Intro to Meat Rabbits

PODCAST REFERENCES:

• Raising Rabbits for Meat Paperback – November 13, 2018

  by Eric Rapp (Author), Callene Rapp (Author) https://amzn.to/4qBzIUK

• Pet Lodge® Wire Rabbit Hutch | Rust Resistant Galvanized Wire Mesh | Easy to Assemble Stackable Rabbit Cage | Made in USA | 30 X 36 https://amzn.to/4r2ROz0

• Feeder--Pet Lodge® Small Animal Feeder with Lid and Sifter Bottom | Outdoor Gravity Feeder for Rabbits, Ferrets and Other Small Animals | Heavy Duty and Durable https://amzn.to/4sRhX5r

• Water dispenser--I like these with the top open lids, they make it easier to refill: Lixit® Lever Valve Top Fill No Drip Water Bottles for Rabbits, Chinchillas, Ferrets, Guinea Pigs and Adult Rats (32 Ounce, 1 Pack) https://amzn.to/4pWDBme

• Nesting box--Maxcheck 1 Pcs Galvanized Metal Rabbit Nesting Box Bunny Small Animal Nest with Removable Acrylic Floor Durable Easy to Clean for Indoor Outdoor Use Rabbit Supplies (18.5 10.6 10 Inch) https://amzn.to/3M33Nh1

• Some use these foot rest mats--Niwaes Rabbit Cage Mat for Feet-12 Pack Plastic Bunny Resting Mats 12x12 Washable Pet Foot Pad with Holes for Adult Guinea Pig Chinchilla Ferret Squirrel (6 Grey & 6 White) https://amzn.to/3NBcmjE just put one or two mats in each cage.

• Nature Crest–non-GMO Rabbit Feed-try your local feed store, generally smaller feed stores carry 50 lb bags.

• rabbit processing equipment--HTROFYYA Heavy Metal Rabbit Dispatch Tool, Humane Cervical Dislocator for Quick & Ethical Processing of Rabbits, Squirrels, Small Animals https://amzn.to/4tcvQLU

• Winco 6" Commercial-Grade German Steel Boning Knife, Curved, Red https://amzn.to/4bOPBCM

• Labels--MESS Dissolvable Food Labels, 1x2, 200/Roll - Dissolves in 30 Seconds or Less - Removable Pantry, Meal Prep & Food Storage Labels – Canning & Freezer Use https://amzn.to/3O0bTHM

• Shrinking freezer  poultry/rabbit bags, BPA free–https://amzn.to/42C72Ab 

• swallow bird house for flies—https://amzn.to/3GbYCs3

RABBIT RECIPES:

Rabbit breakfast sausage

Emily's Recipe:

Ingredients:

-6 lbs pastured pork fat (preferably non-GMO)

- 6 lbs rabbit (prepping the rabbit is by far the most time consuming part if you are starting from a whole rabbit, but so worth it!)

- 3 T. Celtic salt

- 2 T. Rosemary dried or fresh

- 3/4 tsp Cayenne pepper

- 6 tsp. nutmeg

- 3 tsp. cinnamon

- 2/3 cup Organic Maple Syrup( Get mine in 1 gallon from Azure)

- 1 apple per lb of finished sausage mixed in the morning of cooking, (I freeze mine and thaw, then add apple the day I'm using) peeled and finely chopped.

Directions: Debone 6 lbs rabbit meat. Cut into small 1-2 in cubes pork Fat, mix spices and sprinkle over mixed up meat mixture. Then add Maple Syrup. Marinate x30 min. Prep your meat grinder with a coarse setting. I did not use the sausage link accessory because I wanted to add the apples later! Chill the marinated mixture for easier grinding. Grind the marinated meat and fat mixture in batches.

Vacuum seal bags---makes about 16 x 0.75 lb bags of breakfast sausage. Mash flat after sealing for easier storage in freezer.

I don't know how much Non-GMO rabbit sausage would sell for, but let me tell you after all the work pulling the meat off these rabbit bones---you couldn't pay me for it . We used 6 of our New zealands to make this recipe, they were about 13 weeks old at harvest. Phew! Glad it made a bunch, cause I don't want to have to do that again for a while

German Rabbit Stew recipe: https://honest-food.net/german-rabbit-stew/

Pretty much any chicken recipe you can substitute rabbit. Just plan to precook rabbit in instapot with 1 cup of water for about 15 min on high pressure then quick release. I debone the rabbit and save the bones for stock later. You can combine cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup with rabbit and serve over rice. You can also make Rabbit Devan instead of Chicken Devan, see my recipe on one of our first podcast episodes here: https://www.farmsteadforum.com/podcast-episodes/cooking-from-scratch

UPCOMING WORKSHOP

• I will send out email notifications if we have any upcoming rabbit processing workshops on our farm in Franklin, GA. Subscribe to our email list to stay in the loop!

FOOD PRESERVATION TOOLS:

• Excalibur dehydrator– https://amzn.to/3RsOb5H

• Smoker–This is actually the kind that we have, you can smoke several batches of meat at once with this multi-tiered rack system. Masterbuilt MPS 230S Propane Smoker, 30" , Black  https://amzn.to/40r4hkd 

• Meat grinder–https://amzn.to/4huhY8U