TRAINING ON RABBIT BREEDING AND DEVELOPMENT OF RABBIT PEN

Rabbits are in high demand for sate, particularly in Bogor and Sukabumi areas. rabbit breeding, as an alternative IGA, has good potential for growth since supply is limited to meet increasing demand.

TRAINING ON RABBIT BREEDING. On 15 July 2010, YPLK3 organized training on rabbit breeding, which was opened by the Head of Desa Cipeuteuy, Mr. Acun Mansyur, and attended by more than 40 people from two Dusun, Dusun Cisarua dan Dusun Cipeuteuy, and representative from YBUL. The training was delivered by Mr. Muhammad Nursyid and facilitated by Mr. Jueni from YPLK3.
Main topics discussed in this training include: (i) stable construction and its maintenance, (ii) rabbit breeding type and selection, (iii) reproduction, (iv) type and schedule for feeding and health check, (v) common disease and treatment.
The participants from the two Dusun showed high enthusiasm to participate in this training. In the original plan, the training was to be delivered to 20 participants; however, due to high interest, the head of village requested YPLK3 to accommodate more villagers to benefit this sharing session. Several participants are experienced in local rabbit breeding for meat sale; but most participants were new to breeding rabbit for pet. During the session, participants were actively asking questions on feeding, maintaining stable cleanliness, and utilization of rabbit waste for organic fertilizer.

DEVELOPMENT OF RABBIT PEN. After the rabbit breeding training, 25 May 2010, the villagers conducted group discussion on rabbit pen development and group organizational establishment. This discussion was facilitated by YPLK3 field coordinator. Rabbit breeders in Dusun Cisarua were led by Ujang, while Rabbit breeders in Dusun Cipeuteuy will be discussed in June 2010.

Rabbit breeding was agreed to be managed individually; therefore, rabbit pens are placed in each community houses. However, these pens were developed together in gotong royong with other group member. To date, there has been 10 rabbit pens developed by rabbit breeders in Dusun Cisarua, or about 50% of all pens to be developed. To increase ownership of the activity, YPLK3 only act as facilitator and supervisor for pen development process and limitedly provide materials that the villagers do not have, such as plastic roof and nails. These pens development is expected to be completed by end of June 2010.