The lack of available and reliable information on rabbit production has contributed to some producers decisions to sell out because the rabbits backyard production of meat rabbits in texas steven d. Their bodies are described as being commercial in type, that is, muscular or wellmuscled full of meat. Meat rabbits what you need to know about raising rabbits. Jan 15, 2011 kids are the target audience of this book, but thats great for me. Bennett first became acquainted with rabbits at age 12 when he earned a boy scout merit badge for raising them. Rabbits are fun to raise except when you have to go out and take care of them at 10 below zero. A beginners guide to raising rabbits mother earth news. A backyard meat rabbit operation can be a great idea for someone interested in producing their own healthful, drugfree meat. We raised some rabbits for our own use meat and pets a couple of times over the years, and just went with whatever breed was available at the time. Aug 09, 2019 the guide to raising and breeding rabbits for meat. Know exactly what you need before you get started, how much it is going to cost you and what you can make yourself to keep more money in your own pocket. Photo by fotoliavera kailova a blueprint for a goodwoodandwire type of hutch. Dec 27, 2019 weight loss isnt the only reason to switch to rabbit meat as a source of protein.
A beginners guide to raising rabbits, including a rabbit barn, pens, feeders and waterers, breeding stock, care and feeding, breeding, butchering, and meat sales. Raising rabbits for meat purposes can be extremely rewarding when the grocery stores are no longer open. Whether you have rabbits for pets or meat, i will tell you how to feed them for free. Mar 11, 2020 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. Rabbit compares very favorably to chicken, turkey, and some fish for its. Many readers call storeys guide to raising rabbits the best rabbit book ever. Raising rabbits for meat is a lucrative business, providing income for millions of people, but there are some essential things you need to do before you venture into the rabbit farming business. My dogs weigh around 20 pounds for one, and about 30 pounds for. That being said, i have ascertained that the domestic variant remains white meat like its antlerless counterpart. I was hoping to feed them raw, since ive heard feeding raw is what nature intended for them. Rabbits are extremely hot natured so it is important to place their shelter in a shaded area. Two does and one buck should produce 180 pounds of meat per year. It is important to know that when raising rabbits for meat that the older the rabbit gets, the tougher the meat becomes. I started thinking about raising meat rabbits for them.
Wellorganized and detailed, raising rabbits for meat is an excellent resource for anyone considering meat rabbits as a family food source or farm enterprise. Raising meat rabbits in north carolina backyardherds. Rabbits can be one of the most efficient protein sources. Learn how to effectively raise and care for your meat pen bunnies to improve your show success. Breeding meat rabbits 101 the imperfectly happy home.
Your complete guide to raising rabbits for meat, from setting up your rabbitry to selecting stock and slaughter. They are a great source of protein, are relatively easy keepers, and they breed like, well, like rabbits. New zealand rabbits are a quintessential meat type rabbit. When raising rabbits for meat there are many options for food. Planning, building, and equipping facilities for humanely raising healthy rabbits. You probably are not going to find the rabbits you need at the pet store. Beginners guide to raising meat rabbits was a free kindle book when this post was written. If you work on a small homestead rabbits might be a great livestock option. May 05, 2018 meat rabbits what you need to know about raising rabbits for meat. A simple cage like this works well to start out with. 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. That summer we couldnt get our does to take care of their babies. There are so many rabbit information out there to plan. Advantages of raising meat rabbits as part of living a more sustainable lifestyle, i have started to raise meat rabbits.
However, rabbit has yet to be widely adopted as a primary source of meat. I hope you guys have learned a little bit about raising rabbits. Raising rabbits for meat by eric rapp, callene rapp. Raising meat rabbits growing your own fodder for your rabbits. So i like for them to have calm, confident temperaments. Im using this book myself, and i thoroughly recommend that you look into it as well. In raising meat rabbits, there are so many ways to do this according to your preference.
Before we can even think about breeding our rabbits we must have a good foundation stock. Almost 50 % of its population is in north america, some are in asia and other are in the rest of it. Weight loss isnt the only reason to switch to rabbit meat as a source of protein. Review of storeys guide to raising rabbits in the rabbit hole. Find a mentor and get a good resource book such as raising rabbits by ann kanable. Hello, i have recently gained an interest in raising rabbits for meat. Getting ready to start again in our new location, and wondered what would be best for meat and maybe fur in n. I have done a considerable amount of research, but have several questions that are more pertinent to raising rabbits in nc, as well as a few general questions that im hoping others who have raised rabbits for meat purposes.
Meat rabbits what you need to know about raising rabbits for meat. Colony raising rabbits isnt hard, but there are a few considerations that can make setting up a rabbit colony go more smoothly. Raising rabbits for meat by tiffany simpson, paperback. Raising rabbits for meat requires just a few basic supplies and routine care. I finally called a friend who also raised rabbits and he told me it was our dog.
And the best part is, you get abundant supply of genuine rabbit meat. Jul 30, 2015 rabbits are not compatible with all other animals. Unfortunately that may mean losing some in the meat to bone ratio and growth rates, but i prefer my rabbits to not be stressed. As of the end of 2016 the author aaron webster is now donating the book in ebook. If you jump into the world of raising rabbits for meat, you may suddenly find yourself with a whole lot of rabbit meat at once. The second year we had meat rabbits, we got a dog, a beautiful black lab. Meat rabbits backyardherds goats, horses, sheep, pigs. Raising and breeding rabbits for meat backwoods mama. Ford associate professor, department of animal and wildlife sciences. This article will outline how to start a commercial rabbit farming business, and the rabbit farming business plan pdf, word and excel.
