Overview-Rabbit Industry

Youth 4H-FFA

Through 4H and FFA, a rabbit project is quite suitable for youngsters of all ages and areas. From urban, suburban or rural communities, a rabbit project can be very educational.

Young people can learn all aspects of rabbit management and the science behind it.

They learn about animal care, health, nutrition, physiology, breeding, genetics, housing, behavior, record keeping and presenting themselves and their animals to the public.

Some participants may choose to enter their rabbits in shows, county fairs or to produce meat.

Any participant willing to take the time and effort with their rabbit project will definitely learn and benefit from the experience.

Show

There are currently 45 breeds of rabbits in the United States that are recognized by the ARBA [American Rabbit Breeders Association].

Rabbit shows have gained considerable popularity and the raising of the "fancy" show rabbit can be a profitable business in itself. ARBA sanctioned rabbit shows are held year-round.

Success in the show rabbit market is highly dependent upon "winning" at the rabbit shows. Establishing a reputation for having winning stock will bring sales and everyone will want to buy your rabbits. Competition can be very keen and requires considerable knowledge and skill of the breeder in evaluating potential winners and breeding for quality show rabbits. Prices for top quality breeding stock from winning lines can often be in the hundreds of dollars, particularly if they are national winners.

The new show breeder will need to read everything available pertaining to the chosen breed in order to learn what qualities to breed for. The ARBA "Standard of Perfection" is the book used as the Rabbit Judge's guide for judging all the breeds. The show breeder uses this same book as a guide for learning what qualities to breed for.

A popular saying amongst rabbit breeders states "Anyone with enough money can buy a winning rabbit, but it takes skill and knowledge to breed and raise your own winners" and a lot more prestige in doing so, as well.

A word of caution when purchasing quality breeding stock: please remember that "breeding stock" does not necessarily mean that the individual rabbits being purchased will win on the show tables. If they are from winning bloodlines, they can and will produce winners...IF a carefully planned selective breeding plan is used.

Buying quality stock from winning lines is one thing, but what the buyer does with those rabbits after purchasing can be a totally different matter!

Commercial

In the world of rabbit raising, the word "commercial" is commonly interpreted to mean "raising rabbits for meat". However, "commercial" can also pertain to other aspects and industries of rabbit raising as well. 

The White New Zealands and Californians are the most common breeds used in the meat sector. Both breeds are known for “fast growth and high dressing percentages.” Americans eat 8 to 10 million pounds of rabbit meat every year. Each year over 2 million rabbits are raised for their meat by approximately 200,000 breeders across America.  Today, metropolitan grocery stores and high-end restaurants are the chief retailers of commercial rabbit meat.  

Webster's New World Dictionary defines the word commercial as "made, done or operating primarily for profit." This, then, leads us to the next question of "what determines a profit?"  

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), "anyone who receives $500.00 or more annually from the sale of rabbits or rabbit-related equipment, products, etc., is commercial." 

Defined as multi-use animals, rabbits are raised for a wide variety of American markets, including pet sales, pelt trade, laboratory research, show circuits and food production. The various rabbit sectors work in conjunction with each other.

The USDA does not state "from the sale of rabbits specifically for meat purposes" or any other limitations. Thus, the word "commercial" entails the following rabbit-related industries:

Show Rabbits
Pet Rabbits
Meat Rabbits
Fur/Wool
Laboratory
Equipment
Supplies
Fertilizer/Manure
Worm Raising
Services

Each of the industries is separate and unique, although a breeder may be involved in one or several at the same time.

Often, for the breeder to be able to make an actual "profit," it is highly recommended to tap into more than one of the available marketing resources.