FARMER'S CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK 



For a few years a lively interest was 

 felt in the breeding of the Belgian hare 

 and large prices were obtained for fine 

 breeding animals. There is no large 

 natural demand for the meat of these 

 animals, however, and profitable returns 

 cannot be expected from them except in 

 a few localities. The meat of the Bel- 

 gian hare makes a savory dish when 

 properly prepared, ^but the demand for 

 it is not sufficiently great to warrant the 

 unlimited production of these animals. 

 In Europe these animals are in great 

 favor and the industry of raising them 

 for the market is an important one. 



includes a constant supply of hay and 

 oats with green food twice a day. The 

 feeds which are in use for rabbits by 

 different raisers include cereal hays, 

 clover, alfalfa, corn, oats, wheat, peas, 

 barley, carrots, turnips, beets, cabbage, 

 plantain, milkweed, onions, green corn, 

 bread, etc. 



Rabbits are subject to many diseases 

 which cannot be considered here in de- 

 tail. Loss of appetite may usually be 

 corrected by adding a little tea or dan- 

 delion to the ration. Sores and insect 

 pests may be controlled by cleanliness 

 and proper sanitation. Mange is corn- 



Fig. 443 — "ox guard''' 



(From Photo by W. G. Johnson) 



The Lop-eared rabbit has ears 20 

 inches or more from tip to tip. The 

 color is black, white, gray, blue, etc., 

 and they weigh up to 16 pounds or more. 

 The Dutch rabbit has short erect ears, 

 various colors and make good nurse 

 does. They seldom weigh more than 6 

 pounds. Other breeds in favor as pets 

 or for meat are the Siberian, Himalayan, 

 Egyptian, Japanese, Angora, Polish, 

 English, Silver, Gray, Flemish, Giant, 

 Patagonian, Ram, Swan, St. Hubert, 

 etc. 



Rabbits will eat almost anything in- 

 cluding all kinds of grains, hays, espe- 

 cially the leguminous ones, green food 

 and roots. One good feeding scheme 



monly cured by the use of a sulphur and 

 lard ointment or carbolized vaseline. 

 For snuffles most breeders use a wash of 

 carbolic soap for the nose and mouth. 



DOGS 



The dog bears the great distinction 

 of being the first animal ever domesti- 

 cated by man. In fact, there are wild 

 tribes which have no other domesticated 

 animal. The family to which the dog 

 belongs contains many wild genera and 

 species, and crosses are known between 

 some of these and the domestic dog. 

 Thus on good authority fertile hybrids 

 are reported between the dog and wolf, 

 coyote, jackal, and fox. It is a striking 



