General: Rabbits in the Alpine region
Description
The rabbit, a member of the order Lagomorpha (hares and goats), is a relatively young domestic animal. Its domestication only began in the early Middle Ages. Despite its relatively short time in the home, the rabbit has achieved a remarkable diversity of forms; it is one of the most extensively bred domestic animals. Furthermore, the rabbit is a domestic animal with a wide range of uses. The primary purpose of rabbit farming is meat production. Rabbit meat surpasses all other meats in nutritional value and is highly prized for its easy digestibility. In addition, rabbit fur is an important animal raw material, processed into a variety of products in the fur, textile, hat, and leather industries. With Angora wool, the rabbit also provides a valuable fiber that has significantly higher heat retention than sheep's wool.
General and History
The European wild rabbit is considered the ancestor of the domestic rabbit. It came to us from the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa.
The Grey and White Vienna rabbits are considered the only native rabbit breeds of Austria. The Grigio di Carmagnola is the only Italian rabbit breed with ties to the Alpine region.
Switzerland: four native breeds are known:
Swiss Feh
Tricolor Small Checkered
Swiss Checkered
Swiss Fox
Distribution in the past and today
The Grey and White Vienna rabbits are considered the only native rabbit breeds of Austria. The Grigio di Carmagnola is the only Italian rabbit breed with ties to the Alpine region.
No native rabbit breeds are known in the German Alpine region (Bavaria).
Switzerland: four native breeds are known:
Swiss Fawn
Tricolor Small Spotted Rabbit
Swiss Spotted Rabbit
Swiss Fox
