Raising rabbits has been done by many 4-H youth, and Easter-time stimulates some interest in them. Raising rabbits is a good example of non-profitable activity unless it is done on the proper scale and in the proper areas. There is not high demand
for the now-almost-unknown meat. Chicken suffices and is popular. Rumors are that fur is no longer widely acceptable. In the face of these obstacles, we nevertheless propose a profitable local production industry with marketing done elsewhere.
The elements of the proposal are:
Involvement of youth and many people, even at a very small scale, in Rural System, Inc.
Computer-aided selection from among the breeds:
- Alaska
- American
- Angora
- Belgian Hare
- Bevern
- Blue Vienna
- Californian
- Champagne D'Argent
- Checkered Giant
- Chinchilla
- Cinnamon
- Creme D'Argent
- English Spot
- Flemish Giant
- Florida White
- Harlequin
|
- Havana
- Himalayan
- Lilac
- Lop
- Netherland Dwarf
- New Zealand
- Palomino
- Polish
- Rex
- Rhinelander
- Sable
- Satin
- Silver
- Silver Fox
- Silver Marten
- Tan
|
The objectives are for optimizing on size, metabolic efficiency, meat yield, fur quality, pelt quality, and local appeal.
Ideas and practices will include:
- Economies of scale at the regional level
- Locally built housing or "hutches" made from wood from Pivotal Tracts
- Workshops for members and participants
- Rabbits dispersed to willing, educated participants throughout the region
- Optimally placing housing
- Fencing to protect the housing units
- Membership in a rabbit raisers group
- Internet for rabbit raisers
- Use of locally-grown hay and foods
- Use of local veterinarian
- Development of a sled-hutch, rotating rabbit waste treatment over areas
- Development of 2 large rabbitrys or housing /breeding facilities
- Development of a meat and hide processing facility
- Development of fur-trim, winter hats, and fur toy markets with other Groups
- Development of regional restaurant specialty sales
- Development of a stew product, a sourdough "pie"
- Development of the bone resource
- Development of the organs resource
- Use of wastes in soil amendments
- Local employment
- Petting and photography area
- Sale of books, photographs, art
- Research and studies, including inventory and detailed measures for optimizing the system
- A centralized library and database on wild cottontail rabbits (e.g., creating The B.S. McGinnes Memorial, a professor who worked for years on wild rabbits in Virginia and who was an expert on the cottontail rabbit), their hunting, ecological role, and their pest status and damage control procedures.
This may be the group from which a "climate-friendly farming" project is initiated. This includes the major GIS components that allow animals, trees, and crops to be carefully placed to receive optimum water and temperature and insolation during a growing season (See a related project at http://cff.wsu.edu/)
The following is from ATTRA (2003) National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
QUESTION from Virginia: What are the inspection and chilling requirements for on-farm rabbit processing and marketing?
ANSWER: Usually rabbits are considered a non-amenable species, meaning that they are not covered under the Federal Meat Inspection Act and, therefore, do not need USDA Food Safety Inspection Service inspection to be marketed. However, many state or local health codes need to be observed. You should contact Barry Jones or Gary Milton with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, at (434) 947-6731, for information on Virginia's requirements for rabbit processing.
Below are three on-line resources dealing with rabbits and rabbit processing. According to these publications, rabbit carcasses should not be left in cooling water for more than one-half hour. Rabbit carcasses will absorb water, and the water is considered a contaminant. It is recommended you remove the rabbits from the water and place them in a refrigerator or cooler until your customers can pick them up.
Resources
Anon. 2003. Rabbit production: Slaughtering and dressing rabbits. Mississippi State University Extension Service. 5 p.
Anon. No date. Raising rabbits: Helpful suggestions for beginners. Cooperative Extension, Washington State University. 12 p.
Graham, Paul P., Mark S. Price, and Norman G. Marriott. 1998. Rabbit processing. Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech. 6 p.
Estimates
Development costs for stock, facilities, labor, and marketing are about $100,000. Profit estimates:
- Low - $ 4,000
- Mod - $ 10,000
- High - $ 80,000