds, and some breeds from Malaysia and Indonesia here.
Question: How much are you earning per month with this setup?
Our earnings depend on the management of this setup and reinvesting in it to provide further expansion. However, if you want a rough estimate, we can earn approximately six to seven lakh rupees per month from this farm.
Question: What about disease management and what is the method to prevent them from diseases?
Well, since this is an international-level farm, we have hired a veterinarian who is available here 24/7. He takes care of the vaccination status and medications for rabbits. Additionally, if we talk about diseases, they do not suffer from any specific viral diseases. They only have bacterial diseases, which can arise due to a lack of cleanliness. It’s essential to mention here that for any farm, the most crucial thing is to maintain cleanliness.
Question: If we talk about feed, what would you recommend for a new farmer who is starting rabbit farming in Pakistan? How should one take care of rabbit feed?
The most crucial thing for any rabbit farming is the feed you give to your rabbits. You should always give your rabbits calculated feed. If we talk about the rabbit’s body, it requires up to 80% of dry feed. In simple terms, your rabbits need only dried hay or dried grass up to 80%. If you feed them more green feed or fresh grass, it reduces the amount of protein. In other words, understand that green leaves don’t provide strength; instead, they contain more water. However, if you dry green leaf, and make hay out of it, their strength triples. It means if initially, it was getting 8% protein from it, now it will get 20-22% protein. Additionally, you should know that it’s very beneficial for the rabbit’s teeth.
Question: If 80% of feed is to be given in the form of HAY, what should be given in the remaining percentage, such as vegetables and fodder?
Remember, if the rabbit’s diet is not right, you will undoubtedly treat every kind of disease, but still, it won’t gain weight. Now, the way to perfectly balance this diet is to provide 80% hay, 10% Green fodder, 5% Vegetables and 5% Wanda. Remember, this animal eats more at night than during the day. You should make sure the availability of feed all the time.
Question: What kind of WANDA should we give to our rabbits, and in what quantity?
Well, if you look, there are various types of Wanda available in the market nowadays. Now, if you ask me, I would recommend avoiding cubed Wanda during your rabbit farming in Pakistan. Because there’s a high chance of getting moulds and fungus in cubed Wanda. Whereas powdered Wanda significantly reduces the chances of mould and fungus. Always check the date of production and expiration date when purchasing Wanda and opt for a 50 kg sack.
Now, if your rabbit weighs more than two kilograms and is between four to six months old, you should give it a handful of Wanda once a day. Try not to give Wanda at night because after eating it, your rabbits might feel thirsty, and water availability is essential. Use green fodder sparingly for your rabbits.
Now, for the Green feed, mix various grains such as maize, lucerne, barley, etc., and always ensure the mix doesn’t exceed 10%. As for the 5% of vegetables, sometimes you can add chopped bananas, carrots, or any other vegetables.
Question: When do they give birth when do they mate, and what is the frequency of giving birth to their offspring?
The production is quite high. In meat production, it’s a revolutionary aspect that they give birth every 30 days and can give birth to six to fourteen offspring. If I talk about my farm, we usually give them a gap of about 20 days. So, after a total of 50 days, they usually give birth to around 10 to 12 offspring. So, if we look at it from an investment point of view, a new person, if investing two lakh here, can earn up to about 20 thousand monthly.
Question: What is the taste and texture of its meat, and what colour or animal does its taste resemble?
This is a very important question because people in Pakistan generally believe that rabbit meat has a very bitter taste. So, here I would like to explain to people that the slaughter age is very crucial here. If you slaughter a breeder rabbit that has become old, its meat will take time to cook and its taste will deteriorate. However, if you slaughter a rabbit at around four months old, which is their optimal slaughter age, its meat will not differ much from chicken meat in taste and texture.
Question: How is rabbit meat better than chicken meat?
Well, chicken meat contains a high amount of cholesterol, which is harmful to the human body. On the other hand, rabbit meat has zero cholesterol, which is a significant benefit. It also contains essential nutrients such as selenium, vitamin A, and other vitamins in very suitable amounts.
Question: If a new farmer wants to buy rabbits from you, how do you sell rabbits?
Answer: Well, since this is a new venture in Pakistan, we have prepared some packages specifically for farmers who are starting this work. These packages include offering 21 rabbits, 60 rabbits, 100 rabbits, or 400 rabbits. Regarding investment, it typically starts at around 100,000 PKR for a new farmer. Now, if I talk about the rabbits that are sold as pets, enthusiasts who come here to buy these beautiful and rare rabbits usually start at around 50,000 PKR for the pair of their choice.
Also Read: Top 10 Most Beautiful Rabbit Breeds in Pakistan and Their Prices
