Dublinperky
Well-Known Member
What are meat pens? I have californians. They say they are good in meat pens. I don't want to sell my bunnies for meat if that is what it means? Sorry if this is a dumb question!:?
Meat Pens????
- Thread starter Dublinperky
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Pipp
Well-Known Member
Definately not my area (I'm a tofu-kinda girl) but I'll give it a whirl.
It's a term in breeder and fair circles that usually means multiple young rabbits (three, I think) enteredasa group by one owner and judgedon "the breeders' ability to produce a market animal of consistent size and quality."
The term 'market animal' does refer to the rabbit as livestock, thus the meat pen breeds arelarger, fleshy rabbits likeCalifornians and NewZealands.
(Single young rabbits are referred to as 'fryers').
sas :running bunny
It's a term in breeder and fair circles that usually means multiple young rabbits (three, I think) enteredasa group by one owner and judgedon "the breeders' ability to produce a market animal of consistent size and quality."
The term 'market animal' does refer to the rabbit as livestock, thus the meat pen breeds arelarger, fleshy rabbits likeCalifornians and NewZealands.
(Single young rabbits are referred to as 'fryers').
sas :running bunny
GoinBackToCali
Well-Known Member
Pipp is correct.. in the *official terminology*.
However.. I realize I am going out on a limb here and risking a sound flogging, but I do have some of the best Cali's in this area, specifically for *meat pen SHOWING* purposes.
What that means, essentially is, that while Cali's and NZW's are typically a meat breed, we don't breed and show them for that purpose. If you wanted to get technical and name it for what it actually is, it would be something along the lines of *I spent alot of money to perfect my breed standard, ima breed snob, I never been so poor I have to eat my rabbit, but saying meat pens just sounds better and takes up less space on the sign*
We buy, raise, breed for a specific perfect specimen, not cause we're hungry. It's a competition, as in who's better than who.. but for lack of better terminology, we still call it meat pens.. even though none of us HERE.. IN THESE PARTS... eat rabbits anymore.
I have been doing them for a number of years.. my kids show for 4-H, we show Meat Pens, Fryers, Breeders, Best Opposite Sex and Best of Breed. We always go to auction. Do my bunnies get sold? Yes they do. Have I ever had to butcher any of my bunnies.. no I do not.. Why? Because just as the whole competition itself is an arrogance/bragging rights type thing, so is who buys them. Big companys vie for the right to pay a stupid amount for 3 rabbits, to look like philanthropists, and what happens? Out of 6 years of doing 3 shows a year x 2 kids, I have only physically lost 2 sets of bunnies. Were they eaten, nope.. they both wanted them as pets.. so that's where they went. All the rest... ALL of mine... and EVERYBODY elses are ALWAYS donated back.. it's a tax write off for these companys, and they get to feel better about themselves..lol.
The first time your tiny 8 year old stands out there and gets upwards of $3k for 3 rabbits and they give him his rabbits back... yeah yer ok with it..
On the flip.. the reality is.. yes they are meat breeds..they are fast growers who are plump and meaty. In todays economy, meat is a premium, and I get ALOT of people contacting me about breeding them some rabbits to begin backyard breeding to supplement their groceries..I decline the requests because I am not doing it for the eating, I am doing it for the breed perfection. I realize people are hungry, and rabbits maybe tasty.. but they ain't eatin mine.. ramen noodles are cheap.. getcha some of those..
Some prefer Cali's, some prefer NZW's.. but here in Texas.. this is Cali country, and your going to run into some SERIOUS buyers wantin your bunnies for meat.
I am sorry to be so blunt...
Here is my library thread and pics about Cali's..
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=32119&forum_id=18
However.. I realize I am going out on a limb here and risking a sound flogging, but I do have some of the best Cali's in this area, specifically for *meat pen SHOWING* purposes.
