I am interested in raising rabbits as a food source. Is there a breed that is more pallatable than another? Are Large rabbits better tasting that medium/mini rabbits??

-- Christopher Davis (christopher@christopherdavis.net), July 26, 2001

Answers

Flavor of domestic rabbit meat depends largely on what is fed to the animals. One rabbit breeder of my acquaintance said that feeding a quarter of an apple daily produced a "sweetness" in the meat (I never tried this myself).

Size difference in the breeds is related more to the amount of meat produced per pound of live animal than to flavor. Some of the really huge breeds, like the Giants, actually produce less meat per live pound than do the commercial meat breeds like the New Zealands. They are bigger, but the weight and size of their bones & hide makes up a larger percentage of their weight than in the meat breeds. Smaller and slimmer breeds, like the minis and the Angoras or Rexs produce less meat, too, but that's because they're smaller and slimmer!

The typical meat breeds (New Zealands and Californians) also return more meat per pound of feed. But all domestic breeds are perfectly edible!

-- Anita Evangelista (ale368s@smsu.edu), July 26, 2001.

I have had the best luck raising "Grade" or "Mut" Rabbits. I find they tend to have larger litters and they are better mothers. My feelings on the New Zealands and the Cal. is that they are harder to skin. I don't know if others have this problem or not. Also all of the New Z's I have raised have been harder to handle than others. Again just grade rabbit's are the way we go for meat. We also raise mini lops and rex's for the kids to show in 4-H although my daughter did win reserve grand champion one year with a grade rabbit. As for taste I have not really found a differance. One thing that you MUST DO !!!! if you clean out a lot at one time, (This is true with chickens, turkey etc.) let the meet cool down before freezing. If you don't it will be tough. Just my 2 cents worth.

-- grant (organicgrange@yahoo.com), July 26, 2001.

dead one,, the others are too "squirmy"

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), July 26, 2001.

Thanks for all the answers. I am thinking about Satins for meat rabbits. Medium size, and I would like to use the hide. Any disadvantages???

-- Christopher Davis (Christopher@ChristopherDavis.net), July 26, 2001.

Satins are great. My buck is a Siamese Satin named Sammy, and he is a real go-getter! He is one super breeder! My does are New Zealands and Californians. I've been told that the benefit of satins is that their bone structure is lighter than NZs, but they produce roughly the same amount of meat. I've been very happy with our crosses. And all the girls love Sammy! Must be that soft fur! ;-)

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), July 27, 2001.

We started with a Rex and Silver Martins, they tasted fine and we really could get the money for them as pets also. Much more than what was in the New Zealands or Californians. But or meat on the bone, heavy litters, and they did very well in our heat, I loved having a Californian buck to breed to my New Zealand does. Buy from a local 4H kid who is winning at the meat pen shows! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), July 27, 2001.

I THINK ALL OF YOU WHO EAT DOMESTIC RABBITS AS PETS ARE ABSOLUTELY SICK! I HAVE TWO CALIFORNIANS WHO ARE GORGEOUS PETS AND TWO REXES WHO HAVE EVEN BETTER TEMPREMENTS! IF YOU WANT TO EAT RABBIT,EAT WILD RABBIT(IN OTHER WORDS GET UP OFF YOURE LAZY,ASSES AND GO KILL ONE)I JUST DONT BELIEVE HOW SICK YOU ALL ARE! YOU SHOW SOME RABBITS AT RABBIT SHOWS AND EAT OTHERS! CAN YOU IMAGIINE WHAT they THINK OF YOU!GOD,CRUEL PEOPLE LIKE YOU SHOULD BE SHOT! DOMESTIC RABBITS ARE FOR PETS, WILD RABBITS ARE FOR EATING! OK? OR IS THAT TOO HARD FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND?? (BY THE WAY,IM 13......AND FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL ME!)

-- SHERI JAMES (SHEZ_STAR@HOTMAIL.COM), August 10, 2001.

For a 13 year old you have a very foul mouth and poor manners to boot. Your language is offensive and has no place on a public forum. Perhaps your opinion would carry a little more weight if you first learned how to express yourself in a more civilized fashion?

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), August 10, 2001.

First of all I think raising your own meat makes a great deal of sense in todays economy. I am just starting my rabbit enterprise. I have 3 does Fuzzy an angora, Isabel a white mut/lop, and Barley a black/white broken Pure Rex doe. My buck is Steve a red mut. My reason for raising my rabbits offspring as food is complex and some days they change depending on my mood. But the usual reason I give people is "That I can". Although I live in town my little set up is not obvious nor troublesome. I use Fuzzy's wool in spinning and knitting, Barley helps calm my stress level just by petting her velvet coat. And Steve and Isabel make me laugh with their silly antics. I am NOT looking forward to butchering day. But I know its out there and I will have to face it. I am anxiously waiting for new babies this Sunday. Followed by a litter due on 9/18 and 9/25. As a meat producer I am commited to making sure my rabbits are healthy and happy. I do understand that there are some people that will refuse to accept the raising of animals for food. Fine. Good for you. Eat vegetables. However, if I am willing to accept you and your beliefs then you can do the same for me. There are people I work with who would rather not know that I intend to eat rabbit. Ok fine. I dont talk about it to them. When they see my rabbits they can make themselves believe what they want. Free world. Just my two cents here. thanks for listening.

-- Lily Weaver (tracer108@yahoo.com), September 06, 2001.

For the thirteen year old who doesn't want people to eat domestic rabbits...if humanity was to take the attitude of killing wild animals to sustain themselves think of how many animals would now be extinct...like whales for example! I understand your repulsion as at thirteen I bacame a vegitarian as I hated the idea of killing animals. My suggestion to you is that your attitude is hypocrtical...an animal is an animal regardless of being tame or wild, whats more domestic rabbits were bred originally for food, not pets.

-- Rebecca Russell (braca@acay.com.au), November 06, 2001.

It is a totally silly response and a normal one for such a young mind .At that age the thought of me raising anything for meat was insane I loved every animal .I also hated the fur industry .I am now looking into rabbits for a duel purpose meat and fur .Any animal we raised is treated and fed the best we know how .They are killed the most humane way we know how .You CANNOT say that for the cow or chicken you are eating at Burger King .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), November 06, 2001.