The Ennis FFA prides itself on selecting, raising, feeding and showing high quality animals, as well as producing a responsible, well rounded, mature student. A competitive nature has been breed and is encouraged by all stakeholders in the Ennis FFA Rabbit Program.
Goals for the FFA Animal Projects:
1. This is an educational opportunity as well as an opportunity to instill responsibility into the student.
2. This should be a family oriented activity.
3. This will offer the student the opportunity to become competitive with other students.
Expectations for the Year:
1. The FFA Advisors advice and assistance will be a key for the success of students and animals
2. All animals will be cared for twice a day as suggested by the FFA Advisors.
3. Communication will also be a key to a successful year. A very open line of communication will exist between the student, the parents and the FFA Advisor.
Estimated Budget for Raising Rabbits:
This budget is an ESTIMATE of the expenses for raising rabbits. It may be more or less depending on several factors, which are listed below.
· Cost of Pen: a pen of rabbits for the Ennis FFA Cattle program will cost a minimum of $50. Rabbits must be bought in threes (for a meat pen), but it is recommended the student buy at least 4. Rabbits can be as expensive as you want to pay.
· Equipment for Rabbits: This cost is hard to estimate because each student’s situation is different. Each student will be required to keep up with their supplies . $200 is a ballpark figure for the raising process. Most of this cost is attributed to the cage the animals must be kept in.
· Feed: Feed prices will vary depending on brand, store and ingredients. It is estimated $20/bag for the feeding process. A bag can last as long as 2-3 weeks depending on where the rabbit is in their development
· Entry Fee/Validation Fee: Each animal is required to be county validated by the Ellis County Youth Expo rules. The validation fee is $5. Entry fee for the Ellis County Youth Expo is $15.
· Medication: Medication is required for the animal when the animal gets sick, but it is impossible to estimate this price.
· Miscellaneous Supplies: Throughout the process, your animal may require additional items, such as feeders, shampoo, brushes, etc. An estimated $100 should be plenty to cover these supplies.
Selection of rabbits:
· All rabbits must be approved by the Ennis FFA Advisor. Typically, the FFA Advisor will select animals. Students are allowed to ride along as this is a great educational experience in the selection of animals. Before animals are selected, the FFA Advisor will need to know what breed you prefer and a price range you want to stay in. The advisor will not purchase an animal out of your requested price range without prior approval by the parents.
· If a family decides to purchase animals on their own, the FFA Advisor MUST BE NOTIFIED and given the opportunity to go view the animals BEFORE the purchase is made.
Feeding of rabbits:
· Feeding your rabbit is the most important part of the raising process. If your animal does not eat, it does not grow.
Supplies:
· Feed bowl
· Water bottle
· Pen
· Straw
General Care for rabbits:
· First and foremost, your rabbits need to be checked on minimum TWICE per day. This means before school AND in the evenings.
· Your rabbits are going to be messy; therefore you need to keep your pen clean. This means replacing shavings and picking up poop. It is recommended to do this AT LEAST once a week.
o The more frequent you pick up the poop, the cleaner the pen stays.
· Rabbits are hard to kill, but very easy to determine sickness. Some general signs to look for are:
o Not eating
o Diarrhea
o Excessive Coughing
o Eye discharge
· If any of these signs are witnessed, please inform the FFA Advisor as soon as possible. The phone numbers are posted by the door.
The Ennis FFA Rabbit program is a fun activity in which there is potential for profit to be made…if you do things right. Showing animals is a major commitment that is taken serious by the Ennis FFA Advisors. The advisors and experienced parents will be available to help you with everything along the way. If you have any questions, comments or concerns about joining the program, please feel free to contact Ms. Lewis