Scientists practice cuniculture in the use and management of rabbits as medical models in research. Table 11 lists common rabbit breeds and their predominant color, weight, and uses. Thats because its not one of the big four beef, chicken, pork, turkey that we casually find in almost every supermarket. Commercial rabbit farming is now undertaken in all states except queensland which has a total ban on keeping rabbits.
For rabbit meat we have joined forces with the largest rabbit meat supplier in the usa. I had a lot more fun making record sheets than i had filling them out. The backyard homestead guide to raising farm animals. Rabbit farming in south africa involves the breeding of rabbits for the meat industry as well as for the use of fur and wool. New zealand rabbits are a quintessential meat type rabbit. Current areas of interest such as animal welfare and coat color genetics are expanded in the new edition. The nsw rabbit industry is still in the development stage, with an increasing number of smallscale producers. This is done at large commercial concerns on as well as on subsistence farming. Today they are raised for meat, research, pets, show, and pelts. Rabbits sold in the united states for food are commonly crosses. A beginners guide to raising rabbits mother earth news. Mainly concerning rabbits bred for meat and fur, it also contains practical information on pet rabbits, show rabbits and rabbits used as laboratory animals. Like other lean meat, poultry, and fish, rabbit meat is a good source of high quality protein. Langer has come up with a 365page book that really introduces a to smallscale farming.
Rabbit farming business is a very profitable business, and many people are making money all over the world by raising rabbits for meat. Devoted entirely to the pet rabbit, this book is a practical and concise guide to health, husbandry and diseases. Raising rabbits for meat is the howto guide to help you succeed in starting and running a home rabbitry for a steady source of meat or income. The guide to raising and breeding rabbits for meat mother. According to the 2017 census of agriculture nass, more than 4,000 farms sold almost 500,000 rabbits nationally. Rabbit meat boasts an incredibly high protein county, giving you a lot of bang for your buck when it comes to putting dinner on the table. A finegrained white meat, it can be substituted for chicken in many recipes. Let the manure break down in place to replenish the pasture. Until the increase in beef consumption in the 1960s, rabbit was popular in the united states. It will help you decide if raising meat rabbits is right for you, and how to manage every aspect of husbandry involved, including feeding, breeding, health, processing, and selling. The amount of cholesterol, fat and sodium is also less than other meat. This meeting reported on the latest and best rabbit technologies, as well as those which. If there are no ongoing health issues, a rabbit should visit the veterinarian each year for an annual exam, just as is typically done for a cat or dog.
Rabbit meat is popular among homesteaders because rabbits are easy to raise, and they breed easily and birth in less time than other traditional homestead livestock like sheep, goats, pigs, and cows. Core topics are covered, including rabbit genetics, reproduction, health and diseases, behavior, welfare, fur and meat production, rabbit production. Nov, 2018 raising rabbits for meat ebook written by eric rapp, callene rapp. Two does and one buck should produce 180 pounds of meat per year. Heres everything you need to make a binder to keep track of breeding, litters, weights, sales, expenses, etc. Raising pastured rabbits for meat chelsea green publishing. Their meat is very testy, nutritious and easily digestible for all aged people. Bass equipment company, cages for sale, rabbit supplies. As a teen, i made up all kinds of record sheets for my bunnies.
Here we provide general information on the housing and husbandry requirements of laboratory rabbits. This means you will need a larger breed so it will be a decent size by the 8week mark. A rabbits pregnancy is about 31 days, some shorter, some a bit longer. This page is our rabbit husbandry hub page links to the nitty gritty of providing the best handson care for livestock rabbits, whether a hobby rabbitry, a homestead herd, or a commercial enterprise. Rabbits produce another product besides meat rabbit droppings. Rabbit raisers will keep their rabbitries hopping and happy with the advice found in rabbits, a hobby farm book. As a backyard animal rabbit is quiet, odorless and. Smallscale rabbit farming for meat by mark hajdukiewicz on th february, 2014, filed in livestock, other livestock here at pocket farm we believe that rabbits are one of the most versatile yet underused livestock resources by the smallholders of this country. Having tasted the succulent meat, its not because it doesnt taste good. The purpose of this work is to bring together as fully and objectively as possible all the available data on rabbit husbandry, health and production. Jul 17, 2011 storeys guide to raising rabbits, 4th edition is one of the books i read the most, but if you dont want to purchase a book the usda has a page devoted to rabbit husbandry with many links to. One community feels that modeling ethical and humane animal stewardship is essential and for the highest good of all in todays world of diverse needs. So now, you can order rabbit meat, rabbit fryers or even rabbit burgers today, and then a few days later you can serve your family a tasty rabbit meat treat so much better than the meats available at the supermarket. A complete handbook on backy ard and commercial rabbit production.
