Best meat rabbits?

[hippiechick]

I know some prefer certain breeds or a mixed breed, but I was wondering what is your personal favorites and why? Or if cross breeding what breed buck to what breed of does? I am torn and trying t o figure out which breeds are the best to go with for meat/pelts. I appreciate any input that you guys might have and I look forward to being apart of this forum!

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Welcome to the forum!!! I'm pretty fond of my Champagnes...they are both attractive and tasty. They are also very variable as they grow...they are born black and turn silver in patches as they mature. No two ever seem to do it in the same pattern either so they look cool...but then they all sortof turn the same silvery color so their pelts when mature should all match! Good dress-out, they're pretty docile and easygoing, I dunno I just like 'em.

Cinnamons and Palominos are also very good heritage breeds.

 

[hippiechick]

Thank you I am happy to be here! I like the way Champagnes look, is their feed conversion pretty good?

 

[Cspr]

I've heard great things about Californians, New Zealands, Palominos, and Beverens. I had a list of meat breeds by production around here somewhere, but I lost it. :/ Mmm. Maybe I bookmarked it? Will get back to you on that.

I've also heard good things about Silver Fox, Chinchillas, Cali/NZ crosses, Satin crosses.

I think it depends what you plan to do with the rabbits. If just for yourself and/or family, any rabbit will do, but if you sell to processors, they tend to like white-coated and purebred rabbits (Cali, NZW, REW Satins, BEW Beverens, etc.). Cali and NZs are often bred just for large scale meat production, so may be more delicate if you want to have them in colony setting or wherein they have to forage or eat anything other than pellets (from what I've heard). Etc.

I'll let veterans give you the good dirt, but I figured I could speak up.

Also, welcome to RT!

 

[hippiechick]

Thank you Cspr!

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

I decided on the basic commercial breeds. I have Californians and recently purchased some new Zealand whites. I have heard that crossing these two (first generation) can produce a meatier rabbit. I don't really use pelts but I do know some people like the white because it can be dyed easily. Satins are supposed to be good for a dual purpose rabbit.. good luck finding some that work for you. One thing about the boring commercial types is the ease of dispatch. They aren't all cute and cuddly, the look pretty much the same and the red eyes are just creepy enough to make dispatching a little easier to deal with for me personally.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Coffeenutdesigns has a good point, there's fur-and-meat breeds too like Standard Rex and Satins. Silver Fox look like foxfur.

I haven't had too many Champagnes so my experience is limited, but they don't actually eat that much. No moreso than a NZ. Frankly I've met too many Californians that were hyper, and while I liked the NZ I had (bought a few for meat, ended up keeping them longer than expected) they got "boring" fast, being all-white. I'm just crazy about my Champagnes. The only thing you have to watch out for...when buying ANY rabbit for meat production, ask the seller about average litter sizes. Breeder of commercial rabbits who show often have smaller litter sizes. I bought show-line Champagnes so I can show them as well as have meat, so I knew the litter sizes wouldn't be great...my Champagne lines, according to the breeder, average six or less kits per litter. That's fine for ME, but if you want bigger litters, be sure to ask about it before purchase!!

 

[hippiechick]

Lol my Hubby says the same thing about the commercial breeds, the eyes creep him out so it wouldn't be an issue when its freezer time. But I would love to raise a breed that has a nice soft pelt, good meat to bone ratio, good mothers,and preferably no red eyes, not that I'm against Californians or NZW's. They are still very much an option for us.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

I'm personally really biased...I love heritage meat breeds.

 

[hippiechick]

Heritage breeds sound like a pretty attractive option. Would be great to also preserve a breed. Really would like a great dual purpose rabbit.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Heritage breeds sound like a pretty attractive option. Would be great to also preserve a breed. Really would like a great dual purpose rabbit.

All meat rabbits are dual purpose...they poop and that makes WONDERFUL gardens. I had to move back in with my dad while I'm going to college. He didn't believe me. So I told him instead of buying Miracle Gro, just use some rabbit poop.

He was skeptical. Now, with better gardens than he's ever had, he's a believer!!! 100% natural fertilizer, you can use it "cold" and not even compost it!!!

