FARMING LAGOMORPHS

This order includes Rabbits, Hares and Pikas.  Lagomorphs are small to medium sized animals in many ways resemble large rodents. However, they have a weaker but more flexible neck than rodents. This means they can turn their heads more. Despite their similar dentition and diet to rodents they are no more closely related to rodents than other mammal families.  

Their main characteristics of lagomorphs are:

• They have a rudimentary or short tail.
• Folds of skin on the lips can meet behind the incisors so that gnawing can take place with the mouth cavity closed. Other flaps of skin are able to close the nostrils. 
• Lagomorphs have a pair of incisors in each quadrant of the upper jaw. One is large and rodent-like, and the other is small and located immediately behind the larger tooth. These teeth grow throughout the animal’s life and have a layer of enamel that extends around the posterior surface of the tooth. As in rodents, canines are absent and a large space separates the incisors and the first cheek tooth.
• All lagomorphs are terrestrial. They occupy a wide diversity of habitats, ranging from tropical forest to arctic tundra.
• All are herbivores that feed on grasses and other small plants. Lagomorphs have an ability to produce two types of fecal material, one that is wet and eaten again for further nutrient absorption, and one that is dry and discarded.
  
  

Order Lagomorph includes two families which are:

• Family Leporidae (Commonly known as Leporids): hares and rabbits
• Family Ochotonidae (The Pikas): guinea pig-like animals 

The breeding habits of many smaller rodents and lagomorphs make them ideal for food production in the developing world. Rabbits, hares, chinchillas, and guinea pigs are easy and inexpensive to keep, and provide a high amount of protein to the diet. Their swift gestation periods, simple mating behaviours, and general robustness make them an excellent choice for subsistence farmers and small villages. While they do not produce milk like goats, which are another subsistence farm and small village staple, they do provide fur which can be dyed and woven into clothing and other fabric goods for sale. This is a growing industry in part of South America.

Angora fleece, or angora hair, is the hair of the angora rabbit. It is distinct from mohair, which is the hair of the angora goat. It is considered a luxury fabric, known for its softness and silky texture. High quality angora fleece can command a good return. In the early 21st century, most of the world’s angora fleece comes from China. It is important to note that angora rabbits do not have to be slaughtered for their fleece because these rabbits moult on a regular cycle. Alternatively, they can be plucked or shorn. This makes angora a useful commodity in small communities, and provides a way for families in the developing world to become self-sufficient. 

HEALTH

Rabbits fed on an inappropriate diet may have an excess of diarrhoea which forms around their anal region. This can cause the condition known as ‘sticky bum’.  It is usually due to an imbalance in the diet, but may also be caused by dental disease or obesity.  If a rabbit is overweight, it will be unable to reach around to clean the anal region, leading to a build-up in faeces.

It is important to check that any captive species is able to clean itself, particularly the anal region.  The animal may be too overweight, injured, in pain, or old. If it cannot clean itself properly this can cause problems and these are often worse in species held outdoors.  Myiasis, otherwise known as Flystrike, is a condition which is cause by species of the Bottle Flies.  The flies are attracted to faeces, urine, wounds and damp fur, and they will lay their eggs within this area.  The maggots hatch promptly and will begin painfully burrowing into the skin of the animal.  This is very painful, and will put the animal into shock, and can be potentially fatal.  Rabbits can be prone to Flystrike, particularly in heat as they are often hutched outdoors, however any species can be at risk.  

As with all captive bred animals, over time we begin to see genetic health issues related to certain species which of course are hereditary and can be caused by inbreeding and breeding within a small gene pool.  Within the variations of domesticated breeds, we can see physical issues which may affect their health and welfare.  Examples include the Angora Rabbit and the Peruvian Guinea Pig, which are well known for their extremely long fur.  The fur, which we have encouraged as an appealing trait, is actually formed from a recessive gene, and since they are unable to groom themselves the fur can quickly become matted.  The long fur also makes a good home for parasites, excess faecal matter, flystrike, and particularly in the Angora they can also ingest excess amounts of their own fur leading to gastrointestinal stasis.