Hobbies And Interests
Pets
According to Cosley Zoo in Illinois, the Himalayan rabbit is a docile animal and is unlikely to scratch or bite a handler. Therefore, households may choose the rabbit to keep as a pet. The Himalayan likes the attention of its owner, which makes it easy to interact with. The rabbit has a long, flat body and pink eyes, and it only grows to a maximum of 4 1/2 lbs. It also has short hair, which means it does not require as much grooming as some other rabbit breeds.
Fur
The snow white fur of the Himalayan breed make farming for fur a potentially viable business option. According to the American Himalayan Rabbit Association, the breed does not have the best quality fur compared with breeds such as rex and satin, but the fur industry did regard Himalayan fur as the best at the beginning of the 20th century.
Experimental Medicine
The Himalayan rabbit is an option for scientists who need to perform animal testing of medicines or other products. It reproduces predictably, and its disposition suits regular handling. The small size of the animal and the relatively rapid reproduction rate are added benefits. Each pregnancy lasts only 31 days, and the young rabbits can eat solid food at four weeks old. A female rabbit can have as many as five litters a year, with six to 12 young per litter.
Food
Although Himalayan rabbits are lightweight breeds, they still have enough meat to make them a viable option for meat production. The animals are docile and amenable to handling, which makes farming more practical. Another important consideration for people in developing countries is that the rabbit grows extremely quickly, takes good care of its offspring and eats less food than the medium or large rabbit breeds. The rabbit can also crossbreed with other rabbits .. An average-size Himalayan rabbit carcass weighs more than 2 lbs. According to the Texas Agricultural Extension Service at the Texas A&M university, some Chinese people also use the meat of the Himalayan in religious rituals every year.