Different Types Of Rabbit Meat
All over the world, people eat rabbit meat as a roast, in stews, soups, and barbecues. Rabbits are generally inexpensive to maintain and relatively simple to raise.
There are many advantages to raising rabbits as food. Since it contains little fat, rabbit is regarded as a “white” meat. Additionally, it has zero cholesterol and few calories. Rabbit has a lower sodium content than other meats and more metabolism, which is rich in phosphorus and calcium.
Types Of Meat Rabbit
The list of frequently raised heritage and common rabbit breeds raised for meat is as follows:
New Zealands
Firstly, the rabbits from New Zealand. The most widely raised breed of meat rabbit, this variety comes in a variety of colors. The NZ rabbit grows quickly and weighs 9 to 12 pounds. New Zealand rabbits can be butchered as young as 8 weeks old.
Rex
Rex rabbits are a very popular breed among those who raise rabbits for meat, much like the New Zealand varieties. In the United States, it is simple to buy Rex rabbits. The ratio of their meat to bone and their plush fur make them highly prized. The breed will produce 6 to 12 kits with each litter, weighing between 7 and 11 pounds.
The Rex rabbit is known to take longer than the New Zealands to get to the dinner table, though.
Flemish Giants
This breed is known as a gentle giant and typically weighs between 9 and 15 pounds. Because of their sluggish growth and low meat-to-bone ratio, many people opt to crossbreed them with other breeds. Typically, a litter contains 5 to 10 kits.
Florida White
They weigh between 4 and 6 pounds, but one of the small meat breeds has a nice meat-to-bone ratio. They are a hardy breed and not prone to many diseases. A litter of 5 to 8 kits has been reported for them.
American Chinchilla
The American Chinchilla weighs between 9 and 12 pounds, is gentle and kind, and has a great meat-to-bone ratio. The American Chinchilla is more uncommon than the standard and giant varieties.
They are renowned for being excellent mothers and for having between 8 and 12 kits at a time. This heritage breed, like the Flemish Giants, is frequently crossed with small breeds like Harlequin, Silver Fox, Rex, and American Chinchillas. This breed’s pelts are highly valued and used to line gloves, coats, and rugs.
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Californians
The second most common breed to raise for meat, this standard breed typically weighs 8 to 12 pounds. Although Californian rabbits are a very gentle breed, their coarse-textured pelt makes it unsuitable for tanning. Approximately 6 to 8 kits will be born per litter of Californian rabbits.
Cinnamon
American Chinchillas and New Zealand Whites were crossed to create cinnamon rabbits. They are a gentle and hardy breed with few health problems. Cinnamon rabbits typically weigh 8 to 11 pounds and have small litters of 4 to 6 kits. Their fur is lovely and works well as lining for coat hoods and gloves.
Champagne D Argent
With a meat to bone ratio of excellent, this breed weighs 8 to 12 pounds. Champagnes are a gentle and calm breed and will throw 5 to 8 kits per litter.
A heritage breed that fed numerous families throughout the United States during World War II. This rabbit is known to produce 6 to 10 kits and weighs between 6.5 and 9.5 pounds. Its pelt, which comes in a variety of colors, is prized for use as lining in gloves and coats. The Harlequin rabbit is another breed that matures quickly and can be slaughtered as early as 8 to 10 weeks.
Standard Chinchilla
The smallest of the Chinchilla breed, a standard Chinchilla weighs between 5 and 7 pounds. This diminutive breed is ideal for people with limited space and is valued for its fur. Although this breed is known to give birth to up to 7 kits, the average litter size is usually 5 kits. Despite being a small breed, they have a great bone to meat ratio.
This breed comes in a variety of colors, which is fantastic for those who enjoy tanning hides. In addition to being a hardy breed that is healthy to raise, satin do well in colder climates. This larger rabbit, which weighs 8 to 12 pounds and is calm and friendly, will give birth to 1 to 12 kits. Satins take longer to mature than the other larger breeds do.
American Blue Rabbit
The American Blue rabbit is valued for both its meat and fur and weighs between 9 and 12 pounds. This breed makes 8 to 10 kits per birth and makes wonderful mothers.
They have poor meat to bone ratios, which makes them ideal for crossbreeding with smaller breeds like the Rex, Harlequin, Silver Fox, or any other breed, like the Flemish Giant.
Silver Fox
Although they come in a variety of colors and weigh between 9 and 12 pounds, silver foxes are extremely hard to come by. They typically have 4 to 8 kits because they are a calm and amiable breed. The pelt is quite beautiful and highly valued by those who are adept at tanning hides. The pelt is quite stunning and is prized by those who are skilled in tanning hides.