Four Less Common but Great Meat Rabbit Breeds to Start Your Rabbitry

Tiffany — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:59:54 +0000

Although Californian and New Zealand rabbits are the most popular breeds used in meat and fur production, it doesn’t mean that they are the only breeds you should consider if you are starting a rabbitry. The following breeds are fantastic for meat and fur production because of their ease of care, great mothering skills, high meat-to-fur ratios and range of coat colors.

Silver Fox
Adult Size: Large (9-12 pounds/ 4.1-5.4 kilograms)
The Silver Fox is considered the teddy bear of the commercial breed and is very well suited for meat breeding. It has a high dress out percentage (65%) with a small boned carcass, does are excellent mothers with large litters, they have plenty of milk and they make excellent foster mothers. They are also gentle, easy to handle, like attention and have beautiful long fur. Their fur resembles the pelt of an Arctic silver fox: coarse, extremely dense and 1 ½ to 2 inches long. Kits are born either solid black or blue and silvering will start at 4 weeks, taking about 4 months to complete. Unlike any other rabbit breed, when the fur is stroked backwards from tail to head, it will stand straight up until stroked in the opposite direction. The breed is considered critically endangered and is not recognized in outside the U.S., although in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom there is a breed called Silver Fox, which is actually the same rabbit breed as the Silver Marten in America.
Satin
Adult Size: Large (8.5-12 pounds/ 3.9-5.4 kilograms)
The Satin breed has translucent hair shafts that reflect light, giving the coat a very high sheen. Coat color ranges from black to copper to white…and many things in between. A high protein diet supplemented with sunflower seeds helps maintain good body tone and a healthy coat but no special care other than routine brushing is required. Satins have one of the best meat-to-bone ratios of the commercial breeds. Other characteristics which make them great for meat production are their good growth rates, their great motherly instincts and their ease of breeding.
Champagne d’Argent
Adult Size: Large (10-15 pounds/ 4.75-6.8 kilograms)
The Champagne d’Argent is one of the oldest known rabbit breeds, existing in the Champagne province of France for over 400 years. Then called the French Silver for its silvery coat, it was once prized for its pelt despite being a common breed. Bunnies are born pure black, begin turning silver grey at about 3 weeks and are completely silver grey by 6 months. Champagnes are not so common in America today, but their popularity is increasing. The rabbit has a medium length with well-developed hind-quarters.
Harlequin
Adult Size: Medium (7-9 pounds/ 2.7-3.6 kilograms)
Harlequins are usually pretty docile, make good mothers and foster kits well. The ideal age for a Harlequin doe to start breeding is 5 to 6 months old. There are two varieties of Harlequins: Japanese are golden orange with colored markings and the Magpie is white with colored markings. A well bred Harlequin will have white or orange on one side of the face with a straight, clean line dividing it from the other side of the face, which would be colored. The ear attached to the white or orange side would be colored, and the ear attached to the colored side would be white or orange. The body is alternately striped with white or orange and color.

Five Excellent Meat Rabbit Breeds to Start Your Rabbitry

Tiffany — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:57:54 +0000

There are more than 45 breeds of rabbits in the world, but only about 17 have a “commercial” (large, chubby, meaty) body type which are preferable for meat production. Characteristics which make some commercial breeds better than others are a higher meat-to-bone ratio, quick growth, fur color and ease of care.

Californian
Adult Size: Medium (7-10 pounds/ 3.5-4.75 kilograms)
Californian rabbits were developed in the USA in the 1920’s to provide good meat and fur production. Californians are a cross of Himalayan, Standard Chinchilla and New Zealand white rabbits and are currently the second most popular meat producing rabbits in the world. The body is plump but fine-boned. Californian rabbits look very similar to the Himalayan rabbit with a predominantly white body and black on the feet, nose, ears and tail. Their average litter size is 6-8 bunnies.
New Zealand
Adult Size: Large (8-12 pounds/ 3.6-5.4 kilograms)
Despite the name, New Zealand rabbits were first bred in America in 1916 for meat and fur production and are currently the number one meat rabbit in the United States. They come in several different colors (black, red and white) but the white rabbits are the most popular for meat production because of their large, broad, and muscular bodies. When mature, bucks weigh from 8-10 pounds and females from 9-12 pounds. New Zealand rabbits are ready to slaughter as fryers after just 2 months. Their average litter size is 8-10 bunnies.
Florida White
Adult Size: Small (4-6 pounds/ 1.8-2.7 kilograms)
Although this rabbit is quite small, it was bred in Florida in the 1960’s as a meat rabbit which would also be functional for laboratory use. The fur is white with good density and texture, and they have a compact, meaty body, short neck, and small head.
Palomino
Adult Size: Large (8-11 pounds/ 3.6-5 kilograms)
Palomino rabbits have a smaller bone structure than other meat rabbits which gives you a higher meat ratio. But they take a bit longer to grow. Bucks are 8-10 pounds and does usually range from 9-11 pounds. Litter size is usually 8 kits but can range from 6 to 12. Palominos come in two colors: Golden & Lynx. The Golden has an orange/brown golden color (as the name suggests) and the Lynx has a bit more grey or silver tone in the fur. They have a very docile and friendly temperament.
Beveren
Adult Size: Medium (8-11 pounds/ 3.6-5 kilograms)
The Beveren is one of the oldest and largest breeds of fur rabbits, originating in Belgium. Their coats can be blue, white, black, brown and lilac. They are a rare breed but well tempered, clean, and smart. The fur is rather long (about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches), dense and glossy. The breed is hardy and well suited for meat production because of large litter size, the young grow fairly fast, and the does are typically docile and make good mothers.

Raising Rabbits for Meat » how to select a rabbit breed

Four Less Common but Great Meat Rabbit Breeds to Start Your Rabbitry

Five Excellent Meat Rabbit Breeds to Start Your Rabbitry