Good Meat/Show Breed?

[Centennial]

Hi everyone!
I am hoping to get back into breeding and showing rabbits, I used to have Dutch when I was in 4H. Hopefully we will be moving in the next year and I can have some space to set up cages. Right now we are in a townhouse so there is no room for bunnies. I am looking for some advice. My bf and I would like to try raising meat rabbits for ourselves and the dogs. However I would still like some show stock, so that rules out crossbreeds. I'm not against the idea of raising a fur breed, but am not sure if that is a big project to take on? Does anyone have any suggestions of a good meat breed that I can also show? Any tips or words of advice? We are located near Los Angeles, if you'd like to recommend breeders or local upcoming shows.

Thanks!

Meaghan

 

[lonelyfarmgirl]

You can show any meat breed that is a purebred. There are maybe 25 or 26 breeds that fall into that category. Look at the photos on the ARBA website and chose from there.

 

[skysthelimit]

There are quite few California breeders here, at some point they'll speak up.

Where are you guys?

 

[trinityoaks]

We have purebred Cals and Rex. They're showable, but none of my kids seem to be interested in showing, although they enjoy raising rabbits. All rabbits are made of meat, as they say, but those two breeds are commonly used as meat rabbits, as well, with decent meat-to-bone ratio.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Hi Meaghan!

The rabbits in my avatar are Rex- an opal doe and her broken opal son. I am in CA too, between Bakersfield and Tehachapi, and I raise Rex for meat and fur. They are a bit smaller than the commercial meat breeds, but they have great temperaments, come in a wide variety of colors, and have amazing fur. Their coats are very short and easily maintained.

We just attended our second show on Saturday. There are not a lot of Rex in CA, but there are more down south and up north than in my area.

 

[Centennial]

Thanks for all the replies! Mamasheepdog, Standard Rex were on my list, as well as the standard sized Satins. I'll maybe consider them more as I'd love to have someone nearby to help mentor me.

skyisthelimit, do you show in AKC? I show Bearded Collies!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Standard Satins are another breed I am interested in.
Unfortunately, they are even more rare in CA. than Standard Rex! :x
Everyone breeds mini-rex and mini-satins.

Skymya just bought some Rex from me, but she is also interested in Satins, so if you find a good breeder maybe we could all share transport costs and get a group of them, or at the least when you have some litters we could be your first buyers.

 

[Centennial]

Sounds good to me! I can't wait to get everything set up! Do you have facebook so we can keep in contact?

Meaghan

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Meaghan,

please edit your post to remove the email address- for safeties sake, it is against RT policy to post personal info due to recent ARA activity. I copied it and will put it in my address book. I am not on Facebook, but you can also pm me here at RT.

 

[curlysue]

We had very good experiences with Red New zealands.they also come in black.people are raising blues and brokens.i dont think you can show the brokens yet.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I have Cals, NZW and Std Rex. I think any of these are good for meat/show. Also, Silver Fox, Champagne d' Argente, Satin or American Chinchilla. There are many options...just choose one that you like! Welcome to the forum, btw... LOL

 

[skysthelimit]

Thanks for all the replies! Mamasheepdog, Standard Rex were on my list, as well as the standard sized Satins. I'll maybe consider them more as I'd love to have someone nearby to help mentor me.

skyisthelimit, do you show in AKC? I show Bearded Collies!

Yes. My oldest male has 7 points, one major, and his daughter has a point. I kind of took a break to herd sheep, he has his HT, and soon to have his PT.

 

[SatinsRule]

I'll be the pro-Satin salesman here!! LOL!!!

Arguably the best meat-to-bone ratio of any commercial breed, and they have the added benefit of being able to use their pelts for fur production which is a cut above most any other commercial breed because of the sheen involved. Their fur just looks better, in other words. NOTHING shines like a SATIN!!!

Others are likely to chime in and talk about the extraordinarily large litters they've gotten from theirs, but I've traditionally gotten smaller litters out of mine (4-6 bunnies is the norm, while I've seen litters as small as 2 and as large as 9 bunnies), but that's okay because I prefer smaller litters. IMHO, smaller litters tend to produce better show specimens. The time of year can also have a pretty dramatic effect on their breeding cycles, mostly depending upon where you live and how warm it gets there.

If you're really interested in getting some really good satins and are willing to wait in order to do so, the 2013 NASS (National All Satin Show) will be held in Reno, NV next May. Breeders from all around the country will be there.

 

[SterlingSatin]

i second SatinsRule . Satins are the best! so much fun to show, they come in awesome colors, and they are an exceptional meat rabbit! i usually get litters of 6-8 in my herd, also on the smaller side.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I may find myself headed to Reno next year! I love my Rex to pieces, but Satins were my second choice. It sure would be nice to get some good Satin stock into CA. again.

 

[skysthelimit]

I may find myself headed to Reno next year! I love my Rex to pieces, but Satins were my second choice. It sure would be nice to get some good Satin stock into CA. again.

if I had gotten that satin i was promised last year... it's hard to have just one breed