The Art of Cuniculture - Raising Rabbits for Food and Fur

The Art of Cuniculture - Raising Rabbits for Food and Fur
By M Salcedoand Herschel H Hemingway

The Art of Cuniculture

Have you ever been curious about raising rabbits for meat or even fur? Let's discuss the art of cuniculture, the different methods, and even a brief history.

A Brief History of the Domestication

Selective breeding began in monasteries in the middle ages. The popularity of keeping them as household pets rose during that time and were later bred for their fur color and weight. This resulted in several new species being documented by the 1500′s.

Rabbits made their way to Great Britain in the thirteenth century, and by the sixteenth century, Queen Elizabeth even had rabbit island; patches of land inside rivers where rabbits were free from predators and allowed to thrive. Awesome huh? Her husband, King Henry the VIII, had rabbit colonies so large he could hunt in them!

One of the oldest domesticated breeds is the Angora. These fancy looking wooly furballs were kept by French royalty in the eighteenth century.

Raising Rabbits for Fur

Rabbit fur is made up of guide haris, guard hairs, and down hairs. Rabbit fur is actually quite valuable and considered to have more essential oils than other animal furs and pelts.

If you are raising for fur, keep in mind, the best fur comes on after the they are about 5 months old, at 4 months old they will still have infant fur.

Common Breeds for Fur

The Castor Rex is probably the most commonly bred for fur. They come in different varieties from "broken" to "mini" and can cost about $50.00 each. Pricey, but their pelts are highly sought after.

The Angora is bred specifically for it's long, soft wool. Angora Rabbit wool is both softer and finer than cashmere. However regular, even daily, grooming is necessary for these rabbits.

Common Uses for Rabbit Fur

Rabbit fur is most commonly used to make gloves, scarves, hats, and coats.

Raising Rabbits for Meat

If you're thinking about keeping rabbits for food, you're not alone. Thousands of people around the country keep rabbits for food. These little breeding machines are great for sustainability.

One doe can have five or six litters a year, with five or six bunnies to a litter, half of these being female, will be ready to breed at around five months. So momma rabbit and daughter rabbit will be having litters together before the year is over.

Keep the Bloodline Healthy

Rotate your males. Introduce new males for your breeding females to keep your rabbits healthy. You are trying to cut down on inbreeding between the rabbits here.

What does Rabbit meat taste like?

Most people wouldn't think of eating Rabbit, that is until they actually taste it. Most people will tell you Rabbit meat taste like chicken, but in actuality it ha it's very own unique flavor, maybe "earthy" or "gamey" you could say. You should at least try rabbit someday if you haven't already, you won't regret it.

Many people think of Rabbits as rodents, and most people would never eat a rodent. Rabbits are not rodents, however. Rabbits, Hares and Pikas belong to the mammal order Lagomorpha.

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