Rabbit Report 1

U.S.
Rabbit Industry Profile
Please address all comments or other correspondence to:

Jennifer Grannis
(970) 494-7328
[email protected]
USDA:APHIS:VS
Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health
Center for Emerging Issues
2150 Center Ave., Building B
Fort Collins, CO 80526-8117
USA
June 2002
I. Executive Summary
i. Rabbit Industry Groups
The rabbit industry is composed of many groups each with differing production goals.
Rabbit production can be commercial, for profit, with the rabbits being used for meat, as pets and
for laboratory purposes. Rabbit production can also be a hobby and the rabbits are raised for the
show circuit, home consumption, pet sales or as 4H animals.
Processors and producers in the commercial meat rabbit industry group are trying to
improve the supply, consistency and market outlets for rabbits. Per capita U.S. rabbit meat
consumption was .02 pounds in 2000. The two most important markets for commercially
produced rabbit are retail grocery stores in metropolitan markets and high-end restaurants.
Increasing imports of frozen rabbit from China are competing for grocery store and restaurant
markets, and winning shelf space because of their comparatively lower price.
The other commercial rabbit industry groups, laboratory and pet, have less well
understood production practices and marketing channels. Neither group has a representative
national organization, and both groups face pressure from animal welfare advocates about the
markets for their animals. The medical research market demands specific characteristics and
high health standards for rabbits, which increase the production costs for these animals. Average
prices and the size of the total breeding stock for these animals are difficult to determine.
Average prices for commercially bred pet rabbits are not known, though they may vary widely
based on region. Annual production or sales through pet stores, are also not known. Pet rabbit
breeders usually supply young, small rabbits to satisfy customer demand and may see a seasonal
increase in demand for rabbits at Easter.
Hobbyists may sell or use rabbits for showing, home meat consumption, direct pet sales,
or wool production. The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) sponsors 4,000 shows
a year, and an annual national show can draw as many as 20,000 rabbits. Show breeders travel
to shows, sell animals to other exhibitors and maintain memberships in breed specific or state
clubs in addition to ARBA. Show breeders and other hobby breeders can be active in multiple
markets, selling culled animals as pets, consuming their own meat rabbits and harvesting wool
from long-haired breeds. Occasionally, commercial producers keep hobby herds for
competitions, but industry members advocate a distinction in breeding practices for fancy
animals and commercial rabbits.
ii. Rabbit Populations
The exact number of rabbits represented by the various rabbit industry groups is
unknown. Commercial rabbit industry experts believe that USDA inspected rabbit slaughter
represents only twenty to twenty-five percent of the total market for rabbit meat, and total
slaughter in 2001 was estimated to be around 2 million rabbits. Populations of pet rabbits are
collected from consumer surveys and population figures for rabbits used in laboratory research
are compiled from licensed facilities. Pet rabbit producers, wholesalers and brokers are also
licensed, but the breeding stock are combined with the laboratory breeding population. Both the
4H and ARBA track participation, but not average herd sizes, and the other industry groups do
not track their breeding stock. What information is available indicates that 5 million pet rabbits
are owned by 2.2 million U.S. households. Laboratory use of rabbits in 2000 was more than
250,000. The 4H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) youth programs may have one million
animals involved in those projects. Hobby breeders, represented by the ARBA, may raise and
show an additional 930,000 rabbits a year. The total domestic rabbit population in the U.S. in
2000 may have been nine million1.
iii. Value of the Rabbit Industry Groups
The value of the rabbit industry is small, especially when compared to livestock
production. Meat rabbit marketings were between $7 and $8 million in 2000, compared to $41
billion for cattle. Retail sales of rabbit meat were between $16 and $20 million. The pet supply
industry related to rabbits is the most valuable at $612 million, but this is small compared to the
$75 billion owners spent on supplies for the entire U.S. pet population (APPMA, 2001). The
value for the industry supporting rabbit shows is unknown, but it may be significant considering
the value of overnight stays, gas and food that is consumed by the fanciers as they travel to and
from shows. There is also no estimate for the value of sales of laboratory or pet rabbits, as
market prices vary widely and are not reported. The U.S. fur and angora wool industries are
insignificant, with most angora products imported as finished goods. Total value for the rabbit
industry groups where information is available was between $745 million and $831 million.
iv. Trade in Rabbits
Total U.S. rabbit meat imports in 2001 were 576 metric tons with a value of $1.1 million
and total meat imports in 2000 were 682 metric tons with a value of $1.5. Total product imports
in 2001 were worth $2.5 million and most of the products were raw furs. The U.S. imported
111,0000 live rabbits from Canada in 2001 and small numbers of live rabbits from Hungary and
Czechoslovakia.
In 2001, 57 metric tons of rabbit meat with a value of $160,000 were exported from the
U.S. to the Dominican Republic, Japan and the French Pacific Islands. The U.S. exported a total
of 45,000 raw and dressed furskins, with a value of $435,000. Most of the U.S. furskins were
exported to Germany. The U.S. exported 54,000 live rabbits in 2001 with a value of $217,000 to
Canada.
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) has emerged as a growing concern for the rabbit
industry in the U.S. following outbreaks in 2000 and 2001. Imported rabbits and rabbit products
may harbor RHD. In 2001, 80 percent of imports were from countries that had experienced
RHD outbreaks in the past.
This value should be considered an estimate of the size of the rabbit industry. Reliable
production numbers for most industry groups do not exist. The USDA maintains reliable records
for businesses requiring licensing under the Animal Welfare Act, but many rabbit producers are
exempt from this certification.
ii
Table of Contents
2. Introduction to the Domestic Rabbit........................................................................................... 2
