Raising Meat Rabbits

[spangledcornish]

I have read great things about cross breeds then other people say you should keep purebreeding.

The one thing to keep in mind with this regard is the goal. With our chickens we are raising exhibition stock so there is no crossbreeding, with our rabbits we are using them for the table so we cross. In most production scenarios there is an advantage to x-breeding (hybrid vigor). I think where most people falter in cross breeding is it not a thought out process, and you end up with many breeds in the background going in many directions and then you loose the advantage. Either way you will need quality purebreds from one of two sources: raise yourself or have replacements from a reliable breeder.

for example:
Three breed rotation
1.♂ breed A x ♀Breed B = Offspring 50%A50%B
2.♂ breed C x ♀AB = Offspring 25% A25%B50%C
3.♂ breed A x ♀25%A25%B50%C = Offspring 62.5%A12.5%B25%C
4.♂ breed B x ♀62.5%A12.5%B25%C = Offspring 31.25%A56.25%B12.5%
●
5.Breed back to Breed C and equilibrium is maintained
However this can get complicated, but just like any breeding system when done right records are important. For us right now our buck is the crossbred and the doe is pure . and depending on what where we are in the system (and what we have had for offspring) start over on the rotation, since we only keep a 1 buck and a couple of does. But again it comes down to a plan and goal.

 

[Bunnylady]

Quote: Actually, I think what usually happens is that the breeder has no goal, they are just so spooked by all the rumored "bad things" that might happen if they breed too closely that they breed haphazardly to anything to avoid that boogerman, "inbreeding." If they take good care of their rabbits, this sort of breeding "program" may work fine, or simple bad luck may result in a mess. If you start with good, healthy, fertile animals, you can have good results whatever you are breeding.

 

[nayeli]

Well that is disturbing. That book came highly recommended and seems like the advice in it is largely impractical. For instance do either of you think pedigree and registration matters?

 

[nayeli]

Thank you Spangled Cornish, I'm looking forward to breeding not just for meat but as a process of perfecting our rabbits (when we get them), its obvious I will need to keep records. I plan on keeping a laminated sheet on their cages to tell them apart (if I wind up with two does that look identical) and keeping records as far as how many they give birth to, parents if I bred them, breeds (purebred vs mixed and %). Most will be for my table but I might sell some or trade out the doe or bucks =)

Bunnylady, what degree of inbreeding or linebreeding is acceptable? How often should new blood be added?

 

[spangledcornish]

thank you and I think bunnylady makes some very good points. Breeding should be a thoughtful process with an end in mind. As far as pedigreed and registrations i believe are worth the time if they are done for more than just having the paper work. they are system to establish records and many species have them for that reason and for breed integrity.

The positive to inbeeding and line breeding is that there is a reduction in the genetic variance there fore making each generation more uniform and predictable, the main fear by many is that as the genetics become more similar the chances for bringing out recessive negative traits also increases. however with good breeding stock (and selection) and records this can be monitored. as far as when to bring in new blood when you notice weak offspring an reproductive decline. this is why many people are more into line breeding than straight up inbreeding. We use both in or chickens and try not to use more outcrossing (more than one line within the breed) than needed to improve traits we are looking for .

 

[nayeli]

I was just thinking if someone is getting rabbits for meat then what is the point of paying extra to have them inspected and keep them registered?

 

[Bunnylady]

I was just thinking if someone is getting rabbits for meat then what is the point of paying extra to have them inspected and keep them registered?

There really isn't any reason for registering rabbits that are just going to be eaten (they'd be too young to register, anyway). To get a rabbit registered, you need to have a complete 3-generation pedigree (ear numbers, weights, registration # if available on all rabbits on the pedigree) and the rabbit needs to be at least old enough to be considered at its adult weight (6 to 8 months). You have to take the rabbit to a show where a registrar is working, or get him to come to you, and pay him a small fee for entering the paperwork. IMO, the only reasons to register rabbits are, 1) a show rabbit needs to be registered to become a grand champion (valid), and 2) to impress people (dubious). ARBA keeps records of registration, but it really isn't a guarantee of quality, since a rabbit just has to meet the minimum breed standard and be free of DQ's to be registered. A rabbit would have to be pretty far off from the standard for a registrar to refuse to register it simply because of poor type. DQ's like mismatched claws or a chunk missing out of an ear or being a color other than those in the standard don't affect the health of the rabbit, or reflect its value as a breeding animal.

The breeder keeps his own records; he writes the pedigrees, ARBA registration usually only comes into the picture when someone is thinking about Grand Championships. It may look impressive to see that every rabbit on a pedigree is also registered, but it's not a guarantee that an animal would be show worthy, and no way at all of evaluating its usefulness as a producer.

 

[nayeli]

That was my thoughts. We plan on eating the majority and even if we did decide to sell some we would have records of them and their lineage and if that wasn't enough for an interested buyer than oh well! =)

 

[nayeli]

Oh I was wrong about the book, I re read the section and he does consider Tan's small although still says they are good for meat despite that they take 4 more weeks to reach less than the size of NZ at 8 weeks. He sells tans though... and tans eat less.

 

[chiques chicks]

So I'm seeing registered as much like akc, a nice piece paper, not really saying the animal is great.

I'm assuming a "mutt" rabbit that breeds well and attains good size at a good rate is equally, if not more valuable as a meat rabbit.

I'm also assuming keeping pedigrees and records is equally important raising meat rabbits to give you an idea of where you are going, what works and what doesn't, even if just for you?