ABOUT BELGIAN HARES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3558, 10 August 1905, Page 4

ABOUT BELGIAN HARES.

Breading of Tbl) Animal m A# l*4t»> try Behais, It Is flow Claimed, Ten Yearn Aso. In answer to a number of inquiries in regard to the Belgian hare, we find, upon investigation, that the breeding of this animal in this country as an industry began about ten years ago. The breeders are naturally enthusiastic and possibly are too optimistic in their view of the future of this constantly enlarging business. It is claimed by them that no other line of breeding offers anything like the profits that the breeding of the Igian hare does. Both the meat and the hide are valuable. The cooi of producing the meal, it is elro-fm is not over five cents a pour i most and we have been inform- >. farm • s in the vicinity of in «■ C- - , ■ the meat in that ,v •< k- . !5 to 25 cents a pound. IT of a young Belgian hare U hip 1 ■ tolled by those who are acquaint d with its quality, and all-such unite in saying that as a toothsome article of diet it cannot be; excelled by any meat that comes to our tables. The hare is exceedingly prolific, the doe sometimes producing 25 to 50 young hares in the course of the year, ami does begin to breed at the age. >jf .sjx months. The food is that which is commonly eaten by sheep, and should be a variety which can readily be provid-ed-from oats, clover, r iots, bread and milk etc. All the shelter that is needed is an open shed that will alwn v- ’ - dry and must be clean. Clem ,ness in the hutch must be maintained. Three by four or five feet is large enough for a hutch. The Df-Jh... -'V, which must be provided for -ceding doe,, should be three f--' ’ -ad two feet in width and i ortion of the cage should b virh wire netting. Cover the i with fine straw. A litter is 1 *-iv to a dozen. When about ! ■ ” -hi the young weaned a> * h:t -.eves separated. The weight of a Belgian, if pure bred, at maturity is from eight to ten pounds. — Epitomisl.