Post by hearingGod on Oct 30, 2012 5:13:40 GMT -5
Rabbits are a great meat source for those wanting to raise their own food. One doe can produce the same amount of meat in 18 months as one cow can with her calf over the same time period.
With 3 does and 1 buck you could provide close to 250 lbs of meat each year for under $400.00. That's $1.60 a pound for non hormonal/sterilized meat. And if you have pets, such as dogs, you could produce 200 lbs of natural food for them from the innards and never have to buy food from the store again. *If you companion with chickens... the chickens can eat the innards (very awesome, because chickens require more protein, and if grain is sparse-- whoopie! --free food!)
Stingray says that 1 doe can produce the same amount of meat per pound in the same amount of time as a cow w/ a calf. Now remember w/ a cow you have to wait and wait... but w/ rabbits and a quick maturity rate....and stair-stepping/staggering multiple litters.... you can have a fresh meat supply year-round. The whole cow thing is also more of putting all yer eggs in one basket... whereas with rabbits we can quarantine sick ones, select the best ones for breeding & easily rotate stock.
Rabbits are low odor and their waste can be instantly introduced for gardening purposes (unlike chicken containing high nitrates that can burn plants). For this reason people buy rabbit droppings- *Side business bonus beyond the obvious selling rabbits live or dressed!
...And red worms love rabbit manure as well... so, if you have chickens...which require more protein.... a worm growing system is another benefit!
In 5-6 months a doe is mature enough to produce... in our locale a proven doe (one that has successfully had one litter) can go for $30.00 (update....f.y.i., since we moved, this locale is more like $20.00)... if you breed her before selling the price is obviously higher.
They aren't considered 'livestock', so even city-dwellers can raise them in small spaces because rabbits can be stacked.
The meat is extremely lean... wooot!!!---heart healthy!!
Benefits of rabbit meat:
Low in cholesterol
Low in calories
Low in saturated fats
High in protein
Low in sodium
All white meat
100% of the RDA for B12
We have land and actually have devised 'tractors' (mobile pens) for our meat pen rabbits... which saves on pellets and they get fresh grass and some space to run.
We spend time studying the nutritional value of local weeds n' such and in learning about the protein needs of rabbits so that when we are unable to buy pellets, we will still be able to raise them successfully. (*even in winter/spring... it has been great to learn that maple tree twigs and buds are great nutrition for rabbits in a 'rough' time of the year... I can't wait to try that out!) Domestication is notable but we can help them where the rubber meets the road.
Bonus: If circumstances would get dire, rabbits do put off heat. If structuring would dictate perhaps a garage w/ windows and you'd live above the garage... their heat would rise and benefit you.
Pelts! Nuff said!
Cuddly companionship ;D ---- wellllllll, until you have excessive stock and hungry bellies!
We have been raising rabbits but the consumer demand for them has been more-so then our need for self sufficiency through them at this point. We have hardly butchered any.... but have been butchering and eating lots of our chickens. (*butchering rabbits is wayyyyy easier, and quicker, than chickens... and my husband has a very humane kill system... maybe I can get him to edu more about!)
I can say that the butchering process coupled with giving thanks to God during it really changes the experience. It's not all morbid and foreboding! Each family member has a task in the process and we've all become quite efficient at it!
So I'm sure there's more I could add but this is just my plug on rabbits... it does overlap into chickens a bit.. so I just may have to do one on chickens too.... cuz hey, who doesn't value an egg?
With 3 does and 1 buck you could provide close to 250 lbs of meat each year for under $400.00. That's $1.60 a pound for non hormonal/sterilized meat. And if you have pets, such as dogs, you could produce 200 lbs of natural food for them from the innards and never have to buy food from the store again. *If you companion with chickens... the chickens can eat the innards (very awesome, because chickens require more protein, and if grain is sparse-- whoopie! --free food!)
Stingray says that 1 doe can produce the same amount of meat per pound in the same amount of time as a cow w/ a calf. Now remember w/ a cow you have to wait and wait... but w/ rabbits and a quick maturity rate....and stair-stepping/staggering multiple litters.... you can have a fresh meat supply year-round. The whole cow thing is also more of putting all yer eggs in one basket... whereas with rabbits we can quarantine sick ones, select the best ones for breeding & easily rotate stock.
Rabbits are low odor and their waste can be instantly introduced for gardening purposes (unlike chicken containing high nitrates that can burn plants). For this reason people buy rabbit droppings- *Side business bonus beyond the obvious selling rabbits live or dressed!
...And red worms love rabbit manure as well... so, if you have chickens...which require more protein.... a worm growing system is another benefit!
In 5-6 months a doe is mature enough to produce... in our locale a proven doe (one that has successfully had one litter) can go for $30.00 (update....f.y.i., since we moved, this locale is more like $20.00)... if you breed her before selling the price is obviously higher.
They aren't considered 'livestock', so even city-dwellers can raise them in small spaces because rabbits can be stacked.
The meat is extremely lean... wooot!!!---heart healthy!!
Benefits of rabbit meat:
Low in cholesterol
Low in calories
Low in saturated fats
High in protein
Low in sodium
All white meat
100% of the RDA for B12
We have land and actually have devised 'tractors' (mobile pens) for our meat pen rabbits... which saves on pellets and they get fresh grass and some space to run.
We spend time studying the nutritional value of local weeds n' such and in learning about the protein needs of rabbits so that when we are unable to buy pellets, we will still be able to raise them successfully. (*even in winter/spring... it has been great to learn that maple tree twigs and buds are great nutrition for rabbits in a 'rough' time of the year... I can't wait to try that out!) Domestication is notable but we can help them where the rubber meets the road.
Bonus: If circumstances would get dire, rabbits do put off heat. If structuring would dictate perhaps a garage w/ windows and you'd live above the garage... their heat would rise and benefit you.
Pelts! Nuff said!
Cuddly companionship ;D ---- wellllllll, until you have excessive stock and hungry bellies!
We have been raising rabbits but the consumer demand for them has been more-so then our need for self sufficiency through them at this point. We have hardly butchered any.... but have been butchering and eating lots of our chickens. (*butchering rabbits is wayyyyy easier, and quicker, than chickens... and my husband has a very humane kill system... maybe I can get him to edu more about!)
I can say that the butchering process coupled with giving thanks to God during it really changes the experience. It's not all morbid and foreboding! Each family member has a task in the process and we've all become quite efficient at it!
So I'm sure there's more I could add but this is just my plug on rabbits... it does overlap into chickens a bit.. so I just may have to do one on chickens too.... cuz hey, who doesn't value an egg?