Breeders: Pets or Livestock?

[timbaland]

This may not be the place to share this however I raise New Zealands and when the kits are not show or brood quality...well they are used for meat or given away as pets. They are a multipurpose breed. However every rabbit that I have in my possession and am responsible for has individual attention, play time and toys. You could say I treat them all like "pets" however they are still also technically livestock. It's a difficult ground to steady and it does leave me emotional drained at times. This is why I give away my non-show quality kits to loving homes as often as I can.

The smaller breeds like Holland Lops and Mini Rex obviously are not multipurpose like New Zealands. There is not point in trying to get meat from these rabbits and killing them for fur is a useless waste.

 

[MyRabbits]

I came into breeding and showing through the backdoor of first having spayed and neutered house rabbits. I still have my house rabbits, but the truth is the barn rabbits probably actually get more attention than the house rabbits because I have a well-established routine with them.

My husband is always reminding me that under Maryland law, the rabbits are "livestock," but I suppose in my mind they are one of the complex crosses of livestock and pet described above. But in addition, and more importantly, they are what spiritually root me, as I can always count on their unconditional love. Two of my barn rabbits do get more attention than the others because they are right across from my seat in the barn. I consider them proxies for receiving the love that I would give to all of them if I had the time. And somehow, I think the rabbits accept this, as they seem to have accepted me.

For me, what is more important than the classification of either "livestock" or "pet" is that they are living, cognizant beings. I do my best to give them opportunities to grow into their individuality, to realize themselves as living beings. I know relationships can be key in that, and for that reason I regret that I cannot give each animal more individual time. We are a small rabbitry with just about 20 Flemish Giants, and one of the things I do is that every evening I bring one into the bedroom for four hours with us. They go in the order of their cages so everyone has equal opportunity. That's the best I can do though I wish I could do more.

 

[leo9lionheads]

I view mine as both but mostly as pets.

Everyone is loved and cared for as pets and do get daily attention and are rotated through to get more one on one time regularly but you cannot give every single rabbit in a 30 hole rabbitry hourly one on one attention every day. But I do not allow myself to become attached to babies I am selling and I try to keep a neutral attachment to brood and show stock as there is a time they may be sold or they may die. Any pet quality born are re-homed unless they are one of the occasional wicked mean animals and have to be sold another way. My rabbits are first counted as pets but truly my rabbitry is a showing and breeding run rabbitry first so they dont get as many luxuries as house pets.

 

[Flash Gordon]

"However - I can say that I will never see my animals as livestock to the point that I could put them down because they are the wrong color, pattern, etc. That's just not who I am and while I know that means I'll never make it to the top of the show rounds...I'm ok with that."

"Kudos to Tinysmom for that ...