Production of Taiwan White Rabbit
Wu, Hsi-Hsun
Animal Industry Division, LRI
Taiwan White Rabbit



Selected from New Zealand white rabbit
Mainly for biomedical research purpose
Selection focus on reproduction
performance and growth performance
Breed introducing



Originally introduced from Japan in 1961
Extra introduced from local rabbit farm in
1969
Further introduced from USA in 1986
Characters of Taiwan White Rabbit
(a)
(b)
Growth performance
53.5 – 75.6 grams at birth
Growth performance
647 – 871 grams at weaning (4-week old)
Growth performance
Bucks: 3.3 – 3.8 kg at 5 months；4.1 – 5.0 kg after mature
Growth performance
Does: 3.1 – 3.3 kg at 5 months；4.5 – 5.4 kg after mature
Male
公兔
Female
母兔
3000
BW, g
2000
1000
0
4
7
10
13
16
Age, week
Growth curve of Taiwan White Rabbit after weaning
Reproduction performance in 2010
Month
Jan. –
Mar.
Apr. – July – Oct. –
June
Sept. Dec.
Avg.
Average litter size
7.1
7.2
6.0
6.8
6.8
Born alive
6.9
7.1
5.9
6.7
6.7
Survival rate at born, %
98.1
99.2
98.0
98.8
98.5
Litter size at weaning
6.4
6.7
5.9
5.9
6.2
Survival rate at weaning,
%
94.4
91.7
88.4
89.9
91.1
Construction of production and quality control
ISO-9000
management
SPF barrier
nuclear family
for
Blood biochemistry analyzing
Health monitoring
Reproduction:
nature mating and
artificial
insemination
11
Facilities for nuclear family
12
Air shower
Autoclave
Boiler
Air conditioner
13
Facilities for nuclear family
Cages for breeder
Cages for growing rabbit
Passing box
Temperature and humidity
Operation room
Lifter for cargo
Cage washing machine
Sprayer for disinfection
Facilities for reproduction
Barrier and biosecurity
Facilities and feeding
Manure scraper
Individual cage with nest
box for breeding does
Individual cage
Water and feed
supply
Pellet feed
Feeding management
Feed are provided according to the body weight,
8-9% of BW in cool season, 6-7% of BW in hot
season for growing rabbit
Feed are provided ad libitum for breeding does
Nature lighting for growing rabbit
12 hrs light and 12 hrs darkness for breeding does
Reproduction
×
♂
♀
1-day old
5-day old
weaning
14-day old
Application of artificial insemination
Tattoo for identification
Litter number
Even numbers for♀
Odd numbers for♂
Health program


Ivermectin (0.03 mL/kg BW) is injected
while weaning for the prevention of
parasite. Breeding does are injected
twice per year
Diagnostic and treatment of disease are
administered by veterinarian
Monitoring of 12 disease every quarter
Items
Sample
Detection
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus
Serum
ELISA
Rabbit rotavirus
Serum
ELISA
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis
virus(LCMV)
Serum
ELISA
Pneumonia virus of mice
Serum
ELISA
Reovirus type 3 (Reo)
Serum
ELISA
Encephalitozoon cuniculi
Serum
ELISA
Bordetella bronchiseptica
Swab
Incubation
Pasteurella multocida
Swab
Incubation
Dermatophytes
Skin and fur
Incubation
Salmonella spp.
Cecum content
Incubation
Ectoparasites
Skin and fur
Microscopy
Endoparasites
Cecum content
Microscopy
Monitoring report
ISO 9001 for quality control
Materials management
Reproduction management
Propagation of Taiwan White Rabbit
9371
9500
9000
8500
8430
8297
8060
8013
8000
7500
7000
95
96
97
98
99