What that means, essentially is, that while Cali's and NZW's are typically a meat breed, we don't breed and show them for that purpose. If you wanted to get technical and name it for what it actually is, it would be something along the lines of *I spent alot of money to perfect my breed standard, ima breed snob, I never been so poor I have to eat my rabbit, but saying meat pens just sounds better and takes up less space on the sign*
We buy, raise, breed for a specific perfect specimen, not cause we're hungry. It's a competition, as in who's better than who.. but for lack of better terminology, we still call it meat pens.. even though none of us HERE.. IN THESE PARTS... eat rabbits anymore.
I have been doing them for a number of years.. my kids show for 4-H, we show Meat Pens, Fryers, Breeders, Best Opposite Sex and Best of Breed. We always go to auction. Do my bunnies get sold? Yes they do. Have I ever had to butcher any of my bunnies.. no I do not.. Why? Because just as the whole competition itself is an arrogance/bragging rights type thing, so is who buys them. Big companys vie for the right to pay a stupid amount for 3 rabbits, to look like philanthropists, and what happens? Out of 6 years of doing 3 shows a year x 2 kids, I have only physically lost 2 sets of bunnies. Were they eaten, nope.. they both wanted them as pets.. so that's where they went. All the rest... ALL of mine... and EVERYBODY elses are ALWAYS donated back.. it's a tax write off for these companys, and they get to feel better about themselves..lol.
The first time your tiny 8 year old stands out there and gets upwards of $3k for 3 rabbits and they give him his rabbits back... yeah yer ok with it..
On the flip.. the reality is.. yes they are meat breeds..they are fast growers who are plump and meaty. In todays economy, meat is a premium, and I get ALOT of people contacting me about breeding them some rabbits to begin backyard breeding to supplement their groceries..I decline the requests because I am not doing it for the eating, I am doing it for the breed perfection. I realize people are hungry, and rabbits maybe tasty.. but they ain't eatin mine.. ramen noodles are cheap.. getcha some of those..
Some prefer Cali's, some prefer NZW's.. but here in Texas.. this is Cali country, and your going to run into some SERIOUS buyers wantin your bunnies for meat.
I am sorry to be so blunt...
Here is my library thread and pics about Cali's..
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=32119&forum_id=18
polly
Well-Known Member
I think thats really well put Zin it explains it really well. and is really interesting for people to read 
Dublinperky
Well-Known Member
Thanks for clearing up a little bit. I still don't understand if they actually eat them for meat. Also they donate back your rabbits????? Why would they spend so much money then give the rabbits back???:what I am so confused:craziness
TinysMom
Well-Known Member
I'm not Zin but this is what I understand.
The companies that "buy" the auction rabbits do it as a "charity/community-building" type thing. They get tax write-offs for it and it is their way of "giving back" to the community by supporting the kids in 4H or whatever.
However- they don't want to take the rabbits and have to deal with them. Nor do they want to butcher them. So they donate them back to the kids....who can then sell them again to another company - who will donate them back, etc.
Basically - its a way to help the 4H kids not only learn about rabbits - but make some money for college...or whatever.
At least that is the way I understand it....
Dublinperky wrote:
The companies that "buy" the auction rabbits do it as a "charity/community-building" type thing. They get tax write-offs for it and it is their way of "giving back" to the community by supporting the kids in 4H or whatever.
However- they don't want to take the rabbits and have to deal with them. Nor do they want to butcher them. So they donate them back to the kids....who can then sell them again to another company - who will donate them back, etc.
Basically - its a way to help the 4H kids not only learn about rabbits - but make some money for college...or whatever.
At least that is the way I understand it....
Dublinperky wrote:
gentle giants
Well-Known Member
TinysMom wrote:
I was in 4-H for quite a few years myself, and well do I remember standing up there and smiling real cute at all the "big bidders" like banks, etc. LOL. Most of the bidders are places like banks, local feed stores, businesses that want to call attention to themsleves. Around here a business that bought a 4-H animal will put upa plack (not spelled right, I know) saying that they bought such and such animal from a 4-Her. And yes, 99.9% of the time, a small animal like a rabbit or chicken will be given back to the 4-Her who brought it. Most banks don't really want to keep a rabbit, what would they do with it? It's a community-minded way for businesses to advertise.
Dublinperky
Well-Known Member
Thanks for clearing that up!
