Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/02/06/298501_tasmania-news.html
Calici carnage rocks breeders
BRUCE MOUNSTER | February 06, 2012 12.01am
TASMANIA'S rabbit breeders are in a state of shock after dozens of pedigree rabbits at three of the state's top farms were killed by calici virus.
Many had to be destroyed to end their suffering and babies were left without mother's milk on the day the disease hit.
New Norfolk's Debbie Pulford, who breeds rabbits for their fleece and for show, said the carnage unfolded just after Christmas but test results confirmed only last week that calici virus as the cause.
The bleeding disease, which destroys rabbits' internal organs, was first released in 1996 as a biological control against wild rabbits, considered to be an environmental pest.
Mrs Pulford and her daughter Sarah van Steenis lost about 80 of 105 rabbits over a weekend.
The Pulfords have a reputation for keeping some of the state's best cared for rabbits...
Calici carnage rocks breeders
BRUCE MOUNSTER | February 06, 2012 12.01am
TASMANIA'S rabbit breeders are in a state of shock after dozens of pedigree rabbits at three of the state's top farms were killed by calici virus.
Many had to be destroyed to end their suffering and babies were left without mother's milk on the day the disease hit.
New Norfolk's Debbie Pulford, who breeds rabbits for their fleece and for show, said the carnage unfolded just after Christmas but test results confirmed only last week that calici virus as the cause.
The bleeding disease, which destroys rabbits' internal organs, was first released in 1996 as a biological control against wild rabbits, considered to be an environmental pest.
Mrs Pulford and her daughter Sarah van Steenis lost about 80 of 105 rabbits over a weekend.
The Pulfords have a reputation for keeping some of the state's best cared for rabbits...