Raising meat rabbits for competition
Many fairs and rabbit shows have a class called the Meat Pen. If you are buying rabbits for a 4H project, this may be one of the options you want to try. To compete in a meat pen class, you must have three young rabbits ten weeks or less from the same litter. Each should weigh between three and five pounds. The winning pen will contain three rabbits that are nearly identical in appearance, weight, and condition.
It’s best to prepare by knowing the rules for showing meat pens before you begin. Join the American Rabbit Breeders Association and purchase the Standard of Perfection. This will allow you to learn about all the breeds recognized by the association and learn the rules for showing meat pens, as well as showing individual rabbits, competing in fur and other classes. When you join ARBA, you will receive a book that teaches you how to care for rabbits correctly. The book covers show rabbits, meat rabbits, and pets.
You can raise your meat pen from litters hatched from your own rabbits, or you can purchase a meat pen from a rabbit breeder. Most meat pens are purchased when the rabbits are four to five weeks old. This allows you to breed them yourself to the right weight and age for competition.
The beef pen competitions are dominated by white New Zealanders and Californians. These two breeds are most often farmed for meat, so they have been bred to develop rapidly. Other breeds you may see at the meat pens include New Zealand Reds or Blacks, Champagne D’Argents, Palominos, American Sables, Chinchillas, Cinnamons, Crème D’Argents, Rex, Satins, Silver Fox and Silver Martens. All of these breeds have been bred to provide nutritious meals to families around the world.
If you are raising your own beef pen, count back ten weeks from the date of your show. This is when the rabbits should be born. Your female should be bred four weeks prior to that, as gestation is between 28 and 31 days. If you don’t have broodstock, it’s best to start looking for some at least four to five months before the show. Must be a minimum of six months old before being bred. If you are expecting a single doe, you may end up without a litter. Your best bet for the best possible beef pen is to breed multiple females at that time. If you have time, let them have a litter before you need to breed for your show. This allows them to learn how to raise their babies and you will have fewer mishaps.
When buying stock, you’ll need to weigh your options between buying from a commercial rabbit breeder and someone who raises show animals. Ideally, you want rabbits that grow fast like those developed by commercial breeders, but at the same time, they should conform to their breed standard like show rabbits do. Go to a rabbit show if you can and meet the breeders of the types of rabbits you are considering. Even if they don’t have stock for you to buy, they may have contacts with others or be able to give you good advice on what to look for and how to achieve your goals.