Wellorganized and detailed, raising rabbits for meat is an excellent resource for anyone considering meat rabbits as a family food source or farm enterprise. Cuniculture is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising domestic rabbits as livestock for their meat, fur, or wool. Raising pastured rabbits for meat is the first book to address the growing trend of ecological rabbit husbandry for the beginning to marketscale farmer. Textbooks and reference materials for the practitioner. More detailed guidance can be found in the related resources and references provided. It can be used in most of the ways in which chicken is used. I do like the line the bottom with newspaper but she might pull it out. If youre not willing to embrace a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, the next best change you can make is resolving to eat only ethically raised meat. You can get a loan from the bank, or funding from investors, to use as capital to start your rabbit farming business. The following topics are discussed in this publication. With few exceptions, rabbit farming on a small scale, or even notsosmall, is possible no matter where you live. Meat rabbits are an excellent animal to teach you about a life of animal husbandry.
A primer on backyard meat rabbit raising practices rudolphs. See more ideas about raising rabbits, meat rabbits and rabbit hutches. Rabbit manure is considered a cold manure, and can be placed directly onto a growing garden. Rabbit meat has fewer calories, fat, and cholesterol per pound than pork, beef, chicken, and even turkey meat. Breeding meat rabbits 101 the imperfectly happy home. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read raising rabbits for meat. For meat rabbits, each cage should be about 3 feet square and 2 feet high to give the animals plenty of room to move around. Smallscale rabbit farming for meat pocket farm magazine. Bob bennett is the author of six books on rabbit raising, including storeys guide to raising rabbits and rabbit housing, as well as numerous magazine and newspaper articles.
Core topics are covered, including rabbit genetics, reproduction, health and diseases, behavior, welfare, fur and meat production, rabbit production in developing countries, slaughter and the marketing of rabbit products. Rabbits are raised for meat, angora wool, breeding stock, and sometimes, for laboratory use. It includes daytoday care, selective breeding and the raising of livestock. The best material for cages is doublegalvanized 14gauge welded wire. If youre just starting out, id recommend starting with a trio 2 does and 1 buck. So now, you can order rabbit meat, rabbit fryers or even rabbit burgers today, and then a few days later you can serve your family a tasty rabbit meat treat so much better than the meats available at.
Starting with the revolutionary finex screen feeder up to todays multilevel flushkleen systems, bass equipment company has continued to grow and innovate products for the small animal breeder. You will need money for constructing the rabbit hutches, buying the breeding stock, buying the feeds e. Nov 26, 2019 the backyard meat rabbits group had roughly 30,000 members from around the world and featured content on animal husbandry related to keeping, breeding, and butchering rabbits for personal consumption and retail sales. Raising meat rabbits is one of the most space efficient means of growing livestock for meat. How to start a profitable rabbit farming business pdf guide. The guide to raising and breeding rabbits for meat. While ethical is an admittedly fuzzy standard when it comes to commercial meat production, few would argue that lovingly handraised rabbits arent ethical to. Upon adopting a rabbit, owners should bring their new pet to their veterinarian for an initial exam and information on proper husbandry, advises dr.
But only give lettuces and cabbages to adult rabbits alone. Free rabbitry record sheets to download and print rabbit. Bass equipment company has been an industry leader in the design and manufacture of small animal equipment since 1961. The amount of capital required when raising rabbits for meat depends on the scale of the project. Very basic practical text begins with an overview of rabbit husbandry. Cuniculture is also employed by rabbit fanciers and hobbyists in the development and betterment of rabbit breeds and the exhibition of those efforts. Choose the best breeds for smallspace farming, produce your own grassfed meat, gather fresh. A 10pound meat rabbit doe can produce up to 320 pounds of meat during a single year. Publication of the handbook, delayed for many months, coincided with the sixth world rabbit congress held in toulouse from 8 to 12 july 1996. Commercial rabbit production rabbits have been produced for 3,000 years. He has served as the editor of rabbits magazine, has been a contributing editor to countryside magazine, and is the founder of domestic rabbits and a past director of the american rabbit breeders association.
Many producers are selling breeding stock as well as rabbits for slaughter. This project is organized to provide experience for young people in the selection, feeding, husbandry, and exhibiting of rabbits. Ive been breeding meat rabbits for 37 years and plan to continue for as long as my body will allow it just a comment raising rabbits is anything but inexpensive. May 05, 2018 rabbit meat has very little fat so takes a delicate touch not to overcook the delectable meat. We anticipate many cultures and communities globally and for the predictable future will either need or choose to use animals as food andor raise them for their. A complete handbook on backy ard and commercial rabbit. Rabbits alternative farming systems information center. Raising rabbits for meat by eric rapp, callene rapp books. Raising rabbits for meat requires just a few basic supplies and routine care. Fresh or frozen, rabbit meat is sold all year round.
Bone the rabbit and slice the meat into thin strips. Whether you live on a full blown many acre homestead, or on a town lot in the burbs, rabbits are a viable option in your selfsufficiency and survival planning. Inspired by daniel salatin, who has long been considered the pioneer in integrated rabbit farming, nichki carangelo proves that a viable pasturebased rabbitry is not only possible and user. Backyard rabbit farming can be a great idea for having healthy meat and an additional source of income for the family without much involvement. The commercial farming of domesticated rabbits, however, has occurred only recently. However, to build a successful, sustainable commercial rabbit farming business, you require sufficient knowledge of how to efficiently raise the rabbits, good management skills, and a good rabbit farming business plan.
