porkchop48
Ridin' The Range
Would these make good meat rabbits?
Or would straight giant chinchilla rabbits be better?
Or would straight giant chinchilla rabbits be better?
So here's my results on the NZ x Chinchilla meat bunnies. I butchered 13 rabbits (2 litters) at 12.5 weeks of age and had an average dress weight of 2.8 lbs. They were fed 15% protein pellets (though I did bump them up to 18% for the last two weeks) and free choice orchard grass hay. I'm pleased with the result.brentr said:My current batch of rabbits I'm growing out for meat are chinchilla x NZW crosses (NZ does I bought were bred to Chinchilla buck at time of purchase). They are growing well and just hit 7 weeks of age. They are on track for slaughter at 10-11 weeks of age. I haven't weighed them on a scale, but I'd put their average weight right now at 2.5 - 3.0 lbs. I'm shooting for 5.0 lbs or higher live weight at time of slaughter. [I feed my butcher bunnies free choice both 15% pellets and orchard grass/timothy hay. They get some alfalfa now and again too.]
I don't have any litters of straight chinchilla bunnies to compare, but these crosses are certainly looking good. I bred my does to a Californian buck this time around, so in a few months I'll have a second batch of 7 wk old bunnies to compare growth rates, etc. I'm a believer in the benefits of hybrid vigor in meat rabbits vs. straight breed (especially since I have no registered animals or plans to establish any).
In short, I think you would be pleased with the cross-breeding result for meat. However, going with straight chinchillas would not be bad either, in my opinion. They're a good meat rabbit breed. Go with what makes most sense for you.
Not yet.... Now it will be monday...Fingers crossedMs. Research said:Did you get your Californians?