INCOME GENERATION THROUGH BROILER RABBITS (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS) REARING IN WEST BENGAL

Economics of rearing two meat type rabbits in hot humid conditions of West Bengal was undertaken. The animals were maintained in galvanized iron wire cages under routine farm feeding and health care management. Net annual return per doe was estimated with an aim to compare efficiency of the two breeds. Four crops were produced per year in both the breeds. The total numbers of kits born and survived up to the age of slaughter in a year were more in Grey Giant than Soviet Chinchilla. The individual live weight at slaughter was slightly more in Soviet Chinchilla than Grey Giant, but total weight of surviving youngs at this stage was more in Grey Giant than Soviet Chinchilla. This might be due to more number of kits born and survived at this stage in Grey Giant rabbits. Considering the selling price of rabbits on live weight basis and cost of feeds involved, an amount of Rs.221.25 may be expected from a Soviet Chinchilla doe and Rs.295.00 from a Grey Giant doe during a period of one year indicating better economic performance of the latter breed. The rabbit husbandry can be successfully advocated especially for the poorer section of the society for generating their subsidiary income and improving family nutrition status as it calls for low input and easy husbandry practices.