Integrated rabbit farm with 3,000 rabbits and on-site feed production in Moldova
The rabbit meat market in the Republic of Moldova is currently supported by local producers. While domestic production is on the rise, it remains a niche product due to its high price. Farm owners are making significant efforts to survive in one of the most sensitive sectors of livestock farming. The Matenco couple has established an integrated rabbit breeding system, which includes a controlled microclimate, their own feed, and certified production processes. At present, their farm houses three thousand rabbits.
The farm is run by Marina Mațencu, a veterinarian, who, together with her husband, turned a bold idea into a family business. The first 100 rabbits were purchased in 2018.
“I was born in Chișinău and for me, it was a challenge to come to the village and open a rabbit farm with my husband. We worked as a team and when we saw the first results, we said that we are doing what we are doing well and we must move forward”, says the entrepreneur.
A mini-factory for producing feed was set up on the farm, where rabbit food is made exclusively from carefully selected and processed raw materials. To preserve the nutritional value of the feed, it is granulated and administered within 24 hours.
" Accordingly, we monitor the quality of the raw material used to make the granules, after which we administer them to the animals. We have specialised equipment for their manufacture, and each stage of production is monitored,", says entrepreneur Dumitru Mațencu.
Rabbit breeding is one of the most sensitive zootechnical branches. A change of a few degrees in the farm premises or faulty ventilation can bring losses of up to 30%. Added to this is the continuous increase in feed prices, by 15-20% from one year to the next.
"If the animal is in comfort, it pleases you with an average daily gain. Having a healthy animal, we also have safe meat. This is one of our main goals, to provide the domestic market with ecological product", added Dumitru Mațencu.
The entrepreneurs sell meat to businesses in Chisinau and local customers.
