Benefits of backyard rabbit production backyard rabbit raising offers many potential benefits. Since the 1970s, in some european countries rabbit meat production has progressively become a highly specialized industry, which has made europe the second after china largest rabbit meat. 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. One rabbit can even turnaround 50 kits at the end of a year. Factors affecting the production of rabbits by small. Rabbits are typically slaughtered as fryers at 5 pounds about 10 weeks of age. It recycles some unabsorbed nutrients as well as returning protein and vitamin b rich bacteria for enzyme digestion in the small intestine. The quality of the product was evaluated for sensory, microbiological and proximate composition. A pretty good business that falls under the agriculture cum meat production industry that an entrepreneur can successful start is rabbit farming. According to falck, a good starting number for successful production can be from a minimum of 150 breeding units up to 2 100 commercial units. These notes will be devoted to our members who wish to increase their savings through rabbit production. In europe and the united states large scale commercial rabbit farming has been practised for many years and standards of husbandry raised. Production of good quality affordable rabbit meat is a means by which our strategic objectives can be achieved.
Rabbits can also easily convert the available proteins in celluloserich plants, whereas it is not economical to feed these to chickens and turkeys the only animals with higher energy and. While ethical is an admittedly fuzzy standard when it comes to commercial meat production, few would argue that lovingly handraised rabbits arent ethical to. The rabbit food and agriculture organization of the united nations. Rabbits are also raised in large numbers in china, which is the main exporter of rabbit 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. Apr 06, 2012 10 reasons why you should eat rabbit meat.
Some of these objectives are good health and employment. It is most highly developed in western european countries such as france, italy and spain. You need to start a profitable rabbit farming business to boost your income. The rabbit as a meat producing animal rabbit production is now a minor agricultural enterprise throughout the world. The global rabbit meat yield peaked in 2018 and is likely to see steady growth in the near future. In 2018, the global number of animals slaughtered for rabbit meat production totaled x heads, rising by x% against the previous year. Rabbit meat production survey has been carried out for the 186 world countries enabling an estimation of the key data of every one and consequently of each region and of the whole world. This means you will need a larger breed so it will be a decent size by the 8week mark. Since the 1970s, in some european countries rabbit meat production has progressively become a highly specialized industry, which has made europe the second after china largest rabbit meat producer in. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2009 when yield increased by x% against the previous year.
It is the meat they got many people and their children through the lean times of the depression. Ways to raise capital to start your rabbit farming business in zimbabwe. A complete handbook on backy ard and commercial rabbit production. The guide to raising and breeding rabbits for meat raising rabbits is one of the simplest things you can do on your homestead. It also includes a minidirectory with contacts which will prove to be helpful in launching and running the rabbit farming business. In fact, data referring to 2016 show that europe, despite a relevant regression in total production of rabbit meat in 2016 compared to 2014, currently holds almost 93% and 67% of the worlds imports and exports of rabbit meat, respectively. The pelts of white rabbits, however, generally command slightly higher market prices. Smallscale sustainable rabbit production snohomish.
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. Am i really comfortable with the idea of raising rabbits solely to harvest their meat. Rabbit meat is of high quality, being high in protein and low in fat content. Domestic rabbits oryctolagus cuniculus order lagomorphia are not rats. Rabbit farming in the philippines, an introduction to rabbit farming by aven natures. Types of rabbit production fanciers pets, breeding stock, and show animals laboratory furhair angora rex meat largest rabbit market. Pork is again in last place with a quantity of fat of 45%, ie almost 200 grams of 450 are fat. Regression results revealed that the main factors affecting commercial rabbit production are lack of extension services, low rabbit. Pdf rabbits are members of the leporidae family, indigenous throughout most parts of the world, and raised in smallholder and largescale, commercial. In 2012, more than 5,000 farms sold nearly 853,000 rabbits. Raising rabbits for meat osu extension catalog oregon state. Although rabbits have long been part of many philippine households, the lingering reluctance and perceived taboo on eating rabbit meat is the greatest hindrance to widespread rabbit production filipinos have forgotten that rabbits were brought to the country after world war ii by the us. Rabbit farming in south africa involves the breeding of rabbits for the meat industry as well as for the use of fur and wool. An overview of the rabbit industry in the philippines.
Usda once proclaimed rabbit meat to bethe most nutritious meat known to man. Farmers indicated lack of access to credit and feeds as the major challenge to rabbit production. Rabbit from farm to table fresh or frozen, rabbit meat is sold all year round. The rabbit known as microlivestock can be a great source of food production. Management of rabbits for meat production is quite different from the maintenance of a pet or house rabbit. Like other lean meat, poultry, and fish, rabbit meat is a good source of high quality protein. Getting to know all the advantages of rabbits and its industry in the philippines. Rabbits are raised for meat, angora wool, breeding stock, and sometimes, for laboratory use. How to start a profitable rabbit farming business pdf guide. The production of cecotropes is a very important part of the rabbit s digestive processes.
Table 11 lists common rabbit breeds and their predominant color, weight, and uses. The gestation period for a female is nearly 31 days. There are many species in the rabbit family but all domesticated rabbits are believed to have descended from a single species known as the european rabbit. Under natural conditions, she delivers a litter every 31 days. Rabbit meat is one of the most nutritious meats available. Not only do they require little attention, but they also provide a. Back in the 1940s and 1950s rabbit meat was as common for dinner as chicken is today. To promote clean meat production, one model slaughter house was established at college of veterinary science. Meat production icar central coastal agricultural research. Beyond the planning requirements, financial costs, and daytoday supervision that even the most modest backyard rabbit farm entails, rabbitry forces farmers to ask themselves some uncomfortable questions. Some people find it difficult to slaughter rabbits for consumption because they considered them as pets rather than meat. The guide to raising and breeding rabbits for meat. Backyard production of meat rabbits in texas oaktrust. New zealand rabbits are a quintessential meat type rabbit.
