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Why Eat Rabbit Meat?

baked rabbit dish

     Domestic rabbit has a delicate flavor, comparable to chicken in taste, but not identical. The ratio of meat to bone is high meaning there is more edible meat on the carcass than even a chicken. It contains more protein, than beef, pork and lamb, and at the same time only has a small amount of fat. Because rabbit meat has almost no “saturated” fat, even people who have serious problems with the gastrointestinal tract, may eat it.

     Rabbit meat is one of the best “white meats” available on the market today. Besides protein, it contains vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins B and C, potassium, iron, phosphorus, and trace minerals. But it has a minimal amount of sodium salts, that makes it an important dietetic product. It is common for rabbit meat to be used in special diets for the aged, for heart disease patients, low sodium diets, etc.

     Rabbit meat is so healthy and lean that doctors prescribe rabbit meat diets to people who are overweight and obese. Because the fat and calorie levels are so low, but protein so high, one can radically change their life by eating a rabbit meat diet and exercising.

     Regular consumption of rabbit meat normalizes metabolism. Large amount of lecithin, and a small amount of cholesterol in rabbit meat makes it an excellent remedy that helps to prevent atherosclerosis.

     Studies have shown that rabbit meat is an excellent food in a unique way, that it doesn’t allow radioactive strontium to penetrate into the body. It turns out that eating rabbit meat reduces the dose of radiation received. Thanks to this amazing property, it is recommended for cancer patients to eat rabbit meat to reduce the harm, caused by anti-cancer therapies.

     It is also noteworthy that the protein in rabbit meat is almost entirely assimilated by our body ( 96%). Breast- feeding moms, school-age children and the elderly people do well on this protein. The fat of rabbit meat is a bio-active substance, and has anti-allergic properties. Even toddlers are allowed to eat rabbit meat because it contains a minimal number of allergens.

 
raising rabbits 

during the depression A Little History....
 
     Rabbits, especially the European rabbits have been used for meat as far back as 1500BC.

     The first recorded rabbitry was in early Roman times, where rabbits were kept in walled rabbit gardens for food.

     Our forefathers, whether Native American or Pioneer Settlers, ate rabbit meat. Without refrigeration, there was no worry of wasted meat, unlike bison or deer.

     Back in the 1940s and 1950s rabbit meat was as common for dinner as chicken is today. It is the meat that got many people and their children through the lean times of the Depression. Rabbit meat began to lose its popularity though, as Big-AGRA’s giant feed-lot and factory farm operations started supplying lots of cheap, sub-quality chicken and beef.

     In other countries many people enjoy rabbit meat with France being the world’s largest producer and consumer of rabbit meat. In Hungary, there are rabbit producers with over 10,000 does that produce rabbits for export to Italy.

     Actually today, you will find rabbit as a gourmet delicacy on the menu in many “high-end” restaurants on the East and West coasts. It is also quite popular in some Southern States.

     When rabbit meat is on the menu though, you can expect controversy to follow. While it’s perfectly acceptable to eat farm animals such as cows and chickens, many people balk at the idea of eating “cute little bunnies”.

     Despite the resistance to consuming rabbits, this lean meat serves as a healthful and nutritious alternative to chicken, beef and pork. The office of home economics, state relations of the U S Department of Agriculture have stated that domestic rabbit is one of the most nutritious meats known to man.

 
rabbit stew Specific Health Benefits....
 
Calories....   A serving of rabbit meat contains far fewer calories than the same size portion of other meats. For example, rabbit has only 795 calories per pound... as compared to: Chicken-810, Veal-840, Turkey-1190, Lamb-1420, Beef-1440, Pork-2050.
 
Fat and Cholesterol....   Rabbit meat is lower in percentage of fat than chicken, turkey, beef, or pork. Also, the fat is on the outside of the meat like a deer and not as laced or marbled in the meat like beef. The amount of cholesterol in rabbit meat is also much lower than chicken, turkey, beef or pork, making it very “heart-patient” friendly.
 
Protein....   Rabbit meat has a high amount of easily digestible protein, and the highest protein percentage of all other meats.
 
Vitamins...   Adding rabbit meat to your meal plan gives you a big boost of vitamin B-12. One 3 oz. serving will provide more than the minimum daily requirement. Vitamin B-12 plays a critical role in the function of your central nervous system and metabolism, as well as the formation of red blood cells.
 
