How Much Meat Do You Get From 1 Rabbit?

–Rabbits are both a smart economical choice and ecological choice; using the same amount of food and water that a steer needs to produce 1 pound of meat, a rabbit can produce 6 pounds. –Rabbits are efficient feeders, needing only 4 pounds of feed to make 1 pound of meat.

How much meat do you get from a meat rabbit?

Butcher them as young as possible for the best meat. A four-pound animal produces about two pounds of meat. Rabbit really tastes something like chicken, and it even gets cut into eight pieces like a frying chicken.

How many pounds of meat can you get from a rabbit?

A single doe will have multiple litters every year, and those litters will reach breeding age within months; that means a rabbit can produce six pounds of meat on the same amount of feed and water it takes a cow to produce just one pound.

How much edible meat is on a rabbit?

Each carcass yields roughly 50-60% of live weight, 75-80% of such yields is edible.

How much meat do you get from a 5lb rabbit?

How much meat will you get? Each fryer will dress out at about 60% of live weight, when butchered at 5 pounds. This will get you 3.5 pounds of meat per fryer.

Is raising rabbits for meat worth it?

In about 12 weeks you’ll have a large quantity of healthy, lean meat to feed yourself and your family. A trio of rabbits can produce upwards of 600 pounds of meat in a year which is more than a dressed one year old steer. That’s pretty impressive.

At what age do you butcher rabbits?

Although companion rabbits are capable of living 10 to 15 years, the vast majority of “meat” rabbits are killed at three months of age. Referred to as “fryers,” these baby rabbits weigh only 1.5 – 3.5 pounds. A small percentage are slaughtered at 8 months old or 4 pounds; they are known in the industry as “roasters.”

Which rabbit is best for meat?

Answer: Two medium-size breeds, the New Zealand White (NZW) and the Californian, are the most important for meat production. They have white fur that is difficult to see if a few pieces are stuck to the carcass, and they have higher meat-to-bone ratios.

How much does a butchered rabbit cost?

Whole Rabbit

ITEM DESCRIPTION	TEMP	PRICE*
2.5 – 3 lbs	chilled	$59.84
2.5 – 3 lbs	frozen	$59.84
6 x 2.5 – 3 lbs	chilled	$293.37
6 x 2.5 – 3 lbs	frozen	$293.37

How long does it take to raise a rabbit for meat?

between 8 to 12 weeks
Rabbits can be harvested as early as 8 weeks of age, though many prefer to harvest them around 4 to 5 pounds. I prefer to harvest between 8 to 12 weeks, but no later than 12 weeks of age as the meat begins getting tough.

Why rabbit meat is not popular?

Rabbits have never had a purpose as farm animals, meaning they did not have the same opportunity to become a popular meat in American households. Since rabbits never became a popular meat from the agricultural industry, a stigma was attached to the meat itself.

What does rabbit meat taste like?

The meat tastes a bit like chicken (though with a slightly stronger, meatier, earthier flavor), and it can be prepared similarly to chicken. For example, you can sauté it in oil or butter with a sauce made by deglazing the pan or in the style of a fricassee—partially in fat and then simmered in a braising liquid.

What is cooked rabbit called?

Hasenpfeffer

Type	Stew
Place of origin	The Netherlands, Germany
Main ingredients	Rabbit or hare, onions, wine
Cookbook: Hasenpfeffer

How many rabbits does a family of 4 need?

Depending on the dressed size, one rabbit can easily feed a family of four. An acquaintance of mine who enjoys raising meat rabbits prefers the live weight of his butchers to be 3 to 2-1/2 pounds. Personally, I like to let my growers get up to around 4-1/2 pounds.

Is there a market for selling rabbits?

On the other hand, if you plan your marketing right (cough cough, easter and fair time), you can sell your live rabbits for anywhere from $20 to $100 depending on the purpose and quality of your stock. 4-H’ers are a great customer because they want to learn animal husbandry and buy the winning rabbit.

Can you eat rabbit in the summertime?

It’s true that rabbits and other small mammals host a variety of parasites. Some of them are more common during the summer, but many are present year-round, such as intestinal worms and flukes. However, unless a hunter ingests uncooked rabbit guts, intestinal parasites pose no risk to humans.

How much does it cost to feed a meat rabbit per month?

Once your start up supplies are taken care of, the cost of rabbits boils down to feeding them. In other words, for less than $40 a month and probably much cheaper if you really wanted to, you are able to feed meat rabbits.

Is rabbit farming profitable?

Raising rabbits for profit can be hard work, and it is certainly not a “get-rich-quick” venture. But for a person with good stewardship skills who isn’t afraid of a little hard work, it can be a very rewarding, and yes, even profitable way to make a living.

What do you feed meat rabbits?

You can also feed vetch, cow peas, and other rich hays. You can give your rabbits dried scraps of bread and crusts; also any kind of vegetable parings and tops they’ll eat. You can feed them lawn trimmings and weeds.

What is the meat of a rabbit called?

Rabbit meat is just called Rabbit. Rabbit meat really has no special name, per se, but jackrabbits are known as “Hares.” A hare under one year old is called a “leveret.”

How do you slaughter a rabbit humanely?

The preferred method is dislocation of the neck. The rabbit is held firmly by the rear legs and head; it is stretched full length. Then with a hard, sharp pull, the head is bent backward to dislocate the neck. The rabbit can also be struck a hard, quick blow to the skull behind the ears.