unicornleather 60 Posted October 19, 2019 Report Share Posted October 19, 2019 As in the title really, I am after some New Zealand white does and a New Zealand Red Buck, yet I can't find any near me in West Wales or anywhere really for a reasonable price. All I see are adverts for pet rabbits that are lops, netherland dwarfs or lionheads and some have been neutered at that and at very high prices. I am scared to ask on some of the animal/pet forums as I get jumped on for daring to want meat rabbits. Has anyone else had this problem,there doesn't seem to be any info on the net for NZ rabbit breeders in the UK maybe they also keep their heads down. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
comanche 2,957 Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 (edited) On 19/10/2019 at 15:30, unicornleather said: As in the title really, I am after some New Zealand white does and a New Zealand Red Buck, yet I can't find any near me in West Wales or anywhere really for a reasonable price. All I see are adverts for pet rabbits that are lops, netherland dwarfs or lionheads and some have been neutered at that and at very high prices. I am scared to ask on some of the animal/pet forums as I get jumped on for daring to want meat rabbits. Has anyone else had this problem,there doesn't seem to be any info on the net for NZ rabbit breeders in the UK maybe they also keep their heads down. Commercial rabbit meat production was a mug's game. Even more so for the Good Lifers who couldn't achieve any sort of scale of economy. Low profits, regulations ,and the low price of wild and imported rabbit pretty much killed the industry. The money was in the sale of breeding stock to hopefull beginers . Then came the boom in designer pet rabbits. Hence you may have to pay show stock prices for some starter stock. Though good nucleus bucks and does were never cheap. The NZW and its strains were the industry mainstay, but if you are just hoping for an interesting hobby that provides a few family lunches why limit yourself? The California was a close second in commercial popularity ,much prettier and easy to handle too. The English rabbit may not match the size and growth rate of the big commercial strains but it is considered a quality meat breed and has the advantage that spare stock should easily sell on the show or pet market. I doubt Hyline are still in the rabbit business but they ,or The Commercial Rabbit Association , used to be the people to seek stock,equipment or advice from . You could try some of the smallholders' forums. Or dare I suggest it ,try to find a supplier of laboratory animals! Edited October 20, 2019 by comanche 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
forest of dean redneck 11,565 Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 Wait till winter and the impulsive summer purchase willl be for sale cheap when they got to go out in the cold and wet to clean them. think what meat you get off a wild rabbit then look for similar size , some of the larger breeds like the French lop take to long to mature and the bone to meat ratio isn’t that great. I talked to one fella an he devolped a strain of dwarf lops for the table. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
terryd 8,402 Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 (edited) This is a good forum to check out may find some help there https://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=102447.0 https://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=01895f1e1d3ae18bc2c0248be6cc9d4c&board=30.0 also another read https://uksurvivalguides.com/raising-rabbits-for-meat/ Edited October 20, 2019 by terryd 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
terryd 8,402 Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 (edited) oh i see your all ready on there lol https://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=77539.0 christ 3 years ago you really are struggling lol Edited October 20, 2019 by terryd Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gnipper 6,435 Posted October 27, 2019 Report Share Posted October 27, 2019 Loads on preloved. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DIDO.1 22,661 Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 Please put the question on a pet rabbit forum and send us a link 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mushroom 12,883 Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 Import from Malta, almost every balcony there has a hutch with rabbits for the pot. To add.. I've never had better tasting rabbit dishes outside of Malta. They really know how to cook it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gamerooster 1,179 Posted November 28, 2019 Report Share Posted November 28, 2019 I have 2 new zealand does, a cali x nwz buck and in the next 2 weeks will have another 2 proven nzw x cali does, can put you intouch with breeders closer to you if youre still after some? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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