AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR MEAT RABBIT PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING

RABBIT MEAT IS PRESENTLY CONSIDERED A SPECIALTY MEAT PRODUCT THAT IS NOT UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED BY CONSUMERS ALTHOUGH THE NUTRITIONAL AND HEALTH QUALITIES OF RABBIT MEAT FAR EXCEED OTHER MEAT PRODUCTS. A MAJOR PROBLEM FACING THIS INDUSTRY IS ITS INABILITY TO SUPPLY FRYERS DURING THE PEAK MONTHS OF FALL AND WINTER. ATTEMPTS TO GROW AND PROCESS A PREDICATABLE SUPPLY OF RABBIT FOR THE MARKET HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETELY SUCCESSFUL. PHASE I OF THIS PROJECT WILL EVALUATE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY USED IN THE BEEF AND POULTRY INDUSTRIES, AND ADAPT IT TO THE RABBIT INDUSTRY IN ORDER TO REDUCE GROWING STRESS THROUGH SUPERIOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS ALLOWING LARGER PERFORMANCE GAINS. PHASE II EFFORTS WILL BE ORIENTED TOWARD EXPANDING THE USE OF THE USE OF THE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY AND PROCESSING OF RABBIT INTO NEW CONSUMER-READY SPECIALTY PRODUCTS.