Slaughter According to the Procedure
The traditional method of slaughtering rabbits by bleeding and skinning them while still alive is outdated. A more effective approach involves first killing, then skinning, and finally bleeding the animal. This new technique helps minimize fur staining and improves the overall quality of the rabbit's hide.
Before slaughter, it is essential to conduct health checks on all rabbits. Any animals suffering from illness, particularly infectious diseases, should be isolated. It is also advisable to avoid slaughtering rabbits during their molting period or when they are weak, as this can negatively impact the quality of both the meat and the fur.
After slaughter and skinning, rabbits should be fasted for 8 hours before being processed. This not only makes the slaughtering process easier but also enhances the quality of the Rex rabbit fur. Additionally, fasting helps reduce feed costs and improve efficiency.
To humanely kill a rabbit, hold its hind leg with your left hand and its head with your right hand, then gently stretch the body and pull sharply to dislocate the cervical spine. Alternatively, lift the rear legs and use a wooden stick to strike the back of the head, ensuring a quick and humane death.
In large-scale operations, an electrocution device with 70 volts and 0.75 amperes can be used to stun the rabbit by pressing the ears. Pouring vinegar is ineffective and can contaminate the skin, making it unsuitable for processing.
Skinning Should Be Done Quickly
Once the rabbit is dead, the skin must be removed immediately. If the body is allowed to freeze, peeling becomes difficult and may damage the fur. To skin the rabbit, hang it by the feet using a thick rope, then use sharp scissors to cut from the joint of the hind legs. Make a cut along the inner side of the genital area, carefully peel the skin around the body, and turn it over. Pull the lower skin gradually and remove the front limbs. Cut off the scalp and turn the skin inside out.
During the peeling process, care must be taken to avoid damaging the fur, breaking the leg muscles, or tearing the chest and abdominal muscles. Once the skin is removed, it should be cleaned immediately to remove any remaining flesh, tendons, or fat. Then, carefully open the skin along the ventral midline using scissors, ensuring that the hair side is down and the skin is laid flat to dry in a cool, well-ventilated area.
In summer and autumn, when the risk of fatty acid breakdown and spoilage is higher, the skin should be evenly salted and dried on a board to maintain quality. The carcass should be bled immediately after skinning.
From practical experience, it is best to hang the rabbit upside down and either cut the carotid artery or decapitate it. Bleeding should last at least 2–3 minutes to ensure proper blood removal, which is crucial for preserving the quality of the meat.
The Fur Is Best at the Right Age
The quality of Rex rabbit fur is highest during the winter months. Rabbits slaughtered between November and February typically have denser underfur, a smooth surface, and a glossy appearance, resulting in high-quality pelts. Adult rabbits generally produce better-quality hides than younger ones.
To achieve the best fur quality, it is important to select rabbits at the right age and time. "Age-appropriate" means choosing young rabbits after their first molt but before their second one, around 5–6 months old, weighing about 2.5 kg. At this stage, the skin size is approximately 0.11 square meters, and the fur meets national standards for thickness, softness, and durability. High-quality fur is more common at this stage.
If the fur is mature enough, it may be beneficial to delay slaughter until after the second molt, but this increases feeding costs and reduces profitability. "Fixed period" refers to the time when rabbits complete two molts and begin seasonal changes, usually in spring (March–April) and autumn (September–November).
During molting, the fur is in poor condition, with uneven hair length and reduced quality. Therefore, it is best to avoid slaughtering rabbits during this time. Well-fed Rex rabbits will have soft, thick fur with good color and texture. However, overfeeding can lead to excessive subcutaneous fat, which affects the skin’s quality. Malnutrition, especially a lack of methionine, cystine, or vitamins and minerals, can result in dull, brittle fur or even hair loss.
Poor management, such as inadequate cage cleaning, can lead to urine contamination, causing yellow stains, especially on white-furred rabbits. This significantly reduces the quality of the fur. Other factors like poor ventilation, high ammonia levels, direct sunlight, and moisture can also degrade fur color and quality.
Male and female rabbits of the same age may differ in skin quality. Male rabbits generally have thicker, wider skin, but their fur tends to be coarser and less uniform in quality, especially after sexual maturity. Female rabbits, particularly young ones, often have better-quality fur. However, after giving birth, the quality of their skins declines, becoming thinner and looser with each litter. The more litters a female has, the more her skin quality deteriorates.
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