I have a neighbor who will soon be FDA approved for butchering. I talked to him about processing some of my rabbits. Right now I have people interested in rabbits for BARF so FDA approval is not a concern right now. What is a fair amount to pay for proccessing? Obviously, the more involved the more expensive. I am thinking butchering and skinning. Butchering, skinning, and gutting, and butchering and grinding. What would you pay?

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), February 13, 2002

Answers

Pat You are a wealth of knowledge. My reasoning on this is that if you have a costumer signing a waiver stating the this product is for animal consumption you can get around the butchering issues. It is only if you are selling for human consumption. I really am selling for animal consumption. What they do with it is not my concern. I agree with having to know the amount it takes to grow them to market weight. I am getting there. I have kept very accurate records but not long enough for an exact figure. I have a pretty good idea though. I am marketing at $1.25 lb Live weight. I am making a profit. I have been overwhelmed with inquiries and honestly my demand is higher than my supply. Gotta get the addition on the barn if it would ever quit snowing. Had more litters today, first time doe and taking care of the kits. Yeah

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), February 14, 2002.

This is where it starts getting a bit sticky. If the rabbits are not being processed in a licensed facility, then, you can NOT legally charge for the processing service of butchering, skinning and gutting. And, of course, the same applies to the grinding without a licensed and inspected kitchen. Likewise, you also will not be able to "advertise" these services since they are being performed "illegally," so to speak. The question is... how do we get around it?

Most of us will simply advertise "Live Fryer Rabbits" and quote a price per live pound. Naturally, you WILL receive requests for butchered, and most states do allow farm fresh meats to be sold to individuals up to a specific amount per year. The intent, here, of course, is for "friends and family," and not as a business. Therefore, you will need to establish a LIVE price which will also cover the expense of slaughtering, etc. Those preferring to simply butcher their own are actually paying for the processing, but without the service, so you are able to pocket the extra profit. You simply will NOT be able to separate the two without it being obvious as a "butchering fee."

As for price, it varies. For example, when I was paying to have my rabbits processed in a state-inspected facility, I was paying $1.25 per *rabbit* for this service. However, please keep in mind... this also allowed me to sell directly to stores and restaurants, since they were being processed in the appropriately licensed facility, and those facilities have overhead and licenses to pay for.

You really need to establish how much it costs you to raise a rabbit to the desired butchering age and weight, and then determine what your own labor may be worth to you. Feed prices vary across the nation, wherein other growers may be able to make a profit at a lower price than what you can, or vice versa.

-- Pat Lamar (fuzyfarm@3-cities.com), February 14, 2002.

Well, guess what? The Pet Food industry has all kinds of laws and requirements, too, and including needing licensed facilities and inspections. Unfortunately, I'm really not up on all the pet food stuff, but it seems to me that you should be able to get by with a stick-on label on each package stating "Not For Human Consumption." However, most BARF customers do prefer the meat to be of "human consumption quality," so you'll have to explain the reasoning for the label to them. So long as it is not to be sold in stores as *either* human OR pet food, then, I don't really see a problem. Go for it!

-- Pat Lamar (fuzyfarm@3-cities.com), February 15, 2002.