Rabbit also serves as a rich source of vitamin B-3 (niacin). This vitamin aids in converting carbohydrates to energy and manufacturing a variety of hormones.
 
Minerals...   Rabbit meat contains quite a bit of selenium, a mineral your body uses to make antioxidants which help to combat hardening of the arteries, as well as cancers such as stomach, lung, prostate and skin cancer.
 
A serving of rabbit also provides you with a good amount of the phosphorus you need in your daily diet. This mineral influences your body’s ability to use carbohydrates and fats, as well as to repair cells, tissues and bone metabolism.
 
The calcium and phosphorus contents in rabbit meat are higher than other meats, but the sodium content is comparatively less.
 

 
    So as you can see there are many health benefits to eating rabbit meat. Use rabbit as a replacement for chicken in any recipe. Because rabbit is such a lean meat, some recipes call for cooking at lower temperatures for a longer time, adding other fats, or marinating first. Give it a try!
 
 
litter of rabbits Other Interesting Facts....
 
  - Rabbits are one of the most productive domestic livestock animal there is.
 
  - While feeding off its mother’s milk, a new born rabbit can double its weight in just 6 days... as compared to a pig at 14 days, calves 47 days, and humans 160 days.
 
  - One rabbit that weighs 10 pounds, can produce 300 pounds of meat in a year!
 
  - Rabbits can produce 6 times the meat that a cow can produce on the same amount of feed and water.
 
  - Because rabbits can be bred year ’round, the meat is usually available almost anytime of the year.
 
  - Rabbit meat is considered kosher, halal and acceptable for Hindus who decline beef for religious reasons. The Catholic Church's restriction on eating meat during Lent does not apply to rabbit meat.
 
  - Rabbits can eat a grain-free diet. They are rarely ever fed anything medicated, and are not treated with hormonal growth stimulants and antibiotics like chicken and beef.
 
 
Rabbit Meat for Dogs and Cats....
 
     Rabbit would have to be one of the most suitable all round meat sources for both dogs and cats. Wild rabbit is a free range, organic meat, low in fat, and high in nutritional value. It is an ideally suited prey source, and has historically been a favorite prey animal of both dogs and cats.
 
     Rabbit is very hypoallergenic and can help with any animal that has food or other intolerances to other meats. It is also helpful in animals with dry flaky skin. A raw diet most closely resembles the natural diet for carnivores like dogs and cats.
 
 
Haiti rabbit hutches The future of rabbits....
 
     As the worlds human population grows there will be less land and water to raise food. The rabbit will play an increasing role in food production, due to the fact that rabbits can and do grow well in smaller spaces.
 
     Rabbits are being used as a solution for protein-energy malnutrition in developing countries. The greatest plus is that rabbits can be raised on a grain-free diet. In a world of rising prices and increasing demand for grain, the ability to raise a good protein on garden forage is critical in poorer countries.
 
     Following the catastrophic 2010 earthquake, many Haitians moved out of their devastated capital and back into the countryside, relying on small holdings to grow vegetables and raise animals like rabbits. Over 1,700 Haitian rabbit producers now maintain some 1,250 rabbit facilities, which are home to 32,650 breeding rabbits.
 
 
rabbit tractor Reasons To Raise Backyard Rabbit For Meat...
 
     We are all concerned about our health (or at least we should be!) and one great thing about raising your own rabbit meat is not only that you’ll know exactly what has gone into your rabbit, but you’ll also be eating a leaner protein-rich diet. Pound-for-pound, rabbit meat has FAR MORE protein and LESS fat than other meats. This means you’ll not only be spending less for food, but you’ll have the extra health benefit too!
 
     You may have been considering raising chickens, geese, ducks, goats, sheep or other small livestock for meat, but once you learn how easy and inexpensive it is to raise rabbits, you may just consider rabbits for your primary meat source. Here’s why....
 
Rabbits have an extremely high reproduction rate.  One healthy, mature doe can produce up to 1000% of her body weight every year. Owning just one female and one male can supply meat twice a week for a family of four.
 
Rabbits need very little living space.  Whether you’re living in a condo or out in the country, you can always find space to raise a couple rabbits. No grazing is required and they’re rarely classified as livestock which allows you to keep them virtually anywhere. How many apartment complexes would let you keep a chicken or goat in them?
 