He has served as the editor of rabbits magazine, has been a contributing editor to countryside magazine, and is the founder of domestic rabbits and a past director of. According to rabbit production cheeke, patton, lukefahr and mcnitt, 1987, pg 190, a weanling rabbit gains a. Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture concerned with animals that are raised for meat, fibre, milk, eggs, or other products. You can give your girl a large wooden nest or one made of metal. Meat rabbits what you need to know about raising rabbits. Rabbits are a quickbreeding source of lowfat, highprotein meat and have long been enjoyed as a food by many people across the world.
Combine sherry, soy sauce, salt, sugar, and cayenne and add to the meat. For the first time since the havemore plan was published way back in the 1940s, a fellow named richard w. If there are no ongoing health issues, a rabbit should visit the veterinarian each year for an annual exam, just. The book begins with an overview of rabbit husbandry. Oct 15, 2014 often overlooked, rabbit is an environmentallyfriendly, easytoproduce, yummytoeat local meat. Feb 18, 2020 explore minimouse52s board animal husbandry. Excess protein is sometimes cited as the cause of this condition, but when meat and fat are consumed in the correct ratio, such as that. The cultural acceptance of eating cottontail rabbit meat has set a favorable stage for the growing popularity of raising domestic meat rabbits as a smallscale, backyard enterprise. Rabbit meat contains high ratio of protein, energy, calcium and vitamin than any other types of animal meat. Rabbit breeder and exhibitor chris mclaughlin offers years of experience and guidance on the many aspects of raising rabbits on a hobby farm, a livestock choice she considers perfect due to the limited space rabbits need to thrive. Raising rabbits on pasture can be as easy or as complicated as you would like to make it. The perfect butchering age is around 8 weeks of age. Rabbit owners expect and deserve the same standard of veterinary care for their rabbits as they receive for their cats and dogs.
It is very important to record breeding info immediately. Good housing and husbandry for rabbit housing should take account of the following principles. Over the last five to six years state legislation has been changed to allow commercial rabbit farming. Handling live animals, watching them grow, and learning how to care for them has value far beyond that of competition. He has served as the editor of rabbits magazine, has been a contributing editor to countryside magazine, and is the founder of domestic rabbits and a past director of the american rabbit breeders. Nutritional requirements and clinical examinations are covered, as well as a bodysystem approach to describing diseases, their diagnosis and treatment. Raising pastured rabbits for meat ebook nichki carangelo. Give your girl a nest and lots of bedding on day 28. It is important to know that when raising rabbits for meat that the older the rabbit gets, the tougher the meat becomes. This new edition of rabbit production has been fully updated throughout. Types of rabbit production fanciers pets, breeding stock, and show animals laboratory furhair angora rex meat largest rabbit market. If you have rabbit and like to bring and have evaluated please contact me before hand. At its easiest, the rabbits can be placed in cages directly onto grass. Keeping good records is essential to raising quality rabbits.
The history of the domestic rabbit information on breeding, housing, and harvesting tools to help you succeed with your program an emphasis on heritage breeds. The essential features of meat rabbit production are discussed briefly in. Youth programs raise and use rabbits in projects and curricula. This is partly due to the lack of available resources in the field of rabbit husbandry. Silverwolf rabbitry is offering a rabbit 101, we will be going over basics of rabbit care, basic production, health, and showing rabbits. Housing in pens on the floor should always be considered before. A backyard meat rabbit operation can be a great idea for someone interested in producing their own healthful, drugfree meat. Facebook deletes meat rabbit group because a pet rabbit group. Jan 23, 2018 rabbit meat is popular among homesteaders because rabbits are easy to raise, and they breed easily and birth in less time than other traditional homestead livestock like sheep, goats, pigs, and cows. Rabbits also produce lean, healthy meat thats low in fat, and is a culinary delicacy in many countries around the globe.
Raising rabbits for meat sustainable farming mother. But there are many other excellent meat rabbit breeds to choose from, including new zealand whites, silver fox rabbits and californians. A complete handbook on backyard and commercial rabbit production 11 overview whether you raise rabbits for meat and fur, wool, or laboratory uses, select the breeds best adapted to the purpose. Before we can even think about breeding our rabbits we must have a good foundation stock.
Add the rabbit meat and stir until it loses its pinkness, about 2 to 3 minutes. A beginners guide to raising rabbits, including a rabbit barn, pens, feeders and waterers, breeding stock, care and feeding, breeding, butchering, and meat sales. How to start a profitable rabbit farming business pdf. Their bodies are described as being commercial in type, that is, muscular or wellmuscled full of meat.
The page was originally founded based on a husbandry book called beyond the pellet by boyd craven, former member ashley pierce says. I learned, the hard way, that breeders dont generally sell a doe that is producing well. Rabbits reared with techniques adapted to specific environments can do much to improve the family diet of many of the neediest rural families, at the same time supplying a regular source of income. Developed in the 1920s in america, the california meat rabbit breed is recognised by its white body with black points legs, nose and ears. Meat rabbits have been bred over years with meat production in mind.
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