So if you got a heritage breed that is meat-and-fur, it's be a triple-purpose rabbit!!! This is why they are some of the coolest livestock.

 

[Dood]

I breed American Chinchillas.

They were developed to mimic the fur of the chinchilla rodent. It is very soft and dense and I love the colour.

Mine grow out pretty well but are in a colony so I cannot comment or feed conversion.

They have the nicest temperament of any rabbit breed I ve ever had, and i have owned a lot if different breeds. No scratching, biting or attitude from them at all. They are excellent mothers, produce plenty of milk and readily take foster kits. I've never had kits born outside the nest box and I wean at 4 weeks and my losses are less than 1%

I have one doe who I wish had bigger litters but her two daughters are producing great so she may be a fluke.And my doe from show bloodlines was a disappointment as she has some undesirable recessive colour genes and doesn't get pregnant very easy, but her daughter catches just fine.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

I have had lots of breeds over the years... I have champagnes and they are the best in meat , they have the right size of litters, there pelts are the best going, The temperament is what I like the best in these rabbits. They do not eat allot ... I also have Californian.. I like the looks of them.. But there temp is more skittish...There pelts are not as good as the champ and boy do they eat. But they make excellent mothers and have lots of milk.. As goes for new Zealand.. I think they are a boring rabbit and more problems than what they are worth. I have a few reds.. I don't like them at all. This is just my 2 cents worth

 

[grumpy]

I've been raising meat-production rabbits since the mid-70's.
So....I can honestly say...I've got a little experience.
I've built five or six rabbitry's over the last 4 decades.

Back-in-the-day....I raised multi-colored meat-type...mutts.
I enjoyed the array of colors when the kits were born.
They were basically New Zealand's blended by colors.
I usually settled on 20-25 does for my herd. With several bucks.

Today.....I run two purebred lines...NZW's and Californians.
The first generation cross from a Cal buck over a NZW doe creates
an outstanding cross with excellent growth, good conversion,
and a low bone to meat ratio.

At the present...I've got a 42 doe herd with 6-7 bucks.
I like to breed 6-8 does at a time. Hence, the extra bucks.

The NZW's have gotten a 'bum-rap' over their temperament.
It wasn't the rabbit's fault......It was the breeder's.
Aggressive behavior can be easily done away with.
Don't breed stock that displays this type of behavior. Simple.
Through selective breeding you can develop a herd of excellent does.

Agreed.....all of them white/red-eyed rabbits are "BORING"!! :x
But, from a commercial standpoint...ya gotta use 'em!
Even the black-tipped Cals become blasé after so long.

If it weren't for the commercial side of my rabbitry, I'd go back in time.
Back to the time of multi-colored NZ based meat rabbits.
Something with a little pizzazz in color that would please the eyes.
Been thinkin' about doin' just that.

Grumpy

 

[wsmoak]

I have Californians. I was going to do the Cali/NZW crosses as grumpy describes, but for a back-yard rabbitry that produces *way* too much meat as you have to keep two purebred lines going in addition to the crosses. Even my four does and two bucks are really too much.

-Wendy

 

[Doug51]

I have a few nzr not to impressed out of the 3 does I got one litter of four.I have two nzr/am chin cross does bred to a nzr buck both are spot on with 12 and 9 every time good healthy fast growing kits.I'm currently waiting for my am sables to reach breeding age.The breeder I bought them from said litter size is usually 8 to 10, he aslo said they have a fuller loin then there nz/cal cross so I'm curious has to how they do.Years ago I had a heard of nzw great producers but oh so boring I agree with grumpy I like color

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

champagne rocks......For meat and pelts and temperament and litter size and good moms

 

[hippiechick]

I am now starting to lean more towards the heritage breeds as for as looks and pelt wise, these buns will only be for our family, also might be selling some of the kits along the way. Champagnes are nice looking rabbit's, not too many breeders in NC, there are some AM Chin breeders I have found around here, does anybody have experience with Standard Rex's or Satins for meat/fur?

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

I think MSD keeps Standard Rex...

I don't know if they are anything like Mini Rex, but I ADORE my Mini Rex. They are so much fun, SO pretty, and have great fur!!!

 

[hippiechick]

I'm really liking the Rex's and Satins I would love to find some breeders around here!