Best mixes for meat rabbit?

[secuono]

What is the best mix of breeds to get a good meat rabbit? Best two or three mixes for the buck, best 2 or 3 mixes for the doe?

 

[DianeS]

According to what I learned when I first came here, traditionally the "best" meat rabbit is the offspring of a New Zealand and a Californian. A purebred of each, mate them, and the offspring have the best meat-to-bone ratio and the fastest growth rate. I did that, and am quite happy with the results. The kits are heavier with meat than they look like they'll be, and the bones are nicely small. I may some day try to make my own cross that is a little more heavy, but until I have time to do that then this cross is fine by me. People who have better results than this are typically inventing their own mixes that do supremely well on their specific food sources. I have not heard of any other mixes that a large number of people recommend.

Of course that's assuming you are looking for large meat rabbits. There are different ones if you need one that can reside in a smaller cage. And it gives standard pelts, too, not really nice ones like the Rexes. And since it's a mix it assumes you are not needing to sell the kits to others (or at least not for purebred prices). If you have any of those needs then the NZ/Cali cross might not be the best FOR YOU. Always take your own circumstances into consideration.

 

[20kidsonhill]

Try a silver fox and a new zealand cross. Silver fox have an excellant personality and an excellant bone to meat ratio. and are very good mothers.

 

[Ms. Research]

Try a silver fox and a new zealand cross. Silver fox have an excellant personality and an excellant bone to meat ratio. and are very good mothers.

X2 on this cross.

Also if you are looking at a smaller rabbit due to space, the tan is also considered a very excellent choice for meat rabbits.

 

[crazyturkeydesigns]

X2 on this cross.

Also if you are looking at a smaller rabbit due to space, the tan is also considered a very excellent choice for meat rabbits.

Dutches and florida whites too! Some of the smaller breeds make surprisingly excellent meat rabbits (and, at the risk of sounding a little cold, it's a good source of meat if you have trouble selling culls).
Many of the crosses in my area are Sables x NZ or Satins x NZ and they make some nice rabbits. We have lots of access to both of those breeds through excellent breeders in here, so that's probably got a lot to do with it.
IMO you'd be safe crossing two strong healthy animals from a long list of breeds. Cals have been crossed into a few different breeds (Sables included) to improve type, and as stated, SFs are generally excellent mothers with fine bone. I wouldn't cross any giant breeds (like flemish/chinchilla/etc) because most have big ole bones.

 

[Ms. Research]

X2 on this cross.

Also if you are looking at a smaller rabbit due to space, the tan is also considered a very excellent choice for meat rabbits.

Dutches and florida whites too! Some of the smaller breeds make surprisingly excellent meat rabbits (and, at the risk of sounding a little cold, it's a good source of meat if you have trouble selling culls).
Many of the crosses in my area are Sables x NZ or Satins x NZ and they make some nice rabbits. We have lots of access to both of those breeds through excellent breeders in here, so that's probably got a lot to do with it.
IMO you'd be safe crossing two strong healthy animals from a long list of breeds. Cals have been crossed into a few different breeds (Sables included) to improve type, and as stated, SFs are generally excellent mothers with fine bone. I wouldn't cross any giant breeds (like flemish/chinchilla/etc) because most have big ole bones.

I have to admit I love my sable. His personality is tremendous and he is long and has good haunches. And I've read many opinions about the giant breeds not being really good meat rabbits due to large bones. If I went giant it would definitely be for show. Amazing looking rabbits. But they NEED a lot of space which I definitely don't have.

I have a question. Have you ever heard of holland lops as meat rabbits? Or are they just for show and pets? Just curious as to your opinion. Thanks.

 

[crazyturkeydesigns]

X2 on this cross.

Also if you are looking at a smaller rabbit due to space, the tan is also considered a very excellent choice for meat rabbits.

Dutches and florida whites too! Some of the smaller breeds make surprisingly excellent meat rabbits (and, at the risk of sounding a little cold, it's a good source of meat if you have trouble selling culls).
Many of the crosses in my area are Sables x NZ or Satins x NZ and they make some nice rabbits. We have lots of access to both of those breeds through excellent breeders in here, so that's probably got a lot to do with it.
IMO you'd be safe crossing two strong healthy animals from a long list of breeds. Cals have been crossed into a few different breeds (Sables included) to improve type, and as stated, SFs are generally excellent mothers with fine bone. I wouldn't cross any giant breeds (like flemish/chinchilla/etc) because most have big ole bones.

