BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[gjensen]

The expression "cut and carry" was a reference to feeding the rabbits. LOL. It is easier for someone like me to grow high fiber food stuffs, than it is high starch grains. Kind of the opposite of poultry that need high starch and low fiber.

So you are saying that the feed required for a market weight of two Florida Whites exceed the crossed offspring if equal in weight? Am I understanding that correctly? I think in terms of pounds of feed vs. pounds gained.

Depending on what I decide will depend on the source and how much I spend etc. If I pick a dual purpose breed, I will lean towards well bred show rabbits from someone that can discuss numbers on some level. I do not want small litters and excessively low gains.
If I do not go that route, I will go commercial from a commercial producer. They would not be show stock. A good market meat producing strain would have a different conformation than a show New Zealand. They also have less dense coats (good for our heat), and longer ears (also good for our heat), and should be selected for gains, maternal instincts, milk production (weaning weights), heat tolerance (summer production) etc. Regardless, my rabbits would get a summer break.

Your NZ litter sizes are great. An average of 11 is very good.

We have eaten a few rabbits here and there. You are right. It is a different flesh. I find it very palatable. Like you mentioned, we will have some learning to do concerning the cooking of that flesh.

I wonder why your birds are reluctant to eat wheat. I have never experienced that. I have had some hesitant to start oats (not the birds I have now). Corn is a better finisher anyways.

I mention some of these things because it goes with some of the recent discussions. Pounds of feed per pounds gained or pounds of feed vs. pounds of eggs laid. Qty. of eggs vs. pounds of flesh etc.

 

[hellbender]

The expression "cut and carry" was a reference to feeding the rabbits. LOL. It is easier for someone like me to grow high fiber food stuffs, than it is high starch grains. Kind of the opposite of poultry that need high starch and low fiber.

So you are saying that the feed required for a market weight of two Florida Whites exceed the crossed offspring if equal in weight? Am I understanding that correctly? I think in terms of pounds of feed vs. pounds gained.

Depending on what I decide will depend on the source and how much I spend etc. If I pick a dual purpose breed, I will lean towards well bred show rabbits from someone that can discuss numbers on some level. I do not want small litters and excessively low gains.
If I do not go that route, I will go commercial from a commercial producer. They would not be show stock. A good market meat producing strain would have a different conformation than a show New Zealand. They also have less dense coats (good for our heat), and longer ears (also good for our heat), and should be selected for gains, maternal instincts, milk production (weaning weights), heat tolerance (summer production) etc. Regardless, my rabbits would get a summer break.

Your NZ litter sizes are great. An average of 11 is very good.

We have eaten a few rabbits here and there. You are right. It is a different flesh. I find it very palatable. Like you mentioned, we will have some learning to do concerning the cooking of that flesh.

I wonder why your birds are reluctant to eat wheat. I have never experienced that. I have had some hesitant to start oats (not the birds I have now). Corn is a better finisher anyways.

I mention some of these things because it goes with some of the recent discussions. Pounds of feed per pounds gained or pounds of feed vs. pounds of eggs laid. Qty. of eggs vs. pounds of flesh etc.

With regard to feeding the rabbits, we feed strictly commercial pellets and nothing but. I know it's fine to 'cut and carry' feed-stuff to them but I feel safer with the pellets. Aint' that strange, compared to the way I feed chickens and dogs...?

As for eating the hybrids as opposed to the pure Florida whites...The FW's intrinsic value is far greater than that of the hybrids.

We DO prepare and eat some of the FW bucklings, but usually for holiday gatherings, birthday parties and the like. It is almost unbelievable the bone to meat ratio with the Florida whites. All rabbits need to be handled correctly but the FW's can easily sustaine broken bones (especially rear leg bones) in handled improperly.

 

[gjensen]

With regard to feeding the rabbits, we feed strictly commercial pellets and nothing but. I know it's fine to 'cut and carry' feed-stuff to them but I feel safer with the pellets. Aint' that strange, compared to the way I feed chickens and dogs...?

As for eating the hybrids as opposed to the pure Florida whites...The FW's intrinsic value is far greater than that of the hybrids.

We DO prepare and eat some of the FW bucklings, but usually for holiday gatherings, birthday parties and the like. It is almost unbelievable the bone to meat ratio with the Florida whites. All rabbits need to be handled correctly but the FW's can easily sustaine broken bones (especially rear leg bones) in handled improperly.

That is a bit ironic. LOL. I might be a little more consistent, basing the ration on good commercial rations, and supplementing intelligently (or not so intelligently LOL).

I thought that was where you were coming from, concerning value.

I could appreciate good flesh to bone ratios, but I am not so certain about fragile legs. I do not like breeding fragile. If that is common for the breed, that might be helpful in making my decisions.

I will let you know what I decide and do. I have been toying with the idea for a long time, and have decided to move forward. It will probably take me a little bit. I can agonize over the most minute details.

 

[dfr1973]

Hey, do y'all recall I said I wanted a broody that was so broody we'd need bomb squad gear just to put eggs under her? I have gotten my wish! One of the bantie hens I bought last fall is in the nest box doing her impersonation (imchickenation?) of the girl from The Exorcist. Even her sister hen seems afraid to go up to the roost (which is next to the nest box). Four eggs from Feyd's test breeding - one hatchery buff orp and three black sex links, all single comb to see if he carries the recessive for single comb or not.

Meanwhile, two of my young capons have chicks now - Cappy has his newly-caponized crew still (minus two, one is still alive but intact) and Puffy now has eleven Silkie chicks and seems to be loving his nanny position more than Cappy even.

