If I'm pelting, I prefer a minimum of 16 weeks of age, 12 weeks is the absolute earliest. This provides a "roaster" carcass, as its too tough to fry. It is perfectly fine for a crockpot or oven, even soups. And the pelt is thick enough not to tear easily.
I use to raise New Zealand Whites for meat, now I've switched over to standard rex. I raise several hundred a year. I have Black Otter, Blue Otter, Black, Blue, White, Castors, and Opals. I make more money on the rex than I did with the NZW's. I sell the meat, pelts, and manure, and have a hard...