The debate: Dutch for meat?

[paintrider89]

I recently purchased a dutch buck. After seeing the ad I did a little research and found dutch seemed to be an acceptible meat rabbit. I purchased him, because he was the color I was looking for as well. So now I have done more research, and some people say dutch are good to cross for meat, some say they are better just for pet use. I intend to cross him with my smaller does for bigger kits. He is a pretty good size boy, and very solid feeling. I don't see why he wouldn't produce some good personal meat rabbits? Has anyone ever used dutch in their personal meat mutts or raised them and ate the culls? I plan on trying, because I have the buck, bit some first hand experiance would be good to hear about as well.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Dutch were originally bred as meat rabbits, I believe. And all rabbits are made of meat in any case- some just have better meat-to-bone ratio.

The nice thing about breeding rabbits is that they come in so many varieties, and it is easy to select for the characteristics you feel are most important.

 

[ohiogoatgirl]

I had dutch and lionheads when I first started out. the dutch were slow growing compared to what I was seeing on here with the "real meat rabbits". but in the end they were pretty good meat rabbits with good meat to bone ratio and pretty furs. you just gotta wait like 12wks instead of the usual ~8wks with bigger meat breeds.

dutch were originally bred as meat rabbits and as adoptive mothers. they were bigger and healthier and better mothers and as people started trying to make different breeds and not all were good moms or raised the babies, they would keep their experimental breed and then some dutch to be adoptive moms.
then again this started in the 1500s or around there (if I remember correctly) and the dutch have been bred down in size since then as per SOP.
but you can find larger "BUDs" (aka Big Ugly Does to show people) who are good but bigger then show standards.

with ALLLLL of the other breeds I've had between then and now, I wished I would have just kept a couple of those going and saved up until I could get some decent meat breeds. because the dutch were better then all of the crap rabbits I got at auction, etc.

**edited: accidental double post**

 

[5dognightfarm]

I've heard that Dutch make good meat rabbits, they'll just be small because Dutch are smaller than typical meat rabbits. Using him on some meaty, commercial typed does would give you some great meat buns to grow out.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

A good Dutch at butcher will have a better meat to bone ratio than a Cal does at butcher. The only thing is that you must wait to butcher till 13wks, that seems to be the optimal time.

 

[paintrider89]

So it sounds like as long as I keep them another 4 to 5 weeks I should have some good meat on my table. It works fine for me. Planning on building a grow out pen on my cousins property. Go and feed and water and cool once a day. Good plan

 

[OneAcreFarm]

So it sounds like as long as I keep them another 4 to 5 weeks I should have some good meat on my table. It works fine for me. Planning on building a grow out pen on my cousins property. Go and feed and water and cool once a day. Good plan

Is your entire rabbitry going to be at your cousin's? The reason I ask is because it is REALLY difficult to be successful raising rabbits from distance. Once a day may not be enough to adequately care for them, especially once you have does bred and kindling. Most people care for them at least twice a day, morning and evening, and in the hottest or coldest months, you will need to do that more often.

 

[paintrider89]

So it sounds like as long as I keep them another 4 to 5 weeks I should have some good meat on my table. It works fine for me. Planning on building a grow out pen on my cousins property. Go and feed and water and cool once a day. Good plan

Is your entire rabbitry going to be at your cousin's? The reason I ask is because it is REALLY difficult to be successful raising rabbits from distance. Once a day may not be enough to adequately care for them, especially once you have does bred and kindling. Most people care for them at least twice a day, morning and evening, and in the hottest or coldest months, you will need to do that more often.

No. I have a deal withy cousins, anything I want for meat is going to a growing pen at their place. I will feed water every day. They live next door to my parents, and that's where my horses are kept, and just down the block from my grandpa who I take care of. I am a stay at home wife, so if I am not taking care of my grandpa I have nothing but time. And since I will only have rabbits there now and then, when I have some I want for meat. And my cousins have animals, and will check on the rabbits for me several times a day as well.

 

[Miss M]

At least it sounds like they will be maybe just a couple blocks away from you? Ideal would be your own back yard, but as long as you are faithful, and they do check on them for you, it might work out alright.

Our original herd sire is a minilop, which certainly were not bred for meat ever, as Dutch were. Our just-retired buck is his son, so still not a lot of size going on there. :roll: We just acquired a Californian buck from OneAcreFarm. On to meatier bunnies!

But just saying that to point out that you could raise Netherland Dwarfs for meat if you wanted to... as MSD said, all rabbits are made of meat. Probably get as much meat as you would from a squirrel, but still. :lol:

 

[paintrider89]

Mine are going duel purposes. Meat and pets. So ditch seems ideal to go with my mutt does. I would love a nzw or cali doe to cross with him. As of now my friend getting out of rabbits has a couple good size does I would like. So far none have made it to freezer. I have two does due close together. So I will just pick the meaty kits to start to grow up. I haven't bred any does to my dutch yet though.

 

[Miss M]

Sounds good... I hope the whole arrangement works out well for you!