Which is meatier..Californian or New Zealands?

[currituckbun]

I was wondering this because my New Zealand appears slimmer and longer than my mixed Cali/NZW s. The mixed kits are twice the size of the 3/4 NZW. I know we are talking mutts but there is such a difference I was just curious.

 

[Devon's Mom Lauren]

Could you post some pictures of the different rabbits? I would hazard a guess sight unseen that your "New Zealand" perhaps isn't a purebred it self. New Zealands and Californians both should have the exact same body shape with the exception that the NZ is a couple pounds heavier/bigger.

 

[trinityoaks]

A lot can depend on the specific line, and whether they're bred primarily for meat or for show.

 

[fuzzy9]

I have both here also, and both are fairly even. If anything, the NZ are only a slight bit more solid.

 

[ottersatin]

Oh no,
it's neither! The meatier ones would be:
The Satins! :twisted:
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

 

[currituckbun]

I will get the camera out this weekend and take some pics.<br /><br />__________ Sun Oct 30, 2011 10:45 pm __________<br /><br />Okay here are the pictures. Admittedly, not great, so I will put the link so you can see it full size.
I think the mutt is chunkier . But I am getting from the responses that it depends on the line and individual animal rather than the breed. Possibly the NZW doe is slimmer but if she packed on the same weight as my miss piggy mutt then she would be the bigger of the two since she has the longer frame. The offspring of the mutt are clearly larger at the same age than the NZW. (same father)
gallery/image.php?album_id=74&image_id=518 NZW Doe
gallery/image.php?album_id=74&image_id=519 mixed NZW/Cali

 

[ottersatin]

I still say:
it's neither! The meatier ones would be:
The Satins! As always, JMPO. :lol:
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

 

[DoubleD-Rabbitry]

I still say:
it's neither! The meatier ones would be:
The Satins! As always, JMPO. :lol:
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

NZ & Cali's are meatier, thats why commercial growers only use NZ & Cali's, it's the meat to bone ratio + feed conversion not actual size of Rabbit.

Also the Mutt ( Cali x NZ ) is more chunky just for that reason, that's why people breed a Cali Buck to a NZ doe, you get the chunkyness of the Cali on the frame of the NZ but whith the smaller bone structure. I have had Cali's and NZ for about 35 years and just recently started crossing the breeds and I am extremely happy with the meat outcome.

 

[Devon's Mom Lauren]

Considering a Californian was developed FROM a New Zealand and some sort of American Chin. it would not be surprising that Cali's are a bit smaller yet just as "meaty". I however don't get why one would think breeding the cali's BACK to a NZW accomplishes anything more than what the two parents "bring to the table" so to speak....

 

[MaggieJ]

Has anyone else noticed how long in the rib cage some commercial meat rabbits are? To me, a long rib cage is not a particularly desirable characteristic. I like a rabbit to have s good meaty loin and real chunky hind legs. The rib cage and front legs usually go into the soup or stew pot, so I want most of the meat to be below the ribs. I was noticing the overpriced rabbits in the grocery store a couple of weeks ago. They were very long in the rib section but had less meat on the hind legs than my mutts. Not a good buy at $24 and change.

 

[currituckbun]

I still say:
it's neither! The meatier ones would be:
The Satins! As always, JMPO. :lol:
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

NZ & Cali's are meatier, thats why commercial growers only use NZ & Cali's, it's the meat to bone ratio + feed conversion not actual size of Rabbit.

Also the Mutt ( Cali x NZ ) is more chunky just for that reason, that's why people breed a Cali Buck to a NZ doe, you get the chunkyness of the Cali on the frame of the NZ but whith the smaller bone structure. I have had Cali's and NZ for about 35 years and just recently started crossing the breeds and I am extremely happy with the meat outcome.

I like the result of the mutt to mutt so far. They are big, compact , fast growing rabbits. I am curious what the final weigh in will be at 10 -12 weeks. So far the kits born one month after the kits of the 3/4 cross are catching up fast in size and soon weight. I do have to keep in mind the variable of litter size which seems to have given the mutt/ mutt mix an advantage.