The Rabbits Group

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.