This ensures that the farming standards are met and that the most possible a grade meat is produced from only meatquality rabbits. Young people can easily afford to start keeping rabbits with virtually no financial risk. Rabbits are a great choice of livestock for small and urban farms. When raising rabbits for meat there are many options for food. A beginners guide to raising rabbits, including a rabbit barn, pens, feeders and waterers, breeding stock, care and feeding, breeding, butchering, and meat sales. In 1990 intensive animal farming accounted for 30% of world meat production and by 2005 this had risen to 40%.
To fulfill the food demand for growing population, we have to find out different ways of food production. In 1994, worlds production of rabbit meat was estimated to be 1. Meat rabbits what you need to know about raising rabbits for meat. Coniglios system is based on a point of entry and compulsory exit method within a certain period, and is strictly controlled to make sure that there is. Her friend and business partner sells the rabbit meat at a nearby farmers market, but their overarching goal is to make raising freerange rabbitswhich are becoming an increasingly popular meat sourceeasy and replicable for other farmers. But unlike in much of europe where rabbit farming is prolific it is not a staple food. We recommend that you initially commence with 510 does and two bucks to get the feel for handling and managing rabbits. The rabbits, which are a mixture of different breeds, are raised only on fresh grass and a salt lick. While ethical is an admittedly fuzzy standard when it comes to commercial meat production, few would argue that lovingly handraised rabbits arent ethical to. A recent study on rabbit meat showed that the most favorite attribute for which consumers were willing to pay more for was organic farming 53% of consumers involving a 15% increase in price compared to conventional farming. A similar calculation for the energy cost of these proteins is even more unfavourable to ruminants, as shown in table 1. It was an irrational form rabbit farming for meat purposes antonella dalle. One doe, in one hutch can produce 70 to 95 pounds 32.
Rabbit farming benefits with available small investment and in a small place rabbit farming gives more income rabbits eat ordinary feed and convert them into a protein rich high quality meat apart from meat production they can also be reared for hide and fur the project can be implemented by for landless farmers, uneducated youth and women. To sell meat, farmers need access to appropriately scaled processing facilities. Starting rabbit farming business in zimbabwe and the. Pol marquer, teresa rabade, roberta forti eurostat. While its long term size will never rival that of our traditional meat industries, it is providing a useful source of income diversification for a number of people in regional and rural areas where farm incomes have plummeted in recent years. Rabbit farming in nepal started to produce the wool and meat. Posted by startupbiz global agriculture, business ideas, business plans, livestock farming 10. Before we can even think about breeding our rabbits we must have a good foundation stock. California farmers struggle to keep up with demand for rabbit meat.
The australian beef industry the basics pwc australia. Meat rabbits what you need to know about raising rabbits. The fda has jurisdiction over the shipment of rabbit meat in interstate commerce. Meat processing technology v introduction meat consumption in developing countries has been continuously increasing from a modest average annual per capita consumption of 10 kg in the 1960s to 26 kg in 2000 and will reach 37 kg around the year 2030 according to fao projections. As in health care, antibiotic stewardship is important on the farm, and farmers work with veterinarians to. Here on farming my backyard you can expect advice on simple living, urban homesteading, and living a more eco. Rabbit production literature focuses on the nzw, but the information can be. Whether you raise rabbits for meat and fur, wool, or laboratory uses, select the. Meat rabbit farming is one of australias fastest growing new industries. Some people find it difficult to slaughter rabbits for consumption because they considered them as pets rather than meat. The farming of domesticated meat rabbits is not a traditional agricultural. The dairy industry contributes significantly to beef production supplying.
Such a preference for rabbit meat from organic farming was attributable to health and social concerns villanueva et al. Rabbit meat has become a perfect replacement for chicken since it is also white meat. Domestic rabbits are very cheap to raise as a domestic animal and. According to the 2017 census of agriculture nass, more than 4,000 farms sold almost 500,000 rabbits nationally. The following topics are discussed in this publication.
The guide to raising and breeding rabbits for meat. Rabbits are prolific breeders, producing large quantities of tasty meat for home consumption. Rabbit meat has been recommended for years by some physicians to their patients with coronary heart conditions. Carla is the owner of rabbits4u, a commercial rabbit operation and breeder network that supplies raw frozen rabbits for pet dogs and cats raising rabbits for meat. Many thanks to carla carter for the following three guest posts. Environmental impact of industrial farm animal production pdf. These pellets are filled with protein and will help add the necessary weight to your rabbits in a short amount of time. Commercial rabbit production rabbits have been produced for 3,000 years.
Breeding meat rabbits 101 the imperfectly happy home. The success of your breeding programme depends very much on the breeding practices used. The guide to raising and breeding rabbits for meat raising rabbits is one of the simplest things you can do on your homestead. Table 11 lists common rabbit breeds and their predominant color, weight, and uses. Asl2050 livestock production systems spotlight food and. The meat is tasty, good quality and similar to chicken meat. This means you will need a larger breed so it will be a decent size by the 8week mark. You need to start a profitable rabbit farming business to boost your income. If youre just starting out, id recommend starting with a trio 2 does and 1 buck.
