Farmers in Kamphaeng Phet Province struggled from pig farming, but eventually took what they loved, rabbit farming, and expanded it to selling the meat to generate income as a money-making career.
Mr. Thepkomon, 33 years old, from Thepnimit Subdistrict, Bueng Samakkhi District, Kamphaeng Phet Province, owner of a rabbit farm, took us on a tour of the rabbit breeding on the farm after finding success in raising them for meat, which is exported to neighboring countries.
Mr. Thepkomol said that 4 years ago, the family ran a pig farming business but lost money. They had to look for a new career by using their love of raising beautiful rabbits and investing their last remaining money. They started by buying 10 parent rabbits to breed. They then bred them and got about 500 baby rabbits (rabbits are pregnant for about 1 month and give birth to many babies at a time). They thought of expanding from raising them for beauty to a meat rabbit business, which became a money-making career for the family.
Raising rabbit
s does not take long, about 3-4 months, then they can be sold. The market likes to raise them in cages, using a small area. Make a cage about 50 x 60 cm. per rabbit, about 50 cm. high. The food is grass, vegetables, fruits. Rabbits can eat many kinds. As for fattening, use pellets or concentrated food, giving them to eat together or about 30%, making the cost of raising them not high. They can be sold as ornamental rabbits, which are still viable in the market. But the farm focuses on raising meat rabbits because the market has high demand, especially in neighboring countries (price 300 baht per kilogram).
The farm also promotes those interested in raising rabbits to increase their income and has formed a group of about 100 farms both in and out of the province. There is a purchase guarantee and each month there are orders for 150-600 rabbits. There is also a tendency to consume more rabbit meat because the meat can be cooked into a variety of dishes, just like pork, chicken, beef, stir-fried, curry, fried a
nd many other dishes.
Source: Thai News Agency