Advice needed...a friend wants a steady supply of rabbit.

[Kyle@theWintertime]

I have a friend who has been using alternate feeding methods for her dogs, and with her vet she's found an ideal diet...but it is heavy with rabbit meat since he has food allergies to certain other meats. Right now she's paying about $300 a month for forty pounds of rabbit carcasses, and the food bill sounds very expensive to me. She wants to know if I would be willing to supply about forty to fifty pounds of rabbit per month and if so, what would I charge...and I just don't know.

I raise rabbits for meat for my own table...I "sell" one here and there to friends for traditional or ethic/cultural dishes, but I've never considered really selling meat rabbits on a larger or more permanent scale. Should I even consider it? Since it is for the consumption of dogs, do I have to worry about FDA regulations? How much is a meat rabbit worth, anyways? She admitted she'd pay a little extra for me to clean them for her...so I'd be keeping the skins, too.

It would mean some initial investment, too, since as I told her I just can't produce that much right now, I have one meat doe of a breeding age for pete's sake! I'd need a few more quality does. Can one buck (my big New Zealand) service a number of does on a regular basis? (that latter part, I would assume so, he's a hulking virile fellow!)

I was thinking and thinking about it all afternoon at work, and the only reason I haven't told her a flat-out NO is the thought that my rabbits might pay for themselves is attractive. I need some new show stock, and the costs of showing aren't always super-cheap...maybe I could make my hobby a little less expensive, or even break even if I got lucky?

What're your thoughts, fellow Rabbit folk?

 

[A&BRabbitry]

Well let's do the math on it. You will need 45lbs of meat a month. Most effective weight of a meat rabbit where feed consumption to weight gain ratio is around 4.5-5.5lbs on NZ's and Cals. Once you dress these rabbits they will probably be around 3-4 pounds at most. This means you would need 12-16 kits at 10 weeks old a month. Depending on your litter sizes and to account for possible miscarrying of litters I would want atleast 3-4 does due a month. Each doe can only have a litter every 2-3 months depending on weaning and getting it to stick. That means you would need 3 sets of 3-4 does in rotation of litters year round. I would also want atleast one 30 x 36 cage for grow out pens of the litters and with 3 litters a month you would need atleast 6 of these grow out cages. This of course would all be within the means of one buck although you probably will want a young buck as a keeper every year for those hot months with the older bucks tend to go sterile a little bit sooner. Although you do live in Michigan and have a little more favorable temperatures and humidity than we do here in Kentucky.
I'll tell you I currently have a 45 hole rabbitry with 14 breeding does and it can be quite the chore at times but is very rewarding but it is something I would want to ease into. Add two or so does to your rabbitry at a time phasing into your ideal size. Offer the lady part of the meat she needs a month until you are able to fully supply her. The gradual income will help you gradually expand your rabbitry.
Also not to be negative but make sure this is something your committed to. I would hate for you to build up a nice rabbitry and then her dog possibly pass away and you are now stuck with a barn full of rabbits and the revenue you were planning on supporting them with is no longer available.

 

[skysthelimit]

Very sound advice.

I am up to 8 breeding does, and still with a 28-35 day breed back, and average litter size 6, I still can't get enough meat to even be 25% of my dog's diet, much less sell to other raw feeders. With just eight it's a lot of work.

 

[toastedoat37]

Is your friend wanting you to supply them thinking maybe you will do it cheaper? Or does she just need more rabbits?,,, I sure wouldnt just agree to do if for a price unless it was high enough to where you knew for sure your gonna make some good money and you really want to dedicate yourself to doing it.

 

[grumpy]

40 pounds a month of carcassed rabbit for $300.00? That's $7.50 a pound!!

Are these "gutted" with everything else left on?

20-25 young, completely dressed rabbits will weigh well over 40 pounds. Closer to 55# if you dress 25 youngsters @ 4.25-4.5 lbs a piece (live-weight) add the livers, hearts, and kidneys and it will be more than that.

BUT:::: You're going well out on a limb for only one source of sales. Unless you want to make this a standard thing, I'd be a little cautious. There's no guarantee that source will always be available.

Myself...I've got 35 does...I'd do it in a heart-beat. I'd jump on that like a duck on a June-bug.

Grumpy.

 

[ladysown]

it makes a difference if she wants them cleaned or just frozen whole.

