Raising pastured rabbits for meat : an all-natural, humane, and profitable approach to production on a small scale /
Nichki Carangelo.
- White River Junction, Vermont : Chelsea Green Publishing, 2019.
- 215 : color illustrations ; 23 cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Why Rabbits? -- Rabbits on the Farm -- Choosing Your Production Method -- Choosing Your Breed -- Handling Your Rabbits -- Breeding Basics -- Record Keeping -- Feeding Your Rabbits -- Health and Disease -- Processing Your Rabbits -- Marketing -- The Economics of Sustainable Rabbit Production -- Preparing Rabbit.
"In recent years there has been talk in the food world that rabbits make more sense than chicken. In a country with a $41 billion broiler chicken industry, this might seem like a pretty bold concept, but it's hardly unsubstantiated. And yet while media has been abuzz about the supposed super protein, very few farmers are stepping up to meet the rapidly increasing interest in sustainably raised rabbit meat. This is partly due to the lack of available resources in the field of rabbit husbandry. Raising Pastured Rabbits for Meat is the first book to address the growing trend of ecological rabbit husbandry for the beginning to market-scale farmer. Inspired by Daniel Salatin, who has long been considered the pioneer in integrated rabbit farming, Nichki Carangelo proves that a viable pasture-based rabbitry is not only possible and user-friendly, it's also profitable. In Carangelo's approach, happy, healthy rabbits are seasonally raised outside on pasture, using a pasture and wire hybrid system that promotes natural behaviors and a diverse diet, while effectively managing the associated risks. Pastured Rabbits for Meat offers valuable information on how farmers can build their own rabbit enterprise from scratch and includes tips on breed selection, breeding techniques, nutrition guidelines, record keeping tools, slaughtering and butchering instructions, marketing advice, and enterprise guides to help farmers plan for profitability. This is an essential guide for anyone interested in integrating rabbits onto a diversified farm or homestead"--