Rabbits are low maintenance.  Check in on them every evening to feed, water and do quick health checks, clean their cages once a month and keep a simple breeding journal... that’s all you need to do! Females take care of the young themselves and the only special tools you’ll need are nesting boxes which you can even build yourself. No incubators or hand feeding is required.
 
Rabbits don’t need a heated barn.  Most meat rabbit breeds can withstand cold weather down to -20 as long as they have hay or straw to burrow in, with appropriate shelter from the extreme weather, wind, snow etc. But keep in mind you will need to keep your rabbits cool in the summer heat. Depending on your breed type, you'll want to keep your rabbits at least below 80 degrees F but it would be better at 70 degrees F or lower.
 
Rabbits are virtually silent roommates.  Rabbits are extremely quiet animals. They won’t reveal your location to anyone, even if you’re traveling with them. Who knows what a chicken, goose or duck is likely to attract, not to mention a rooster. If outdoor cages are well hidden and clean, neighbors may not even know they are there.
 
A little rabbit feed goes a long way.  When bunnies are being weaned (6-8 weeks old), they are large enough for consumption. This allows you to skip giving most of the bunnies feed as you gradually cull the young, leaving only the adults to consume expensive rabbit feed.
 
Rabbits are the perfect sized meal for a family of four.  Rabbits are compact and usually butchered at “fryer size” (3-5 pounds), so you don’t have to worry about storing or eating leftovers.
 
Rabbit manure is great for your garden.  Rabbit manure is an excellent fertilizer that can be put directly around your plants and does not need composted first like chicken manure. Plus, if you do vermi-compost, your worms can be fed the droppings too.
 
Rabbit meat is very high in protein and extremely low in fat and cholesterol.  Very few other meats have nutritional values like rabbits, and none of them can be raised in your living room. Doctors have actually been known to prescribe rabbit meat diets to overweight patients.
 
Rabbit fur will make an incredibly warm coat and is a great bartering item.  On a cold winter’s night, snuggling into a blanket made from rabbit pelts will keep your family warm long after the fire has gone out. You can also make hats or other accessories, and kids love getting a lucky rabbit’s foot.
 
Rabbits are relatively easy to butcher and clean.  No one likes doing it but if you’re going to eat them, they day will come eventually. Someone with experience can take a rabbit from cage to freezer in 15 minutes or less. No plucking is needed and there’s very little cleanup.
 
 
meat rabbits Food Security for Uncertain Times...
 
     We are all aware of the current problems in world food chains... pesticide contamination, GMO foods, herbicide treated foods, depleted nutritional values, outbreaks of disease, and more. You keep spending hard-earned money from your pocket for sub-par food. So ask yourself a few questions right now about the meat you put in your mouth every day:
 
     - Would you like to know exactly where the meat you are eating came from and what happened to it during its lifetime?
 
     - Would you like to fully control the animal’s diet and whether it truly was fed organic, non-GMO feed and the best other foods possible, instead of just being pumped full of chemicals?
 
     - Would you like to be certain that it lived in a pen that was cleaned regularly, where it lived a comfortable, content life and was culled humanely?
 
     - Would you like to provide your family with warm clothing as well as put food on the table?
 
     - Would you like to have meat, fur, rabbits and more to sell, trade or barter?
 
     All that and more is possible if you begin raising your own rabbits for meat. Rabbits are quiet, clean and docile creatures which can even be raised in your home. Even most apartment dwellers can find enough space to raise a few rabbits and neighbors may never even know they are there.
 
     People have been raising meat rabbits for centuries but breeding rabbits for meat and fur production didn’t become popular in the United States until the beginning of the 20th century. During the Great Depression, many families began raising rabbits for food to avoid starvation and provide a significant source of protein. Despite only feeding the rabbits table scraps and foraged greens, a family could still have decent rabbit meat production numbers although the rabbits were not at their ultimate protein levels.
 
     Food prices have been rising and are expected to rise even more this year. Do you want to keep giving your money to big business or would you rather keep it at home where it belongs? There is no better time to take control of your own food supply chain and to being raising meat rabbits in addition to growing your own vegetables and fruits. Just a few minutes out of every evening are enough to keep your rabbitry running smoothly.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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