Of course, some people won’t agree, but in my opinion, the nutrition, welfare, and environmental arguments are pretty strong.
However, not all rabbits are created equal, so you should be aware of some crucial information.
Guys, if you learn just one thing from this article or this entire website Please, oh please, draw a big fat line separating domesticated and wild rabbits.
Australian rabbit farming appears to have slipped under the Shitty Animal Welfare Practice Stakes’ radar. It’s no better than caged and battery chickens. The Sustainable Table website has a link at the bottom that explains the key distinction between farmed and wild rabbits.
Additionally, I think it’s pretty douchey to breed rabbits in a nation where there is already such a severe problem with the rabbit population.
Since I’ve had some success selling our Wild Rabbit products, a few suppliers have approached me and said they, too, have products made from “wild” rabbits that they can provide to me. However, once I’ve seen the products, I am 100% certain they are NOT made from wild rabbit.
HINT: If you see anything made of rabbit fur that is white, black, caramel, patchy, or otherwise resembles a pet rabbit, it has been farmed and is NOT wild.
It’s obviously much more difficult to tell with the meat, but wild rabbits are typically smaller and leaner than rabbits raised on farms. They’re also much harder to find.
There’s no denying that wild rabbits are among the best options when it comes to animal welfare. They hop around doing what rabbits do, destroying crops, digging holes, and roosting, so they probably have a pretty good life, right? Then, one night, without warning or fear, a quick, clean shot to the head ends everything.
That sure beats spending your entire life in a cage with no access to sunlight, fresh air, or social interaction, right?
Comparing wild rabbit meat to chicken, pork, turkey, duck, fish, lamb, or beef, it has the highest protein content. Additionally, it is a great source of vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. B3 and B12 vitamins, phosphorus, potassium, and selenium are all abundant in rabbit meat.
It has a fantastic balance of fatty acids and is lower in fat than chicken or pork while being higher in omega 3.
Wild rabbits damage vegetation, trample native wildlife, and otherwise degrade the environment. By eating seeds and seedlings, they ringbark trees and shrubs and stop regeneration.
They frequently have a greater impact during times of drought and right after a fire, when food is scarce and they must eat whatever they can.
Over 150 million wild rabbits live in Australia, which is why I believe it is absurd to farm them. Finding a use for their meat and hides makes sense given how ineffective most control methods are.
Well, a friend of ours who enjoys hunting assists neighborhood farmers by removing their feral animals. He primarily kills foxes during lambing season, but he also controls rabbits at other times.
And yes, he is the cause of the absurdly large number of orphan lambs we currently house.
Back to the rabbits: We reasoned that since the carcasses had previously been dumped into a burn pit, we could pay him for them and use the meat (and fur) for treats.
So now, rather than wasting everything, we make the most of what we have. The organs and the head are the only parts we don’t use. From their ears to their tails, everything is available. This includes all the nutritious meaty parts as well. Check out the Wild Rabbit on the Shop Page here.
These snacks are provided to you by wild animals and contain no preservatives or other “treatments”; instead, they have been dehydrated for your convenience.
Rabbit is a healthy addition to your dogs diet and may benefit them in more ways than you would expect! What many do not know is that rabbit is also more eco friendly than many other proteins for pet (and human consumption). If your pet struggles with skin irritation, inflammation, or stomach sensitivity with foods… continue reading.Novel Rabbit is a novel protein. A novel protein is one your pet is seldom exposed to in their normal diet. Rabbit is a top pick for pet owners with protein based allergies. Food allergies can show in the form of hot spots, itchy skin, poor coat, or GI tract irritation. Long exposure to a single protein is believed to trigger a dog’s food allergy. Some canine nutritionists believe adding novel proteins to your pet’s diet can lower allergy risks.Cooling Protein In traditional Chinese medicine, cooling proteins, such as rabbit, are believed to help with inflammation. Warmer proteins, such as lamb, are thought to increase body heat with the potential to inflame an allergic reaction. Cooling proteins could benefit by balancing energy in pets prone to running “hot” with allergies and inflammation.Healthy Choice Rabbit has more protein per ounce than beef, pork, chicken, or lamb with essentially no saturated fat! A good protein source for pets needing a nutritious treat that is lower in calories and fat. It is also low in cholesterol and a heart healthy choice.Eco Friendly Rabbit produces 6x the meat on the same feed and waters as cattle consume to produce only one pound. Large livestock can be a heavy burden on the land and compete with feeds used for human consumption. The environmental impact of raising rabbits is very low and less space is needed for ethical production. The globally increasing demand for food and the decrease of available open space lead to feedlots and mass confinement of large livestock. Rabbits are a great choice as a low impact, high production animal that have a very minimal impact on land and water.Our Rabbits Our network of rabbit growers are based in the wide open spaces of Wyoming. Almost all of these small family farms with rabbits are run by their youth participating in 4-H. This program encourages production management, showmanship, ethical animal raising, and breed standards. The funds we pay are used by these families to continue the eduction of quality animal management to our future generation. We have 100% transparency with our growers on how meat rabbits will be processed. We do not purchase from large commercial facilities or any grower we have not met in person to ensure a high degree of ethics. These rabbits are free of hormones or antibiotics and are raised with space, a high degree of ethics, and love from their families.Want to try 100% rabbit? Rabbit Strips Rabbit PattiesRabbit Twists
Where to Buy Raw Rabbit Heads
My trusted raw dog food place in the US that sells raw rabbit heads is Raw Feeding Miami.
Between 2016 and 2021, when I moved to Germany, I placed orders with them. Every single one of my countless orders was of the highest quality, and all of my dogs adored receiving deliveries from RFM.
Raw rabbit heads from RFM. Save 10% with my
Now that we’re in Germany, I get raw rabbit heads from a brand called Haustierkost. I’ve placed several orders with them and both Wally and myself have been very happy with everything they’ve sent us so far.
Rabbit Is a Cooling Protein
First off, rabbit is a protein that is known to be hypoallergenic and is a cooling food. That’s according to Chinese food energetics.
There are also neutral and hot protein temperatures if you’re not familiar with the various kinds.
Anyone who owns a dog with food sensitivities that cause itching and scratching should take note of this powerful information.
One of those dogs is Wally, and over time I discovered that he responds much better to cooling and neutral proteins than hot ones. For example, rabbit and duck.
FAQ
Are rabbits safe for dogs to eat?
The quick response is that yes, dogs can eat rabbit. Many dog foods contain rabbit, which is a good source of protein for your dog.
What happens when dog eats rabbit?
But if they consume the entire rabbit, dogs can contract parasites from rabbits. It is possible for rabbits to carry tapeworms, and these cysts may be embedded in the muscle tissue of the animal. Your veterinarian will likely advise giving your dog a tapeworm dewormer if it has eaten a rabbit.
What part of the rabbit can dogs eat?
RMBs, also known as raw meaty bones or raw rabbit heads, are a small but crucial component of raw dog food and account for roughly 10% of an adult dog’s recommended daily intake of food. FYI: Puppies need more raw meaty bones than adult dogs.
Can dogs get ill from eating rabbits?
In North America, tularemia cases are scattered around the continent. Late spring and summer are when it is most frequently observed. Although tularemia rarely affects dogs, they may become infected if they kill or consume an infected rabbit or rodent or if they are bitten by an insect.