Nose to Tail - Uses for every part of the rabbit

Nice article on a good blog: Rise and Shine Rabbitry
Nose to Tail: Uses for Every Part of the Domestic Rabbit

http://riseandshinerabbitry.com/2012/02/11/nose-to-tail-uses-for-every-part-of-the-domestic-rabbit/

Have a good day!

How To Sprout Grain

How to sprout grain for livestock fodder. You can use it as supplement for rabbits.

http://lifeatmennageriefarm.blogspot.com/2012/10/fodder-tutorial-aka-how-to-sprout-grain.html

3 Things

A basic lesson I learned from more experienced breeders.
Keep these in mind when selecting for breeding.
 
In order of priority
 
1. Type - Hardest to change. So always keep body type on top of the list when selecting. Do not breed two weak traits together, like poor shoulders to poor shoulders. That will set poor shoulders in the bloodline. Breed poor shoulders to good shoulders or great shoulders, then select the best shoulders out of the litters to keep for breeding.

2. Fur/wool - Fur or wool quality is important trait of many rare breeds because they were developed for their fur or wool. So maintain the proper fur/wool type. Rollback or Flyback? Should the wool have more guard hairs or less guard hairs?

3. Color - Color genetics are very well defined and as such color is considered to be the easiest to change in rabbits. Avoid introducing traits that can pop up in later litters, like silvering or harlequin or vienna marking, unless the breed calls for it.

Using the above as a general guideline helped me to focus on the important things, to ignore the less urgent things, and to look at the overall picture. Not many rabbits have the whole package, so sometimes two out three ain't bad.

Have a good day!

Other Forums

Recently on Facebook somebody asked about online forums for meat rabbit discussion

Here is some of the suggestions:

Homesteading Today - Rabbits forum
You have to register with the site (free) and its worth it.
Besides rabbits, its a lot of topics covered.
http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/rabbits/

Meatrabbits on yahoogroups
One of the longest running online groups for rabbits
You have to register/join the group (free)
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Meatrabbits/

Rabbit Talk
A small, dedicated group of rabbit breeders
You have to register (free) to join the group.
http://rabbittalk.com/

Meat Rabbits Group on Facebook
I believe its a closed group so you have a request access
https://www.facebook.com/groups/144755738896032/

Have a good day!

Rabbit Hunt Koreana

Rabbit Hunt: Koreana Plaza International Market, Rancho Cordova, Calif. Upper pic: Frozen rabbit Product of USA, Iowa producers, $6.99 per pound. Lower pic: Frozen rabbit, not labeled for country of origin, $5.99 per pound.

Well, you can't really see from this picture but I can tell you the Iowa rabbits have bigger hindquarters where the unmarked rabbit are rather slender.

Have a good day! 

USDA Bulletin 309

from 1966, USDA Bulletin 309 "Commercial Rabbit Raising"


A guide to raising rabbits commercially, for production of meat, fur, and wool.


Here we see the emphasis on using pelleted feeds.

You can read it at Univ. North Texas archives
http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9480/

Have a good day!

USDA Bulletin 1730

from 1934 - USDA Farmers Bulletin No. 1730 Rabbit Production. This is old school! 

"This bulletin sets forth the essential principles of rabbit raising and tells how to apply them in practice." -- p. ii. Topics discussed include necessary equipment, different breeds, feeding practices, and breeding practices, and preparing rabbits for market.

You can view this document at University of North Texas archive
http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc86060/

Have a good day!