RABBIT: AN ANIMAL AT THE NEXUS OF FOOD PRODUCTION AND BIOSCIENCE RESEARCH FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Background. Malnutrition is the biggest problem currently threatening human wellbeing across the world directly affecting one-third of people and occurring in many forms. In developing countries, it expresses itself via stunted growth in children, diseases occurrences and deficiency of vital nutrients required for normal physiological functions. In the perspective of animal production, addressing poor animal protein intake by increasing supply of meat for consumption is a viable option for fighting the menace of malnutrition. Main findings This paper identified malnutrition and hunger as major problems in developing countries and suggested rabbit production as cheaper alternative for increasing protein supply because rabbit production is cheap and can supply affordable meat, it has short gestation interval hence it has potential for high yield per production period, it has superior meat quality and require minimal capital investment for its production compared with other animal production units. Implications. Apart from its roles in food supply; rabbit has strong relevance in bioscience research as model animal in studying pathophysiology of diseases and metabolic dysfunctions of man because of its genetical and physiological closeness to humans. Conclusion. This paper summarized and made cases for re-introduction of rabbit as micro-livestock for meat production and it use as model animal in biological research investigations.