I'd advise her that you may not be able to meet ALL her rabbit meat requirements, but you're more than happy to sell what you have on a regular basis.

BUT if she wants them cleaned that's often a whole other ball game and may (depending on how Michigan interprets farm gate sales) be an issue for you. So check into your laws.

Ask lots of questions about what her requirements are and consider for yourself what you are willing to do.

 

[Saiyuri]

I would sit down and work out how much it costs to raise a litter to slaughter age. Also would make quite a difference wether they are feeding RAW or BARF (one of the reason's I got rabbits in the first place is I want to feed my cats a more natural diet)

Would prob start small and build up but definatly offer to supply part of the meat and keep back a few promising looking does to increase your herd? (I've been trying to feel out my mother-in-laws response as they feed raw as a possibly way of covering at least part of my feed costs)

 

[~Abstract~]

I would tell her to find a local livestock auction if possible. Around here I see a lot of the rabbits go for as low as 75 cents if only 1 person bids. She could buy them all up and drop them off at a processor on her way home from the auction.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

IF you are selling for dog food. YOu dont need it to be inspected. You dont need show stock for breeding meat rabbits for dog food. So that cost will be less for you. I go what grumpy told you. I do it in a heart beat too.

 

[grumpy]

IF you are selling for dog food. YOu dont need it to be inspected. You dont need show stock for breeding meat rabbits for dog food. So that cost will be less for you. I go what grumpy told you. I do it in a heart beat too.

THANK YOU!!! Mary Ann.

There's a very old, old saying that has gone hand-in-hand with raising rabbits. "You can't sell 'em....If you ain't got 'em!"

In all of the years I've raised meat-rabbits. I've never been unable to sell what I've produced. RIGHT NOW...with the rabbitry headed towards full production with 35 working does...I cannot supply the demand that is currently in front of me. And, I've stopped seeking more customers. They just "come-along" all by themselves!

At $7.50 per pound---Dressed or Otherwise---That is a very good price. At that price, there's no way Kyle cannot make decent money. The cheapest thing in a meat-producing rabbitry is the livestock. They only take about 20% of the total costs in a start-up operation. If it doesn't work out...get rid of the excess stock. The equipment will still be there if it is needed at a later date. It doesn't cost a dime just setting there.

A reminder: It takes work, attention to detail, and dedication to produce meat rabbits efficiently. If one is lacking any one of those three items, they won't be very successful.

Don't put the rabbitry together haphazardly. Make it as updated and as efficient/modern as possible. Use automatic watering, outside-self-cleaning-feeders, and any other device that will make the grower's job easier. All doe cages made--exactly the same. All buck cages made--exactly the same. All nestboxes--exactly the same. All doors swing--exactly the same. All outside feeders located--exactly the same. All water nipples--exactly the same. House them in an efficient structure. Adapt/remodel an existing building to suit the needs of the inhabitants. Keep it neat and tidy and clean.

Long-winded aren't I? LOL. good luck.

Grumpy.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I would do it too, Kyle. Even if the circumstances with your friend change, I bet her vet has other dogs on a rabbit diet also. There are more and more raw feeders every day.

I would love to sell meat rabbits on a regular basis, but I don't know how to go about it in CA. As far as I know, it is illegal for me to offer processed rabbit from my home, and there are no processors here that I know of.

 

[grumpy]

I would love to sell meat rabbits on a regular basis, but I don't know how to go about it in CA. As far as I know, it is illegal for me to offer processed rabbit from my home, and there are no processors here that I know of.

Each state is different. Here in Missouri, I can LEGALLY process and sell up to 2,000 animals per year. I do, however, have to keep track of those sales with the buyer's name and number in a log-book. Intentionally, I've never came close to selling that many fryers. (That's about 40 per week--a lot of work!)

A lot of my sales are for breeding stock, to reptile breeders, and for my processor, who needs 6,000 (six-thousand) head per week to keep up with his clientele. He's got his growers list full and is not taking on anymore growers at this time.

Grumpy

 

[Diamond]

I say meet in the middle. Have her make a deposit to cover the cost of cages and breeding stock. SInce you are still doing the work of keeping, feeding, and slaughtering, reduce the sale cost per pound of rabbit meat by 50% until that deposit has been returned in full, at which point the cost of the meat returns to what your market price would be.