It was bred as a meat rabbit to have broad shoulders, meaty back and hips and a good dressing percentage percentage of edible meat. The farming of domesticated meat rabbits is not a traditional agricultural activity in texas, compared to beef cattle, goat, poultry, and swine production. Youth programs raise and use rabbits in projects and curricula. All of the medium and large rabbit breeds are good meat producers. Rabbit meat production in the eu compassion in food business. Often considered a delicacy, rabbit meat is white, fine grained, and delicately flavored. A complete handbook on backy ard and commercial rabbit. A pretty good business that falls under the agriculture cum meat production industry that an entrepreneur can successful start is rabbit. At mother earth news, we have been educating folks about the benefits of selfreliance for 50 years. Rabbit production can be integrated into small farming systems, with the rabbits being.
Overall, the global rabbit meat consumption indicated a pronounced growth from 2007 to 2015. Rabbit meat production is therefore an attractive proposition, especially when the aim is to produce quality animal protein. Commercially prepared pelleted rabbit feeds meet all of. Supplementary feeding of sheep for growth, production and reproduction 45 areaspecific mineral mixture for sheep and goats 47 establishment of pasture for higher fodder production 49 broiler rabbit rearing for meat and fur skin 54 angora rabbit rearing for wool production 56 utilization of rabbit fur for making fashionable items 58. The purpose of this publication is to provide general and practical information that will help the new producer become a successful producer of meat rabbits as a backyard activity under texas conditions. Some people find it difficult to slaughter rabbits for consumption because they. They lost their popularity after big agra, who wanted to get maximum. World rabbit meat production according to fao in 2007. The four biggest worlds producers china, italy, spain, france contribute to almost. The south african rabbit meat industry in the spotlight.
To fulfill the food demand for growing population, we have to find out different ways of food production. It is the highest in protein, lowest in fat and cholesterol, has the least number of calories per pound and has only eight percent bone. While these may be pursued as a secondary market for rabbit farmers, the focus of this article is on meat production. The best material for cages is doublegalvanized 14gauge welded wire. Rabbit meat production systems can be very profitable even on a small scale. Rabbit farming business is a very profitable business, and many people are making money all over the world by raising rabbits for meat. The guide to raising and breeding rabbits for meat mother. It is important to know that when raising rabbits for meat that the older the rabbit gets, the tougher the meat becomes. Commercial rabbit production rabbits have been produced for 3,000 years. Laboratory rabbit production has the potential to be a very profitable enterprise, but the.
This rabbit is white except for ears, nose, feet and tail, which are a dark gray or black. Starting rabbit farming business in zimbabwe and the business. They start breeding from the month of 4 and give around 6 10 kits at once. It can be used in most of the ways in which chicken is used. Introduction the importance of the domestic rabbit as a supplier of meat for human consumption is widely recognised throughout the world. The rabbit production business plan includes technical aspects of how to keep and to take care of the rabbits. Oct 01, 2015 the first place ranks again rabbit meat fats by 10.
A rabbit can survive without practicing coprophagy for many. Their bodies are described as being commercial in type, that is, muscular or wellmuscled full of meat new zealand rabbits are a quintessential meat type rabbit. Rabbits sold in the united states for food are commonly crosses. Which country eats the most rabbit meat in the world.
It also is high in protein and low in fat, cholesterol, sodium, and calories. The dietary and nutritional properties of rabbit meat suggest its frequent consumption, especially by children and adolescents, pregnant women, athletes, and the elderly, can be strongly recommended. Keyser is convinced that even with a market share of approximately 2% of the local meat market, rabbit meat in south africa can potentially become a billionrand industry. According to the 2017 census of agriculture nass, more than 4,000 farms sold almost 500,000 rabbits nationally. Global rabbit meat production, showing the top ten highest producing. The following topics are discussed in this publication. Aug 09, 2019 at mother earth news, we have been educating folks about the benefits of selfreliance for 50 years. The commercial farming of domes ticated rabbits, however, has occurred only recently. A good california white or new zealand white, two of the best breeds for meat production, can produce 6 litters per year with 610 kits per litter kits baby rabbits mature to butchering size in about ten weeks. The production of cecotropes is a very important part of the rabbits digestive processes.
The cultural acceptance of eating cottontail rabbit meat has set a favorable. Their rate of production is faster than that of pigs, goats or sheep. Rabbit meat has become increasingly popular in china. A complete handbook on backyard and commercial rabbit production. The objectives of the rabbit production in the prisons is to. You dont need a large complement of breeders to provide your family with a steady supply of fresh meat. There is a great opportunity of rabbit farming, and commercial production can be a great source of income and employment. Rabbit meat production and processing in china sciencedirect. Rabbit as an alternative source of meat production i. It also includes a minidirectory with contacts which will prove to be helpful in launching and running the rabbit. If properly raised and cared for, a female rabbit doe can produce more than 15 times her own weight in offspring in a year. Whether you raise rabbits for meat and fur, wool, or laboratory uses, select the. This is done at large commercial concerns on as well as on subsistence farming level. Rabbit production requires careful management of environment, diet, and breeding parameters.
Domestic rabbits are very cheap to raise as a domestic animal and. There are approximately 200 meat rabbit farmers in south africa, but considering the international demand it is a worthwhile opportunity for potential farmers to explore. Their bodies are described as being commercial in type, that is, muscular or wellmuscled full of meat. The perfect butchering age is around 8 weeks of age.
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