Rabbits In the Tropics: Can They Thrive?
By Tom Seest
Can Rabbit Production Thrive In a Tropical Climate?
At BackyardBunnyNews, we help people who want to raise rabbits and bunnies by collating information about the hare-raising experience.
The Malaysian Rabbit Breeders Association has recently organized a conference on rabbit production in a tropical climate. The event’s main theme is “Rabbit: Future Livestock for Sustainable Development”. This conference, dubbed “Challenge to the World of Rabbits,” featured the rabbit as “The Future Livestock for Sustainable Development.” Among the highlights of the conference was the MARBA’s mission and goals.

Can Rabbit Production Thrive In a Tropical Climate?
Table Of Contents
- Unlock the Secrets of Raising Rabbits in a Tropical Climate?
- How Corey Hayes’ Passion for Rabbits Shaped the Malaysian Rabbit Breeders Association Conference
- What Surprises Await at the Malaysian Rabbit Breeders Association Conference?
- Can Marba Help Improve Rabbit Production in a Tropical Climate?
- Unlocking the Potential of Rabbit Production: Youth Development Program?
Unlock the Secrets of Raising Rabbits in a Tropical Climate?
The first Malaysian Rabbit Breeders Association Conference on Rabbit Production in a Tropical Climate was held in Kuala Lumpur on 8-9 September 2014. It was organized by the association in collaboration with the Universiti Putra Malaysia and the Asian Rabbit Production Association. This conference aimed to share the latest research and best practices in the rabbit breeding industry. It also provided a platform for smart partnerships between rabbit farmers and researchers.
The conference featured oral papers by international delegates, forum sessions with rabbit breeders, and special presentations from representatives of the industry. The conference was also highlighted by a rabbit-meat cooking competition. The event attracted around 400 participants from all over the world.
Heat stress is one of the major challenges in modern rabbit production. It can negatively affect the reproductive system and cause multiple health problems in rabbits. It can decrease feed intake, performance, and carcass quality. Further, heat stress can cause metabolic abnormalities. Therefore, it is crucial to implement effective heat-stress management practices to prevent or minimize its negative impact on rabbit production.
Nutritional management can be beneficial for rabbits during heat stress. A diet low in protein and high in amino acids has been proven to alleviate heat stress in rabbits. In addition, increasing the proline level in rabbit feed may improve reproductive indicators. Furthermore, increased intake of phycocyanin (a natural antioxidant) has been shown to reduce intestinal pathogens and inflammatory responses in rabbits.
Rabbit meat is a good source of protein and is low in cholesterol. It is becoming a popular choice of livestock in many Asian countries. Rabbits are easy to raise and adapt to their environment.

Unlock the Secrets of Raising Rabbits in a Tropical Climate?
How Corey Hayes’ Passion for Rabbits Shaped the Malaysian Rabbit Breeders Association Conference
Corey Hayes, an assistant professor of agricultural business management at Morrisville State University, will travel to Malaysia before Easter to judge rabbits. He will attend the third Malaysian American Rabbit Breeders Association (MARBA) National Rabbit Show on April 12 in Kuala Lumpur. Hayes will be gone from April 9 to 15 on the trip. Hayes has a bachelor’s degree in equine science and a master’s degree in education from SUNY Oswego.

How Corey Hayes’ Passion for Rabbits Shaped the Malaysian Rabbit Breeders Association Conference
What Surprises Await at the Malaysian Rabbit Breeders Association Conference?
A representative from ARaMP Inc. was invited to attend the MARBA conference held in Malaysia. He accepted the invitation and registered members to attend the event. The conference had an impressive lineup of speakers. The speakers included rabbit gurus from around the world who are considered reference materials for rabbit producers. The conference also stressed the relevance of the topics to local conditions.
Scientists who work in the rabbit industry also presented research papers. There was also an exhibition of rabbit products. While there were no dishes for attendees, participants were able to purchase rabbit meat. Rabbit satay, a local favorite, was offered. Foreign delegates also enjoyed a tour of a rabbit farm. The tour was organized by the ARaMP and was attended by several members of the group.
The two-day conference featured oral paper presentations by international delegates, a forum session with rabbit breeders, and a special presentation by an industry representative. It also featured rabbit-meat cooking competitions. While the conference emphasized the importance of scientific research, participants were encouraged to discuss challenges and strategies in the rabbit industry. The conference also provides a platform for smart partnerships between rabbit farmers.
ARBA’s youth members also have an important role. A growing number of young members are eligible to apply for scholarship funds and participate in ARBA shows. These funds help them further their education and develop critical thinking skills. They are also encouraged to practice character-building values that can benefit rabbits.

What Surprises Await at the Malaysian Rabbit Breeders Association Conference?
Can Marba Help Improve Rabbit Production in a Tropical Climate?
MARBA’s aim and purpose are to make pre-modern manuscripts accessible and widely available to the public. To this end, the organization develops teaching tools for undergraduate and graduate students. It also collaborates with other organizations to develop more teaching tools. Listed below are a few of its partners.

Can Marba Help Improve Rabbit Production in a Tropical Climate?
Unlocking the Potential of Rabbit Production: Youth Development Program?
The Malaysian Rabbit Breeders Association (MRA) is launching a youth development program to promote rabbit breeding. The initiative aims to promote rabbit breeders as good citizens who will contribute to the development of the rabbit industry. The goal is to encourage new breeders to enter the industry and offer healthy competition to existing commodities.
Rabbit breeding is a lucrative industry for small farmers in rural areas. It can be a profitable alternative to beef, mutton, and chicken. Last year, the country’s rabbit population was estimated at 44,967. This figure has grown in the past few years as the meat industry has become more competitive and profitable.
Co-curricular youth development programs in Malaysia are increasingly addressing the needs of young people. In addition to encouraging their participation in the industry, they foster ethical leadership and critical thinking skills. Co-curricular programs allow students to exercise their voice and take significant leadership roles in a team setting.
Indonesian society is facing many challenges, including increasing population and global warming. Domestic problems include a lack of food security and inadequate manpower quality. Despite these challenges, rabbits have great potential to contribute to food security in the country. However, raising rabbits in Indonesia is challenging, mainly because of its hot, humid climate and the lack of quality rabbit breeds. In addition, limited land and short capital make production inefficient.

Unlocking the Potential of Rabbit Production: Youth Development Program?
Be sure to read our other related stories at BackyardBunnyNews to learn more about raising bunnies and rabbits.