Don't sell for less than $4.00/ pound dressed out. So ask $2.00 a point while the investment capital is being returned. Have it all in writing. Also include that the investment capital can only be repaid in rabbit meat or sale of live rabbits, not in cash, should things change and her dog dies, whatever, then all you have to do is get rid of rabbits and call it quits - it was all a good experiemtnt in the end.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Good advice, Diamond!

 

[skysthelimit]

I say meet in the middle. Have her make a deposit to cover the cost of cages and breeding stock. SInce you are still doing the work of keeping, feeding, and slaughtering, reduce the sale cost per pound of rabbit meat by 50% until that deposit has been returned in full, at which point the cost of the meat returns to what your market price would be.

Don't sell for less than $4.00/ pound dressed out. So ask $2.00 a point while the investment capital is being returned. Have it all in writing. Also include that the investment capital can only be repaid in rabbit meat or sale of live rabbits, not in cash, should things change and her dog dies, whatever, then all you have to do is get rid of rabbits and call it quits - it was all a good experiemtnt in the end.

Wow $4.00. I wish I could get that much here. Cleveland city ordinances also state I can't sell processed meat from my home. There's no market for it here either, not in the city, I've only sold meat once in six months. $1.30/lb

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Thanks for the advice thus far, lots of things to consider!! Yes, she's hoping I'll be cheaper than her current supplier. She also wants them dressed and skinned out, but with the heart/liver/kidneys left in.

I've already considered what to do if she flakes out on me at some point or if the dog dies or whatever, and honestly...a lot of rabbits can stay in my freezer, I will eat 'em eventually.

I'm already looking at a few of my current litter's kits and, if they are does (good lord it is tough to tell sex at this age!!!) they'll be retained...and there's a local livestock auction every Saturday, I've been wanting to go for a while now but alas, I keep having to work Saturdays.

Our local processors suck except for one, and they are expensive as heck. One of many reasons I always clean and butcher my own meat!

Very good advice, Grumpy...one of my concerns is that raising rabbits for my own consumption is something of a hobby, and I'm not yet 100% sure I want to make it feel too much like "work".............but then again, not sure it'll be all that different. Just a lot MORE of hobby, lol...?

$4 or $4.50 per pound was kinda what I was thinking...it would make it worth my while and inexpensive for her, you know?

Another issue is that my meat rabbits are in a colony setting...not ideal for an organized, profitable venture even on a small scale. On the upside, I thus far have some good support from some friends, and I admit I kinda want to eventually get a really nice pure breed of meat rabbits, and any exceptional show stock I keep and show, and the vast majority will be meat-culls.

I'm still undecided...one thing is for sure, I'm not going to rush into anything!

 

[6riversfarms]

Myself...I've got 35 does...I'd do it in a heart-beat. I'd jump on that like a duck on a June-bug.

Grumpy.

Just have to say I had a good chuckle at this analogy.

 

[Diamond]

It seems the cross-breed meat rabbits are the most vigorous. Keep pure strains of California and pure strains of New Zealand and cross them for meat offspring. You can occasionally breed pure - to -pure for replacement stock. Nothing wrong with picking up crossbred commercial type rabbit breeds for dirt cheap to start your production. My Cali/NZ cross doe gave birth to 11 kits, 9 survived,bred her to a NZ buck, and compared to the pure NZ doe/ NZ buck offspring I think the kits from the Cali/NZ doe were a little more vigorous in their growth. She was bagged up with milk like you wouldn't believe, and fed them little things very very well.

I have a pure Cali doe expecting to kindle soon, and another Cali/NZ cross doe due around the same time. I am still learning this all for the first time, trying to keep some records of how each rabbit does and how the offspring grow. It is an adventure allright! But I have 9 rabbits ready to butcher in 2 weeks, and another 9 that are a month behind them.<br /><br />__________ Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:19 am __________<br /><br />ps I am very fortunate that there is a FDA approved processing place (not a plant, it is a small business owned by a family and only does small livestock) about 12 miles from me. Its $3.00 to have a rabbit processed and bagged whole, $3.50 to have it quartered. When I decide to sell rabbits I will offer a live price and a processed price.

 

[Piper]

for those that breed for meat, I am trying to figure costs of feed, per pound of meat. How much do your breeders weigh on average and how much feed do they eat. A litter of 7 cali/nz cross, can go through a 50lb bag+, getting them to the 5 lb mark???

 

[Secuono]

I would be doing this if my does would get with the program! Ugh..rabbits.