At the current time there is a high demand for rabbit meat but not nearly enough suppliers. Many restaurants are adding it to their menus in an attempt to be more European. There are some grocery stores that carry rabbit meat but most are unable to, due to the lack of supply. Cruise lines are big buyers of rabbit meat. Research facilities and universities also purchase a lot of NZW rabbits for medical research and testing.
So with all this demand, why is it so hard to make a living off rabbits?Because Rabbits are a volume business, bottom line. A large number of does would have to be managed to earn big rewards. It is very difficult to make substantial money from breeding rabbits, unless you are a commercial breeder with hundreds of rabbits and on a continuous breeding program. Even then, the returns may be low when the costs of employing staff for cleaning and for the care of the rabbits are taken into account.
There can, however, be huge profits in raising NZW( New Zealand White) rabbits, if you’re lucky enough to be in the market for rabbit serum, or blood which has been cleaned. This is blood that is close to a humans blood and therefore in very high demand for medical research. This blood can be sold for $15,000 a gallon or higher. However, getting your name on the list of biomedical sellers is not easy; it’s almost impossible, plus you would have to be able to provide a very large amount of rabbits.So, is there any profit in raising rabbits? Profit, in our opinion, should not be described by the amount of money you make, but by the amount of money you save. Spending much less at the grocery store on meat, simply by raising your own meat, is the same as making a profit. This is money that stays in your pocket and this can be considered a profit.
As a backyard grower, you probably won’t be able to quit your day job, but even on a small scale, you might be able to save some money. And as said earlier, this is the same as making a profit.As with any small business you won’t reach success overnight. You have to understand one must have a game plan. You must be able to manage and market the rabbits. You will also have to know how to budget. So, there can be profits made in raising rabbits, but like anything else, it will take work and discipline.
In our opinion, a certain number of rabbits are needed to be produced on a yearly basis to reach profits.In order for the cost (feed, utilities, materials etc.) of the meat produced by a rabbitry to be equal to or greater than that spent at the grocery store; each doe needs to raise out a minimum of 35 fryers per year. To attain this goal, the doe would have to be re-mated 10 to 21 days after kindling and the litter is weaned at 4 weeks of age. This would be 7 to 8 litters per year. Using the above mating practices, the doe, if good stock, should produce between 50 to 60 kits per year. The number of kits that are actually raised out will be determined by how good of a mother the doe is and by the job that you do.Does that do not meet this minimum standard should be culled. If a rabbit is not producing, it is just eating what little profits there are. An average market weight desired is 4 to 6lbs. Fryers should reach a “market weight” of 5lbs. by 8 to 10 weeks of age and most certainly by 11 weeks. This time period may vary depending on your management, stock, temperature, and protein percentage in your feed.As said earlier, rabbit meat production is more profitable on a large scale, but some money can be made even with a small amount of rabbits.
A profitable meat rabbit business can be started with just 3 to 4 does and 1 buck, some basic equipment, and a buyer. With this number of does, enough rabbits can be produced so that a family might consume meat from 2 fryers per week the year-round. A fryer can feed a family of four. This can add up to a lot of savings over a years time.The average price of beef and chicken has risen significantly in the last 20 years.
Beef has increased almost 50% since 1996. The price for a pound of chicken has increased 300% since 1998. On average, you’ll have approximately $1.00 in each lb. of live weight of each fryer that you raise, whereas most meats in a supermarket cost between $4 to $10 a pound.An average NZW doe, if good stock, should produce around 200lbs. of actual meat per year. A 6lb. fryer will produce about 3.5lbs. of actual meat. Do the math; you may have between $200 to $300 in this 200lbs. of meat, but at the supermarket you would have spent between $800 to $2000 dollars for the same amount of meat. So, in our opinion, this is profit. Remember, our figures are based on the stock and feed used by Crossroads Rabbitry.
Before starting, you’ll need to decide on what type of rabbit to raise. The 2 most common breeds are the New Zealand White and the Californian as they have the best meat quality. A NZW X Californian cross is called a smut. This is a terminal cross that grows out nicely and may also be a choice. We only raise NZW stock at Crossroads Rabbitry. If you do decide to start with a different breed, stick with a white breed for its fur.Most all buyers and processors prefer white rabbits, as white hairs are not as noticeable on the meat as dark hairs are. The white fur can also be dyed to other colors. Regardless of the breed, you must start with some good quality stock from a respected breeder in your area. Good stock is essential as poor breeding stock will produce poor offspring. Visit numerous rabbitries before purchasing any stock.The cleanliness and orderliness of the rabbitry will be a reflection of the quality of the stock.
Many rabbitries, however, are closed to the public to avoid the chance of bringing in any diseases. If you do visit a rabbitry that does not allow tours, please respect their wishes. If a breeder won’t allow you to enter the building, at least ask to look in and see the stock and the operation. Do not buy from them if they won’t let you do this. As a buyer, you should have the right to see what you’re purchasing. You should be allowed to see the facility and the conditions the rabbits are living under.When buying your stock, look for signs of good health. Make sure the rabbits are lively; with clear and bright eyes. Make sure they have soft and clean fur; Make sure no moisture is around the rabbits eyes, nose or mouth. Also, make sure the grower has good information and records on the stock.
There are several places to sell your rabbits for a profit; You can sell to individuals, sell directly to a processor, to a middleman or to restaurants. If sold to restaurants, you would have to become skilled in butchering and packaging your own rabbits. You may also be required to supply a certain amount of meat each week and also be USDA or FDA approved. If you prefer to leave the butchering to someone else, look for a middleman who takes this labor task and cost out of the equation.These middlemen make a living from buying live rabbits and then selling them to restaurants. Sometimes dealing with the middleman is easier and can still be profitable. The pros of dealing with a middleman is that you don’t have to spend time butchering and packaging the rabbits plus you don’t have to be USDA approved.
Another benefit is you can sell the number of rabbits you have available at one time instead of having to meet a certain quota required by the restaurant. The con is that the middleman will always pay less than a direct sale to the restaurant will.We recommend that anyone interested in raising rabbits for the first time to enter into it slowly. You can always expand later if you see fit. If you feel you are being successful with your current number of rabbits, you can increase your herd size at a rate suited to your time and financial resources.On the other hand, if you find that you are not suited for the rabbit business, you can sell the equipment and stock with little or no financial loss.
Remember to always keep both, good financial and production records, or you will not know if you are making progress and a profit or whether you are losing money.
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