meat rabbits

[pargyle]

the problem is that untill last week i never realised that the commercial rabbit breeders of the uk have no formal group organisation or support network, and i had not realised there was so many anti rabbit farm groups, you tube videos and news paper reports.

so i get the feeling everyone keeps there heads down just in case they get tartgeted by the anti's

Yes ... it's extraordinary isn't it ? ... I can understand mink farms and animals being bred for vivisection being targetted but I really don't see much difference between eating fluffy rabbits and fluffy sheep ...0r Bambi for that matter !!! Rabbits provided a useful addition to the meat ration during WW2 and have been eaten throughout history - they breed like rabbits and are big enough to eat within about 6 months ... can't go wrong really. Rabbit burgers in McD's aint going to happen but a bit of education could see a return to this great meat.

 

[mbc]

Yes ... it's extraordinary isn't it ? ... I can understand mink farms and animals being bred for vivisection being targetted but I really don't see much difference between eating fluffy rabbits and fluffy sheep ...0r Bambi for that matter !!! Rabbits provided a useful addition to the meat ration during WW2 and have been eaten throughout history - they breed like rabbits and are big enough to eat within about 6 months ... can't go wrong really. Rabbit burgers in McD's aint going to happen but a bit of education could see a return to this great meat.

I cant see a fluffy sheep or bambi thriving in anything but a pretty much free range environment, the problem with rabbit farming is that its mostly done in cages, which does tend to wind the anti's up.

 

[hedgerow pete]

its the cages they all video and the antis kick off about.

as for a supplier, any ideas anyone, ppppplease

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I look forward to exchanging ideas with you in the future as you will have the experience I lack.
Ziggy

Pretty easy really - put a doe and buck rabbit together for half an hour (it takes less than that, but it's nice to have a cup of tea whilst waiting) give her some room and some food and they do all the rest.
Many years ago I persuaded my great uncle it would be a good idea - chap meat and sell some on (he used to be a hill farmer - the sort that only breathe in, never out!!) within a year he'd run out of sheds!!.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

its the cages they all video and the antis kick off about.

as for a supplier, any ideas anyone, ppppplease

Buy a copy of fur and feather - or one of the smallholders magazines?

 

[sunhivebee]

"which does tend to wind the anti's up." and "its the cages they all video and the antis kick off about."

Hmmm. Good appetite to all of you sitting down to eat what has been reared in a cage (bit distasteful, is it not?) to tickle your tastebuds.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Oh dear - better have a word with mother about her distasteful practices - all her soft fruits are raised in cages!

 

[sunhivebee]

Oh dear - better have a word with mother about her distasteful practices - all her soft fruits are raised in cages!

Your soft fruits must be quite something .... feel like rabbits, do they? Or chickens? Yours in cages, too?

 

[Gyp]

Wouldn't it be better to get an air gun and go and help the farmers out with some pest control. Nothing tastes better than wild rabbit.

 

[Gimlet]

as for the breed we were looking for, it was either new zealands or californians or a mixture. basically thats the idea behind finding a commercial breeder, he would have his or her own speciality cross and thats fine for what we want

You will find that the first cross (H1) gives the best and most predictable results after that there are too many variables and each litter will fatten at different rates, which is not good when you want a predictable production for regular customers.

We always kept a pure line of each to breed our production stock and only the culls were added to the meat rabbits, but they were never quite as good.

 

[mbc]

Wouldn't it be better to get an air gun and go and help the farmers out with some pest control. Nothing tastes better than wild rabbit.

Quite. 30 rabbits eat as much grass as a cow, so you're doing the farmer a favour as well as getting free range meat and sport. I've only ever eaten farmed rabbit while abroad, a bit better meat to bone ratio but not as tasty as our wild bunnies.

 

[Ziggymole]

Your soft fruits must be quite something .... feel like rabbits, do they? Or chickens? Yours in cages, too?

Rabbits just can't be reared free range - as is evidenced by the fact that our little island is teeming with them. They were brought over from Europe for food and escaped, as did snails.

Personally I think ALL non native species should be reared in cages - like zoos or farms where they can be kept under control. There's no need to be cruel when doing this and it's often better for the animal concerned.

I DON'T agree with factory farming that is quite a separate issue.

As for "feel like rabbits" are you referring to their soft, fluffiness or their feelings? Neither sentiment has any place in the food chain - humans are omnivorous, we are designed to eat meat, just like cats, dogs etc. or would you feed them on only vegetables too?

I honestly blame the supermarkets for a lot of this tosh - pre-packaged sterile food which bears no relation to where is came from! Butcher's used to have rabbits, chickens, game etc. all "in the fur" on full display in their window. Green grocers used to have veg with dirt on (shock horror).

Oooh I'm so wound up! But rant over - bring on the replies about progress, cruelty etc.

Ziggy

(whatever happened to the behind the brick wall icon?)

 

[Luminos]

This one?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Ziggy
Interesting thoughts about animals feelings.
Why do you keep your bees in a Warre?
Is it because the insects are kept in a "more natural and sustainable fashion"
Or because you like to lift heavy boxes?

Edited
Oooops. I see you have no bees yet.

 

[For want of a better word]

My chickens are in a huge cage..... to keep the fox out!

Chicken must taste better than rabbit... to a fox!

 

[pargyle]

My chickens are in a huge cage..... to keep the fox out!

Chicken must taste better than rabbit... to a fox!

Probably easier to catch as well !!

 

[blackcavebees]

"which does tend to wind the anti's up." and "its the cages they all video and the antis kick off about."

Hmmm. Good appetite to all of you sitting down to eat what has been reared in a cage (bit distasteful, is it not?) to tickle your tastebuds.

Used to keep mine in mud hutches, but they dug their way out

 

[For want of a better word]

Used to keep mine in mud hutches, but they dug their way out

Are there still New Zealand Large whites living happily in the Ashdown Forest.... an acquaintance of mine
......long , long ago, released some " Lab Rabbits"... along with some magpies!!!

 

[enrico]

Have you considered the rabbits getting mixamatosis? It is important you fence the area to keep all wild rabbits out, they can decimate your stocks. An injection is about £20 a pop ( or it was) and if I remember rightly you can't eat rabbits that have been vaccinated. Our pet rabbit, although caged, got it.
Venison is another matter! More meat for a start!
E

 

[madasafish]

Have you considered the rabbits getting mixamatosis? It is important you fence the area to keep all wild rabbits out, they can decimate your stocks. An injection is about £20 a pop ( or it was) and if I remember rightly you can't eat rabbits that have been vaccinated. Our pet rabbit, although caged, got it.
Venison is another matter! More meat for a start!
E

You CANNOT eat bambi...