I have to admit I love my sable. His personality is tremendous and he is long and has good haunches. And I've read many opinions about the giant breeds not being really good meat rabbits due to large bones. If I went giant it would definitely be for show. Amazing looking rabbits. But they NEED a lot of space which I definitely don't have.

I have a question. Have you ever heard of holland lops as meat rabbits? Or are they just for show and pets? Just curious as to your opinion. Thanks.

Our Sable buck is a sweetie too! I really like the sables because they aren't too big but they've certainly got some heft to them.
I've never heard of hollands as meat rabbits, but we don't have so many in our area (good breeders, anyway) so you don't hear too much about them. From briefly reading about them, however, it seems as though their type relies a lot on larger bone structure to get that "massive" look, and, in general, the bigger the bone the less meat on the bun. Like I said, though, that conclusion is just from some brief research. I imagine the HLs that are more refined in bone would carry a little more meat.
That being said, any rabbit has meat on it's bones. Maybe some of the larger culls could go in the freezer? It's always an option (not my favorite, but sometimes the most practical).

Ooops, forgot to post a link I found that I think you'll like (if you haven't found it already):HLRSC
a ton of articles and useful to more than just HL breeders. Awesome stuff.

 

[Ms. Research]

Dutches and florida whites too! Some of the smaller breeds make surprisingly excellent meat rabbits (and, at the risk of sounding a little cold, it's a good source of meat if you have trouble selling culls).
Many of the crosses in my area are Sables x NZ or Satins x NZ and they make some nice rabbits. We have lots of access to both of those breeds through excellent breeders in here, so that's probably got a lot to do with it.
IMO you'd be safe crossing two strong healthy animals from a long list of breeds. Cals have been crossed into a few different breeds (Sables included) to improve type, and as stated, SFs are generally excellent mothers with fine bone. I wouldn't cross any giant breeds (like flemish/chinchilla/etc) because most have big ole bones.

I have to admit I love my sable. His personality is tremendous and he is long and has good haunches. And I've read many opinions about the giant breeds not being really good meat rabbits due to large bones. If I went giant it would definitely be for show. Amazing looking rabbits. But they NEED a lot of space which I definitely don't have.

I have a question. Have you ever heard of holland lops as meat rabbits? Or are they just for show and pets? Just curious as to your opinion. Thanks.

Our Sable buck is a sweetie too! I really like the sables because they aren't too big but they've certainly got some heft to them.
I've never heard of hollands as meat rabbits, but we don't have so many in our area (good breeders, anyway) so you don't hear too much about them. From briefly reading about them, however, it seems as though their type relies a lot on larger bone structure to get that "massive" look, and, in general, the bigger the bone the less meat on the bun. Like I said, though, that conclusion is just from some brief research. I imagine the HLs that are more refined in bone would carry a little more meat.
That being said, any rabbit has meat on it's bones. Maybe some of the larger culls could go in the freezer? It's always an option (not my favorite, but sometimes the most practical).

Ooops, forgot to post a link I found that I think you'll like (if you haven't found it already):HLRSC
a ton of articles and useful to more than just HL breeders. Awesome stuff.

Thanks for your input. Also thanks for the link posted. Appreciate your help. I knew Holland Lops had their own association but only looked at the association briefly.

I have to agree with you on the stockier built. It's more bone than meat. Thought so but just wanted an opinion. Reason I asked, I'm on a waiting list for holland lops. I'm getting them as pets. I wanted to experience different breeds. I hear holland lops tend to be more friendlier. Plus the cute little faces and droopy ears tend to lead me to believe hollands are more looked at as pets and show than meat. I can't wait to see what they are like.

 

[secuono]

I got a pair of silver fox. The lady had NZ, but they were mean and frankly...ugly, lol.

 

[Ms. Research]

I got a pair of silver fox. The lady had NZ, but they were mean and frankly...ugly, lol.

Too each his own is my way of thinking. I hear a lot of good things about NZ's. Don't think they are ugly but I guess I like color.

Also regarding mean, I think it's all about how they are raised. And handled by the breeder. I will say that for any animal. And yes there are those exceptions. No matter how well you raise them, they can be mean.

Good Luck with your pair of silver foxes.