Charge for Dressed Rabbit

[SuburbanHomesteader]

I've seen where lots of folks sell dressed rabbits to individuals - so much per pound plus a service charge for cleaning.

I'm thinking about offering something like that but was wondering what other folks charged.

Please advise. Thanks!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I charge $7 per pound for dressed rabbit. In California rabbit falls under the poultry laws and we are allowed to sell directly to the end user.

Rabbit meat sold to stores or restaurants would have to be processed in a USDA licensed facility.

 

[Zass]

In PA, I can sell to individuals by live weight but must dress as a free service. I won't go under $4/lb live.

 

[Miss M]

In Louisiana, we could probably do like Zass does.

To sell dressed rabbits to anyone at all, we'd have to have a USDA license.

 

[Truckinguy]

We're not allowed here to sell dressed animals or transport meat.

That being said,I have a "friend" who allegedly sells dressed rabbits for $4/lb. Probably not as much as it should be but it pays for the feed.

 

[SuburbanHomesteader]

The regulations here in Kansas are actually very reasonable. I can sell a dressed rabbit directly to the consumer provided they come pick it up at my place or I deliver it to theirs. We're limited to 250 head per year but I can't imagine processing 20 rabbits a month. Most of the rabbits I sell go to backyard breeders. But I'm getting more and more inquiries wanting to know what I'd charge for a dressed rabbit.

 

[wamplercathy]

Re: State and Provincial Codes for Selling Rabbit Meat
:!:
{Post Number:#30 Postby wamplercathy » Wed Jan 07, 2015 4:49 pm
Just got a call from the Agr rep for Andrew county Missouri and this is the info I was given:

Selling dressed rabbit:
Up to 1000 can be sold without inspection per calendar year, but have to keep track of who you sell to.

Sell of live:
Live no limit.
To pet store, it depends on the store and/or the City.

If wanting to sell at a farmers market, then you need to check with them before heading out. All differ in their regulation.
Top}

This is the information I've found for the state of Missouri. I was hoping to sell enough dressed rabbit to breakeven each year.

 

[JessiL]

My state, the great state of Nevada, does not offer a clear path to the USDA small producers' exemption. But they have not paid close attention to sales of livestock followed by "courtesy" dressing. So I will sell young rabbits weighing about 5 pounds live weight for $20 (for basic cage-raised; pastured rabbits are more) that I then butcher as a courtesy for the buyers. I do not do this for completely random strangers, but need some sort of connection to know that I won't attract the wrong sort of attention.

Prices all depend on the market. Here, we small producers are the only source, except for Whole Foods which is over $8/lb.

 

[Anemone]

@mamasheepdog -- Are the rules in CA across the board, do you know? Or does it vary from state to state? I don't have a lot of rabbits, but I would love to sell some meat to pay for the feed, I've just been hesitant because I thought it was against the law? I'd love to pick your brain about it! :bunnyhop:

 

[Sagebrush]

Unfortunately it is different from state to state. You will need to look up the laws in your given state.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

@mamasheepdog -- Are the rules in CA across the board, do you know? Or does it vary from state to state?

Unfortunately it is different from state to state. You will need to look up the laws in your given state.

As Sagebrush said, the laws vary by state, and even by county in some cases... for instance, in CA, state law allows selling at farmer' markets, but the counties involved have the final say. In my case, Kern County does not allow selling processed rabbit meat (or, I assume, poultry) at farmer's markets. I still have the option of selling dressed rabbit to the "end consumer" as long as they either pick it up here from the ranch or I deliver it to them.

 

[SuburbanHomesteader]

Okay, folks. I talked it over with three different customers that had requested dressed rabbit. There was a lot of back and forth - two of them were here together. Here's what we agreed on:

$2.50 per pound live weight - they take the rabbit home and dispatch and dress it out themselves.
$7.50 per pound dressed weight - I dispatch, dress out, and put the rabbit in a zip-lock bag.

Our fryers usually dress out right at 50%.

Any thoughts?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Sounds about right to me.

 

[wamplercathy]

Okay, folks. I talked it over with three different customers that had requested dressed rabbit. There was a lot of back and forth - two of them were here together. Here's what we agreed on:

$2.50 per pound live weight - they take the rabbit home and dispatch and dress it out themselves.
$7.50 per pound dressed weight - I dispatch, dress out, and put the rabbit in a zip-lock bag.

Our fryers usually dress out right at 50%.

Any thoughts?

It sounds about right to me. I've been talking about breeding meat buns with anyone who holds still long enough :x :lol: :lol: But it has paid off. I have several that are wanting to place orders now offering $10-20 per dressed rabbit. I'm going to talk to one of my Marketing professors and see if he'll help me check the market in my area over the summer.
:twisted: That will count as a credit for school as well as help me make a few bucks ( :lol: ) off my buns. :twisted:

 

[Anemone]

As Sagebrush said, the laws vary by state, and even by county in some cases... for instance, in CA, state law allows selling at farmer' markets, but the counties involved have the final say. In my case, Kern County does not allow selling processed rabbit meat (or, I assume, poultry) at farmer's markets. I still have the option of selling dressed rabbit to the "end consumer" as long as they either pick it up here from the ranch or I deliver it to them.[/quote]


@ Mamasheepdog, I meant county by county, not state by state. So as long as I am in the state of California it is safe to assume I should be able to legally sell dressed rabbit to my neighbor?

Thanks!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

@ Mamasheepdog, I meant county by county, not state by state. So as long as I am in the state of California it is safe to assume I should be able to legally sell dressed rabbit to my neighbor?

Yes, you can sell rabbit meat in California to the end user (not to restaurants, supermarkets, or others who will "resell" the meat- unless processed in a USDA facility) from your home or "ranch" or delivered directly to the consumer's home. California law also allows selling processed rabbit (or poultry) at Farmer's Markets, but allows local jurisdictions (counties) to decide whether this is allowed or not.

In my case (Kern County), selling processed poultry or rabbit at a "Farmer's Markets" is NOT allowed.

 

[Anemone]

That is so helpful, thank you! I don't think I'll be going to farmers markets any time soon, but being able to barter or sell to pay for feed is a great incentive. Thanks!