Rabbits slow to breed?

Press, 19 November 1981, Page 13

Rabbits slow to breed?

Canterbury rabbits do not seem to be living up to their reproductive reputation, according to an expert on rabbit breeding. The shareholder secretary of Canterbury Rabbit Meat Producers, Ltd, Mr L. J. Day, said that his company could not find enough rabbits. -Research showed that the local market could take about slMH)kg of rabbit meat each week but the company, one of the largest commercial processors in New Zealand, handled only about 100 kg a week at its Burwood plant. Company seminars in Christchurch and Ashburton had encouraged genuine interest in rabbit farming but many growers were dropping out because of the hard work involved. . Other growers were keeping rabbits for breeding stock to increase their holdings. “There are a lot of rabbits about but no organisation.” he said. The company was also advertising for rabbits from domestic breeders throughout New Zealand but without much success. Mr Day did not expect that the market would ever be adequately supplied, but at least the small numbers of rabbits kept prices up to encourage the infant rabbit industry.