I keep very detailed expense records for our farm and i am always crunching numbers to see what is profitable, and what isnt. When i brought home our american chinchilla breeding trio, i had researched raising meat rabbits extensively. Meat rabbits have been bred over years with meat production in mind. Cages and hutches with urban homesteading on an increasingly upward swing, alternative meat sources are a large part of the discussion. Kids are the target audience of this book, but thats great for me. Propelled partly by a growing desire to feel more connected to where food comes from, partly by a desire for a healthy choice for meat, and partly by a desire to leave a more sustainable footprint on the environment, meat rabbits are proving to be a viable option on the farm. It is very easy to start breeding rabbits for meat. Your complete guide to raising rabbits for meat, from setting up your rabbitry to. Written in 1917, this classic english text on poultry. You may have been considering raising chickens, geese, ducks, goats, sheep or other small livestock for meat, but once you learn how easy it is to raise rabbits, youll never consider another animal for a primary meat source.
A primer on backyard meat rabbit raising practices rudolphs. If youre just starting out, id recommend starting with a trio 2 does and 1 buck. Considering this is the exception rather than the rule, well assume that, generally speaking, they are fun to raise. They are also an ideal livestock to keep in an urban situation because they need little space, and are so quiet. Theres no way to put everything we know on a topic on each website page, which is why we offer our e book publications useful and effective info in a format which you can download and take with you. Powellowens book rabbit keeping along money making lines is a complete guide to raising rabbits for meat, be it for home use or profit. When people ask me why i raise rabbits they expect me to say meat, pets or fur. How to raise meat rabbits for free journey to sustainability. Rabbits are found in the different area of the earth, this are one of the small mammals in the world. According to rabbit production cheeke, patton, lukefahr and mcnitt, 1987, pg 190, a weanling rabbit gains a. A bunch of rabbits can be raised in a small sheltercage.
An urban farming guide for sustainable living raising rabbits for meat is a great idea for people looking to become more self sustainable in an urban environment. I do love my rabbits and i love their meat, but rabbit pellets are invaluable. Ive been thinking about what im gonna do when or if i can no longer buy dog food. Also, i look at how much work we do to make that little bit of profit. Raising rabbits for meat learn how to get started raising. Raising meat rabbits on pasture, aka your lawn daves garden.
In addition, raising meat rabbits is a low cost way to provide food for your. While backyard poultry is a common hobby for daily egg collection with some hobbyists raising the birds for meat, as well, a lesserdiscussed but growing trend for farm and ranch. If you are interested in raising and breeding rabbits for meat there are a few things to consider before getting started. Learn how to begin raising rabbits for 4h and ffa in this unique one of a kind meat pen rabbit guide. Raising rabbits for meat by eric rapp, callene rapp, paperback. Beginners guide to raising this book will teach you everything from choosing your breeding stock to butchering. Perhaps you wanted to sell off extra meat or there was an accidental pregnancy. Or maybe you just want to stockpile meat for hard times. A quick tour of my rabbitry and information about raising rabbits.
The guide to raising and breeding rabbits for meat. I know the cost of raising meat rabbits is frequently discussed, but rarely analyzed in detail. I learned, the hard way, that breeders dont generally sell a doe that is producing well. Our breeding trio supplies a good portion of the meat our family eats each year. This means you will need a larger breed so it will be a decent size by the 8week mark. Right off the bat, i was skeptical because he is a proponent of regular dosing of his stock with antibiotics and other medications antibiotic resistance, anyone. When it comes to meat proteins, rabbit meat is actually a rare delicacy. 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.
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. New zealand rabbits are a quintessential meattype rabbit. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. In the summer, it is wise to place frozen water bottles in the hutches with the rabbits to help keep them cool. Meat rabbits what you need to know about raising rabbits for. Raising rabbits is one of the simplest things you can do on your homestead, they require little attention, but they also provide a great amount of meat. Raising rabbits for meat provides a solid foundation for success in raising rabbits and is ideal for anyone interested in starting a small rabbitry for home use or to market rabbit meat as a business opportunity commonsense practical advice coupled with the rapps notorious wit make this book a delightful read. Storeys guide to raising rabbits is authored by bob bennett. This book provided me so many useful techniques and ideas that i would later adapt to work with the set up i had in mind. I found my meat rabbits on the farm and garden section of craigslist, which is a good place to start your search, along with checking out bulletin boards at feed stores and local farm and garden publications. Jul 10, 20 raising meat pen rabbits by aaron webster. Domestic rabbits are highly valued for their low fat, low cholesterol, and high quality proteins. 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. Advantages of raising meat rabbits as part of living a more sustainable lifestyle, i have started to raise.
The guide to raising and breeding rabbits for meat mother. The rapps dedication to breed integrity and to rabbit health are exceptional, and this book will be essential for anyone interested in raising rabbits. Jun 09, 2014 a quick tour of my rabbitry and information about raising rabbits. How to raise rabbits for meat raise, feed, house, butcher. If you want to raise your own meat, consider rabbits. But im wanting to raise them for meat, and this book doesnt give a lot of details for that. The author is very focused on raising rabbits for breeding and selling commercially it seems, not on meat rabbits our focus or pets a lot of other peoples focus. Raising meat pen rabbits ebook complete guide to raising and showing. Oct 21, 2012 we raised some rabbits for our own use meat and pets a couple of times over the years, and just went with whatever breed was available at the time. Storeys guide to raising rabbits and rabbit housing. At mother earth news for 50 years and counting, we are dedicated to conserving our planets. If youre consider starting your own rabbitry, a great source is a book called raising rabbits 101 that has nearly every piece of information you could ever want to know on the subject.
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