Faith Farm

Facts about raising rabbits-Front porch-4/1/08

Facts about raising rabbits--April 1--Homestead barnyard---for rabbit catagory--for filing purposes--original blog posted on Front Porch-Homestead barnyard-4/1/08 

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