Rabbit meat has been enjoyed for centuries and most of the popular breeds today were used for either meat, fur or both. They are mainly used for both as there is always a market for rabbit fur/skin as a by-product of their meat. Rabbit meat is also very healthy for a person and can be used in most dishes you would use for any other meat products such as soups, stew, casseroles, pies, etc. Most people say that rabbit meat tastes a lot like chicken but then again it depends on the rabbit breed and what is fed on. It also contains a lot fewer calories than most other meat as well as having almost no cholesterol which is excellent for those with heart conditions (although anyone with any health issues should always check with their health adviser before adding to or changing their diet).

10 BEST MEAT RABBIT BREEDS

Flemish Giant Rabbits

Weight: Up to 25 lbs.
These large docile rabbits that do not mind being handled making them easy to manage. They are mainly kept as pets these days but also make a great meat rabbit due to their size. Although they mature rather late, they are still viable to slaughter at around six months and are mainly used as roasters. They have a good size bone structure giving good meat to bone ratio. Their meat has a subtle flavour and can be used for most roasting and stewing dishes. Read More…

Champagne D’Argent Rabbits

Weight: Up to 12 lbs.
These beautiful rabbits were once prized for both their pelts and meat. They are quite an ancient breed of rabbit dating back to 1631 they have a soft glossy coat and a bluish white body. Their meat is enjoyed the world over and is re-known for its tender delicious flavour that can be used in most meat dishes. They are usually ready for slaughter at around six months old and have good meat to bone ratio. They are also quite placid and easy to manage as their coats are not too long, they do not require too much maintenance. Read More…

Californian Rabbits

Weight: Up to 12 lbs.
These beautiful rabbits were developed by the crossing of the New Zealand Whites with the Chinchilla rabbit. They have lovely fur and very nice flavorful meat that is described as blocky and good for production. They are also large rabbits that weight in from between 8 to 12 pounds. As their fur is quite short, thick and soft it does not require a lot of maintenance and the rabbits are easy to manage. Their meat can be used in most rabbit dishes and they grow quite quickly reaching slaughter weight at around 6 months with good meat to bone ratio. Read More…

New Zealand Whites

Weight: Up to 12 lbs.
This is by far the most popular of rabbit meat breeds in the USA and there are numerous signatures dishes this meat can be used with. They are also used for showing and pets these days, but they are one of the larger farmed rabbits for commercial use. The normal New Zealand rabbit tends to come in a few colour varieties, but the whites have what is called Albinism caused by a lack of melanin pigment. They have a high feed to meat ratio and tend to grow rather quickly with flyers being slaughtered from 8 to 12 weeks and the older rabbits are sold as roasters. Read More…

Cinnamon Rabbits

Weight: Up to 11 lbs.
These large cinnamon coloured rabbits were developed accidentally in 1962 by a young brother and sister during Easter Time in Missoula, Montana. They crossbred their Chinchilla female with a New Zealand male rabbit. After which they became a popular meat rabbit in America surpassed only by that of the New Zealand White from which it was partly developed. Their meat texture and flavour are much the same as that of the New Zealand White. They develop at an ideal rate and have good meat to bone ratio. As they have wonderful fur, an excellent nature makes them easy to manage and great as pets. Read More…

Satin Rabbits

Weight: Up to 11 lbs.
Satin rabbits first appeared in 1934 and were mostly developed by Walter Huey of Indiana. They are large rabbits which are known to produce a good amount of highly flavorful meat that can be used in most dishes and are ideal as roasters. They come in many different colours and are a great dual-purpose rabbit breed as their fur is also quite valuable. They do great on a homestead and are low maintenance easy to manage rabbits. They have a large body with good meat to bone ratio and grow relatively fast. Read More…

American Rabbits

Weight: Up to 12 lbs.
They were originally called the German Blue Vienna rabbit but after World War I, they were renamed to American Rabbit. They are a large breed that was really popular up until the 1950s when faster growing commercial rabbits started to take over the rabbit meat industry. The American rabbit has a long mandolin shaped body and has really flavorful meat that can be used in most rabbit meat dishes. But it does not mature as quickly as most commercial rabbis and as such is not really used for commercial production instead, they are better suited to the homestead type environment. They are also still quite a rare breed and are listed on the American Live Stock Conservancy as threatened. Read More…

American Chinchilla Rabbits

Weight: Up to 12 lbs.
This large meaty rabbit is well known for its delectable meat and is one of the best meat rabbits. They are named after the Chinchilla as their fur resembles it. They have a large stocky body and can produce up to 9 pounds of meat per rabbit with their deep loin being the best cut for a succulent delicious roast or barbeque. Their meat can be used for most dishes that call for rabbit or chicken. They are also easy to manage and do not take much maintenance which makes them quite economical and ideal for the homestead. Their fur is soft, plush and dense. Read More…

Beveren Rabbits

Weight: Up to 12 lbs.
The Beveren rabbit is one of the oldest of the rabbit breeds that were used for their fur and meat it is also a very large rabbit breed. They are usually either blue, black. Brown or lilac in colour and gets to around 1 to 1 ½ inches long and is soft, dense and glossy. They mature steadily and have fine flavoured meat that has been enjoyed as a roast or stew for generations. They have a large body with good meat to bone ratio. They are quite rare these days and are ideally suited to the homesteading type of environment. They are easy to manage and maintain, having a good even temperament. Read More…

Silver Fox

Weight: Up to 12 lbs.
The Silver Fox is a breed that originated in America thanks to the efforts of Walter Garland from North Canton, Ohio. They were developed from the crossing of Checkered Giants, Champagne D’Argent and American Blue Rabbits (although there may have been some English Silvers as well). They were named after the silver fox as their fur much resembles that of the fox. They were bred for both their delicious meat and their beautiful soft, glossy plush fur. Today they are listed with the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy as threatened and are considered one of the rarest breeds in America. Read More…