Apr. 1, 2008
Facts about meat rabbits
Posted in Homestead Barnyard
Hello, this is faithfarm, I've been invited to guest blog for a while about raising rabbits. So I thought for the next few weeks I would cover topics ranging from why we raise rabbits, building cages, to breeding. Please join me here each Tuesday at Homestead Barnyard as we explore this exciting and fun animal to raise on any homestead. You can also visit me at www.homesteadblogger.com/faithfarm/ .
When we started our homestead one of the first topics of discussion was what animals we would raise here on the farm. We were looking for animals that would help us become more self-sustained and were easy to raise as we had very little experience with "farming". One of the first animals to arrive was a breeding trio of meat rabbits. Here are some of the facts that helped us to decide:
1. Cholesterol level in rabbit meat is much lower than chicken, lamb, beef, pork. Chicken=220 (mg/100g); Lamb= 250 (mg/100g); Beef= 230 (mg/100g); Pork=230(mg/100g); Rabbit=164(mg/100g)
2. Rabbit is lower in % of fat than chicken, turkey, beef, and pork.
3. Rabbit is highest in protein%.
4. A doe rabbit that weighs 10 pounds can produce 320 pounds of meat in a year. Now tell me that isn't amazing!
5. Rabbits will produce 6 pounds of meat on the same feed and water as a cow will produce 1 pound of meat on the same feed and water with much less space requirements.
6. Rabbits are among the most productive of domestic livestock.
7. Rabbits make great fertilizer! (cold manure-ready to use)
2.20% Nitrogen
.87% Phosphorus
2.30% Potassium
.36% Sulfur
1.26% Calcium
.40% Magnesium
8. Initial startup cost is minimum.
9. Space requirements to raise rabbits is very small compaired to other livestock.
10. Easy! Anyone can do it. All you need is a good guide book and a little 'want-to'.
These are the main reasons we started our rabbit adventure. Over the last few years I have come up with many more reasons why to continue raising rabbits. Mainly-I love it. They are so easy and bring me so much joy. Also I have come to appreciate the fact that I can raise healthy meat at a fraction of the cost. I know what I am feeding my family. Providing the best for them makes me feel good. I can take comfort in knowing that I have a source of meat right here on the farm all the time.
There are many reasons to raise rabbits, I.E. profit, wool, showing, to meat, but raising meat rabbits is what we do here. I hope you enjoyed this article and will join me next week to discuss "Getting Started". Blessings>faithfarm
Comments
Apr. 1, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by mountainmama
Thanks so much for doing this. We are building our hutch this week, Lord willing, and we are very excited. Our 2 bucks are doing great and I am very excited about finding their mates soon.
We are planning on 2 males and 4 females for now. Do you think this is a good number to start out with? We have a cottontail and a Californian and we wanted to find them 2 females of the same kinds to breed. I would like to experiment and see what we do the best at.
Anyway thanks again.
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Apr. 1, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by faithfarm
Sounds like a great start. Having 2 bucks will alow you to select the best breeding combo's. The joy of raising rabbits is you get to decide what works best for you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have! Blessings>faithfarm
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Apr. 1, 2008 - Raising rabbits on pasture
Posted by Kristin Hoffman
I too find this post very interesting and am wondering two things:
1. Have you raised your rabbits on pasture? Or considered it? If so, what type of pens would you use? What other considerations are there?
2. How "bad" is the butchering process. I can handle chickens but rabbits are much cuter than meat birds. I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
Thanks for sharing!
Kristin
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Apr. 1, 2008 - questions
Posted by faithfarm
HI! I cannot comment first hand on group pen rabbits. I have heard both good and bad about it. We selectively breed our rabbits to improve the 'herd'. I also follow breeding schedules closely. With group raised rabbits there is no way to determine who or when. So I am not much help there. For your other question on preparing the rabbits for the table....I find it easier than chickens. Rabbits are quicker to process (for me) and alot of people take advantage of the hide. I have not ventured into that much yet. I plan on learning more about curing the leather. As for the cute aspect--I thought I would have more trouble with it than I did. We never make pets out of our rabbits. They are always breeders and meat rabbits without names. Trust me this helps. Doe #1, Doe #2, ect. When there in the freezer in unmarked wrapping it is hard to tell who was who and knowing that I am providing healthy clean meat for my family really makes all the difference. Thank you for your questions. I hope this helps. Blessings>faithfarm
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Apr. 2, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by GrandmaRosie
I am reading this with great interest. I raise bunnies, but so far just for pets. We are wanting to start raising for the freezer.
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Apr. 3, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by mountainmama
I have another question for you. We went and picked up the supplies for our hutches yesterday and we are waiting on the rain to stop to start on it.
My question is how many hutches do you use for your babies once you seperate them from their mothers? I read somewhere that each of the bucks should have their own hutch and you can leave the does in with their mother. Is this what you do?
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Apr. 3, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by faithfarm
I do mine 2 ways---depending on their purpose. At weaning age (4-6 weeks) I determine which will be used for breeding and which will be used for meat. The breeders get there own cage-I usually keep 2 females and 2 males together for a couple of days then put in individual cages(for breeders) this allows them to transition into their own cage easier. I have found that my rabbits do better this way. The meat rabbits go into large feeder cages-one for males, one for females until butchering age. I hope this helps. Sexing rabbits takes time to learn--So check weekly until you get the hang of it. The older they are the easier it is to determine. Sometimes you just miss it--I had a "female" in a breeder cage that turned out to be a male at 7 weeks-lol--it happens. It just takes practice. Blessings>faithfarm
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