 

[Beer can]

I'm seriously thinking of some meat rabbits in the spring. I'd like to get Giant Chinchilla's but the ones I've found so far are pretty $$$. I'll be searching a little harder this winter maybe I will find a good deal.
Why I want them as opposed to other breeds is I hear they are very feed efficient and average 14lbs at maturity.
Got this from the Giant Chinchilla Association website;

"The Giant Chinchilla grows very fast when young and will weigh between 5-6 pounds when only 8 weeks old and 7-9 pounds at 12 weeks old. Giant Chinchillas have no competition when it comes to producing meat fast and cost efficiently.

Feeding cost is low

Giant Chinchillas are equipped for handling a considerable amount of hay, which is low in cost and they will not consume more pellets than other commercial breeds. "

 

[hellbender]

I'm seriously thinking of some meat rabbits in the spring. I'd like to get Giant Chinchilla's but the ones I've found so far are pretty $$$. I'll be searching a little harder this winter maybe I will find a good deal.
Why I want them as opposed to other breeds is I hear they are very feed efficient and average 14lbs at maturity.
Got this from the Giant Chinchilla Association website;

"The Giant Chinchilla grows very fast when young and will weigh between 5-6 pounds when only 8 weeks old and 7-9 pounds at 12 weeks old. Giant Chinchillas have no competition when it comes to producing meat fast and cost efficiently.

Feeding cost is low

Giant Chinchillas are equipped for handling a considerable amount of hay, which is low in cost and they will not consume more pellets than other commercial breeds. "

I'm tired and shouldn't get into this but you have been misinformed. Cutting to the chase, the rabbit breed you mention and all those of the same ilk are more bone than meat. You would be far better off getting a trio of commercial NZ whites, Californian whites or a cross of the two.

I use Florida whites which I cross over NZ whites but that is a relatively expensive start-up venture as well, considering the cost of the FWs but it serves us well.

Again, if you like gnawing on tender bones, any of the Giant rabbit breeds will be great ...but just like chickens, rabbit breeds are maintained for various purposes and one rarely can find a multi-purpose type in either species, despite glorious reviews to the contrary.

 

[gjensen]

Look at it this way Beercan. If they were more economical producers on lower cost food stuffs, the commercial industry would be using them.

I second the caution against the misc. claims.

On the other hand, if that is what you like, and you are realistic . . . go for it. Enjoy what you like. It is not always a purely economic decision. It would be a boring world, if we all had the same thing.

 

[Beer can]

Hmm, been researching. I do value both your opinions/facts. Yes I'm not doing this purely for economic reasons, but being I've already picked uneconomical breeds of chickens I really don't want to do the same with rabbits. I can't find anything on the G chin bone size, and they say they are not actually a giant, just giant in comparison to Standard chins and American chins. But I guess it would be hard to believe they are fine boned being they do have some Flemish blood in them.
Plan #2. I would like to keep a rarer breed, and the American Chinchilla rabbit is rarer than the giant, critically endangered. There is a breeder listed not to far from me which is a plus. They were bred from the standard chin for larger size, but not crossed, they were selectively bred for size, avg 10lbs and are reportedly fine boned. From what I read were a very popular meat breed from the 20s-40s but when fur demand declined meat producers switched to white rabbits cause white was a preferred. color. Why white? It's not like they are fowl with pinfeathers, why is white a preferred color, do they look different dressed?

 

[gjensen]

Hmm, been researching. I do value both your opinions/facts. Yes I'm not doing this purely for economic reasons, but being I've already picked uneconomical breeds of chickens I really don't want to do the same with rabbits. I can't find anything on the G chin bone size, and they say they are not actually a giant, just giant in comparison to Standard chins and American chins. But I guess it would be hard to believe they are fine boned being they do have some Flemish blood in them.
Plan #2. I would like to keep a rarer breed, and the American Chinchilla rabbit is rarer than the giant, critically endangered. There is a breeder listed not to far from me which is a plus. They were bred from the standard chin for larger size, but not crossed, they were selectively bred for size, avg 10lbs and are reportedly fine boned. From what I read were a very popular meat breed from the 20s-40s but when fur demand declined meat producers switched to white rabbits cause white was a preferred. color. Why white? It's not like they are fowl with pinfeathers, why is white a preferred color, do they look different dressed?

Then they could dye the fur any color, instead of being limited by a single color. The irony is the commercial rabbits tend to have inferior pelts to some of the dual purpose rabbits.

If you were interested in that breed, I would get that breed. You can try a trio out for yourself, and see. We know that strain is as relevant as breed in poultry . . . . Then rabbits, like poultry, have been crossed with this and that along the way.

It is not just meat to bone to consider. Also weaning weights (qty of milk), litter sizes, maternal instincts in general etc. etc. Maybe they would excel in other areas. It is not as if you cannot put out a lot of generations, and select to improve.

I have not decided what I am going to do yet. I fancy a couple breeds, one by memories, and I do not appreciate unproductive animals. I will share some pictures of what I decide.

 

[gjensen]

Then they could dye the fur any color, instead of being limited by a single color. The irony is the commercial rabbits tend to have inferior pelts to some of the dual purpose rabbits.

If you were interested in that breed, I would get that breed. You can try a trio out for yourself, and see. We know that strain is as relevant as breed in poultry . . . . Then rabbits, like poultry, have been crossed with this and that along the way.

It is not just meat to bone to consider. Also weaning weights (qty of milk), litter sizes, maternal instincts in general etc. etc. Maybe they would excel in other areas. It is not as if you cannot put out a lot of generations, and select to improve.

I have not decided what I am going to do yet. I fancy a couple breeds, one by memories, and I do not appreciate unproductive animals. I will share some pictures of what I decide.

I meant to add that the Flemish Giant is in a lot of breeds. It is the subsequent selection that matters. I would like to see that you gave them a try.