Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
meat-purpose focus of this breed have led to selective breeding for traits you want in a meat rabbit:
large litters, fast growing kits, good mothering skills, and good feed-to-meat conversion.
This white rabbit is a good meat type. You can see why New Zealands are popular as a meat rabbit, or as a
pet for younger children because they are sturdier for little hands to hold.
(Photo courtesy of Chris McLaughlin)
Palomino.
Palominos are less common meat rabbits, but the bucks weigh 8 to 10 pounds and does
weigh 9 to 12 pounds. Originally from Mexico, they are also raised for their fur. Palominos have
smaller bones for their meat ratio, so they are still used in meat production even with a slightly
slower maturity rate.
Silver Fox.
The Silver Fox bucks mature at around 9 to 11 pounds, while the does average 10 to
12 pounds. Does have large litters, produce plenty of milk, are excellent mothers, and even make
wonderful foster mothers. It was the first of the larger breeds to dress out at 65 percent of live
weight. Considered a threatened breed in the United States.
Rabbits for Fiber
Angora rabbits are relatively simple to care for. Keeping all of them properly groomed may be the
greatest chore, but for fiber lovers who want a source of fiber for spinning, the time is well worth
investing. The benefit of a breed like Angora is that you can brush out the fur as it sheds without
having to kill the rabbit. The angora wool can be hand-plucked or sheared (see “Harvesting Fiber
from Rabbits” later in this chapter).
