Commercial Rabbit Raising

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There are three kinds of rabbits Commercial Rabbits, Game Rabbits and Pet Rabbits. Commercial rabbits are of several types, chief amongst which are, the Rufus Red Belgian Hare, the New Zealand Rabbit, the Flemish Giant Rabbit.

How to raise rabbits for a steady source of meat and income Rabbits are one of the most sustainable, nutritious, and economic meat sources available. They can easily be raised in a variety of locations and climates, and require less space and infrastructure than many other species of livestock. Raising Rabbits for Meat is the how-to guide to help you succeed in starting and running a home rabbitry for a steady source of meat or income. Coverage includes: The history of the domestic rabbit Information on breeding, housing, and harvesting Tools to help you succeed with your program An emphasis on heritage breeds. 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.

Americans eat 25 to 30 million pounds of domestic rabbit meat each year. The rabbits come from small rabbitries with three or four hutches and from large commercial producers. Rabbit raising lends itself to both types of production. Rabbit meat is pearly white, fine-grained, palatable, and nutritious. It is a convenient source of high-quality protein and is low in fat and caloric content. Rabbitskins also have some commercial value. Better grades of rabbitskins may be dressed, dyed, sheared, and made into fur garments and trimmings. Some skins are used for slipper and glove linings, for toys, and in making felt. Fine shreds of the flesh part of the dried skins, which are often left after separating the fur for making felt, are used for making glue. Because of the relatively low value of skins from meat rabbits, a large volume is necessary to market them satisfactorily. An increasing demand for rabbits for laboratory and biological purposes offers opportunities to breeders living near medical schools, hospitals, and laboratories. Rabbits have made large contributions to research in venereal disease, cardiac surgery, hypertension, and virology, and are important tools in pregnancy diagnosis, infectious disease research, the development of hyperimmune sera, development of toxins and antitoxins, and the teaching of anatomy and physiology. A recent development in the rabbit industry has been the increased use by scientific personnel of various rabbit organs and tissues in specialized research. The availability of these byproducts has greatly facilitated many basic research programs.