Flemish Giant

The Flemish Giant has a long, broad body, heavy bone, a large head and long, wide ears (over 17 cm in purebred animals). Colours include agouti (grey), black, white, blue, fawn and others. Adults usually weigh 6–9 kg, and some individuals are heavier. Does usually have 6–9 kits and are ready to breed at 8–9 months.

For meat it is one of the slowest breeds: about 2.4 kg at 90 days with a dressing percentage of around 55%, no better than a Californian. Its advantage appears only at 6–8 months (5.5–6.5 kg), which means feeding for twice as long. The temperament is very calm.

Uzbekistan climate. Its dense coat and large mass make it the most heat-sensitive breed: above 30 °C the risk of heatstroke rises sharply, and at 35–40 °C keeping it without a cool shed is dangerous. It handles cold very well. The heavy weight quickly causes sore hocks on wire, so it needs a board floor and a large cage (about 120×90 cm).

Buying locally. Per head, the Flemish Giant is one of the cheapest breeds on the market, because crosses with giants or simply large mixed rabbits are often sold as “flandr”. Sellers quote ear length (“ear 24 cm”) and the tattoo number in the ear. That helps, but seeing the parents and weighing adult animals is more reliable. Flemish bucks are widely used on local does to produce larger offspring.