Suggestions please

[KDailey]

I'm doing some research on different breeds of livestock doin can plan for my farm.

I'd live everyone's opinion on which rabbit breed you think would fit my needs the best.

I would like rabbits that:
- good for meat
- have nice pelts with a variety of colors
- have large litters and are good mothers
- also make good pets

I really would rather have something other than the traditional meat rabbits like Californians and new Zealand's

 

[AZ Rabbits]

Check out the Americans. I raise the American Blues, but they also have American Whites. They are developing an American Red at this time too, but I doubt you could find one right now. Then maybe get another great meat rabbit and cross breed for variety of colors. The American pelts are amazingly soft (not short fur like the Rex, Americans have longer soft fur).

Also, you might want to reconsider the New Zealands. If you were to get a white, black and maybe red, you'd get some great color varieties while maintaining great meat production. And maybe even a broken thrown in the mix for some really cute bunnies.

As far as pets, they are a bit big, especially if kids are going to be handling them. And many of the smaller breeds aren't great meat rabbits. And a breed like the Florida White doesn't fit your other criteria and are more boring than NZW's. Perhaps a Tan or a Dutch, but again there's not a ton of variety in color unless you get both and cross them just for fun. You'll get small varieties, but not much without crossing. They don't have large litters either like the larger meat rabbits and their pelts will obviously be much smaller.

I have sold American Blues to families as a pet and they say it's the best pet rabbit they ever had. But it wasn't really small at 11 pounds full grown and not as easy for kids to handle as say a Mini Rex, which isn't an optimal meat producer. So if small size isn't a factor, check them out.

Some varieties of top meat producers for you to google and check out their colors, etc.:
- American (Blues and Whites)
- New Zealands (White, Black, Red, Broken)
- Californians
- Palominos
- Champagne D'Argent
- Satins

Hopefully this gives you a place to start...

 

[2seth2]

If you want a ton of colors and really nice shiney pelts satins are the way to go.

 

[KDailey]

Thank you so much for the information guys!