Income generation and nutritional security through livestock based integrated farming system. It is important to know that when raising rabbits for meat that the older the rabbit gets, the tougher the meat becomes. Types of rabbit production fanciers pets, breeding stock, and show animals laboratory furhair angora rex meat largest rabbit market. Today they are raised for meat, research, pets, show, and pelts. Consumer demand for local food, including local meat and poultry, has risen in recent years. The australian beef industry can broadly be divided into the northern and southern production systems. This brief presents a snapshot of bovine dairy, beef and poultry meat production systems in egypt as agreed by key national stakeholders affected by the. Rabbit meat is lean, high in omega3 oils, easy to harvest and relatively free of disease. The venture could begin as a backyard or garden enterprise, requiring very little space. In particular, livestock, especially beef, dairy and sheep stocks, have. Most rabbits are raised for meat, although there are specialized markets. 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. Rabbit meat popularity is increasing because of its nutritional value low in cholesterol, fat, sodium and high in protein, best healthy alternative to beef and pork meat. A lot of people are switching to more healthy meat with less fat.
Scandal of the rabbit farms express yourself comment. Rabbits alternative farming systems information center. This article gives an overview of european meat production. Raising rabbits for meat pdf sion to use the information in raising meat rabbits in. Farming meat rabbits provides an economic option for many small and hobby farmers who are limited by land area. Commercial rabbit farming in nepal is to produce high quality soft, silky and warm wool that has very good market. They dont take up much space, are very quiet, and when managed correctly can provide meat, pelts, and possibly fiber for your family. While they are farmed extensively in many other areas of the world they are almost. This primefact provides a brief overview of the meat rabbit industry in australia. There are few religious or other taboos on rabbit meat except in vegetarian cultures. Wellorganized and detailed, raising rabbits for meat is an excellent resource for anyone considering meat rabbits as a family food source or farm enterprise. 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 farming business is a very profitable business, and many people are making money all over the world by raising rabbits for meat.
Beef production has more than doubled, while over the same time chicken meat production has increased by a factor of nearly 10, made up of increases in both. Raising meat rabbits is one of the most space efficient means of growing livestock for meat. Comparable figures for other species are 22 to 23 percent for broiler chickens, 16 to 18 percent for pigs and 8 to 12 percent for beef. Obviously, its a lot easier to butcher animals that you have confined. I learned, the hard way, that breeders dont generally sell a doe that is producing well.
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. People want to try a different type of meat which is not chicken, beef or pork. The perfect butchering age is around 8 weeks of age. The number of farmed rabbits slaughtered for meat in the uk each year is now estimated at up to one million. Except for the chicken, there is no other domestic animal that can produce as much edible meat as the rabbit. It can be used in most of the ways in which chicken is used. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Farming meat rabbits in nsw nsw department of primary industries. Most of the facts about rabbit behaviour on our pet rabbits behaviour page therefore also applies to farmed rabbits. Smallscale rabbit farming for meat by mark hajdukiewicz on th february, 2014, filed in livestock, other livestock. Smallscale rabbit farming for meat pocket farm magazine. The rabbit known as microlivestock can be a great source of food production.
Rabbit from farm to table fresh or frozen, rabbit meat is sold all year round. Like other lean meat, poultry, and fish, rabbit meat is a good source of high quality protein. The article acknowledged a rich history of people hunting or raising their own meat, often because the extra meat supplemented an otherwise dismal diet. The best way to get started is to look in your local are for a rabbitry and get some hands on experience, advice and ideas. May 5, 2018 by debra ahrens leave a comment this post may contain affiliate links which wont change your price but will share some commission. Rabbit needs small place and less food for survival. A complete handbook on backy ard and commercial rabbit. Not only do they require little attention, but they also provide a. A beginners guide to raising rabbits mother earth news. Iowa family farm meats directory iowa publications online.
Pdf backyard rabbit farming can be a great idea for having healthy meat and an additional source of income for the family without much involvement. Livestock is commonly defined as domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to. How to start a profitable rabbit farming business pdf. There is a great opportunity of rabbit farming in our country.
The demand for rabbit meat is increasing in zimbabwe. 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. Meat from rabbit is an all white meat product that is high in protein and low in fat, sodium and cholesterol. 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. Livestock farming practices have largely shifted to intensive animal farming, sometimes. Ive since learned that it would have been safe for me to take rabbits during this time, so in the future, if i have freerange meat rabbits, i wont wait through the whole summer to start butchering. Youth programs raise and use rabbits in projects and curricula. Farmed rabbits need the opportunity to carry out their key natural behaviours in the same way as all rabbits do whether they are kept as pets, laboratory rabbits, or living in the wild. Here at pocket farm we believe that rabbits are one of the most versatile yet underused livestock resources by the smallholders of this country. Intensive animal farming or industrial livestock production, also known by its opponents as.
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