2.1 The European or Old World Rabbit...................................................................................... 2
3. The U.S. Rabbit Industries.......................................................................................................... 3
4. Commercial Production of Meat Rabbits ................................................................................... 5
4.1 The Rabbitry ......................................................................................................................... 5
4.2 Meat Breeding Stock and Breeding Practices....................................................................... 6
4.3 Marketing Rabbit Meat......................................................................................................... 7
4.4 Commercial Rabbit Production Byproducts ......................................................................... 7
4.5 Rabbit Slaughter ................................................................................................................... 7
5. Commercial Production of Rabbits for Laboratory and Research Markets................................ 9
5.1 Commercial Laboratory Production ..................................................................................... 9
5.2 Laboratory Rabbit Breeds..................................................................................................... 9
6. Commercial Production of Rabbits for Pets ............................................................................. 12
6.1 Production and Sale of Pet Rabbits..................................................................................... 12
6.2 Pet Rabbit Ownership ......................................................................................................... 12
7. Hobby Rabbit Breeding ............................................................................................................ 14
7.1 The Show Rabbit................................................................................................................. 14
7.2 Other Hobby Breeding Groups ........................................................................................... 15
8. Trade in Rabbits........................................................................................................................ 18
8.1 World Trade ........................................................................................................................ 18
8.2 U.S. Exports and Imports.................................................................................................... 18
8.3 Rabbit Trade Related to RHD Incidence ............................................................................ 18
9. Estimated Rabbit Population in the U.S. .................................................................................. 21
9.1 Farm Rabbits....................................................................................................................... 22
9.2 Pet Rabbits .......................................................................................................................... 22
9.3 Laboratory and Research Rabbits ....................................................................................... 22
9.4 4H Rabbit Population.......................................................................................................... 22
9.5 Show Rabbit Population ..................................................................................................... 22
9.6 Meat Rabbit Production ...................................................................................................... 23
9.7 Commercial Breeding Stock Population............................................................................. 23
9.8 Shelter Rabbit Population ................................................................................................... 23
10. Estimated Economic Value of the U.S. Rabbit Industry Groups............................................ 24
10.1 Purchase Price and Value of Pet Care for Pet Rabbits ..................................................... 24
10.2 Retail Rabbit Meat Value ................................................................................................. 25
10.3 Farm or Rabbitry Rabbit Meat Value ............................................................................... 25
10.4 Related and Support Industries for Rabbits ...................................................................... 26
References..................................................................................................................................... 27
Appendix 1: All U.S. Rabbit Imports (Value in $1,000; Quantity in MT or Number) ................ 29
Appendix 2: AWA Licensing and Registration for Rabbits ......................................................... 31
Appendix 3: A Brief Look at a Rabbit Show................................................................................ 32
Appendix 4: List of Abbreviations ............................................................................................... 35
Appendix 5: Glossary ................................................................................................................... 36
Appendix 6: Industry Groups and On-Line Organizations or Groups.......................................... 37
iii
1. Purpose of the Report

The recent emergence of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) in the U.S. has highlighted
the need for an overall picture of the rabbit industry. Rabbits in the U.S. are a dual purpose
animal, raised as both household pets and a source of meat. Canada and Mexico also use rabbits
for dual purposes, and imports of live rabbits from Canada are significant. The various rabbit
industry groups are linked throughout the marketing chain and there are opportunities for rabbit
producers to sell their animals in the pet, laboratory or meat markets. Rabbits are found in all 50
states and marketing channel interactions suggest that RHD could be concern to both pet owners
and commercial producers.
This paper describes the various U.S. rabbit industry groups, dividing them along
commercial (for profit) and hobby (not for profit) production goals. This method is intended to
simplify the description of the diverse number of ways that rabbits are raised and marketed in the
U.S. and is not intended to be a definitive definition of how the various rabbit industry groups
are aligned.
To accomplish the goal of identifying the major industry groups and their possible
relationships, the following topics are covered:
Introduction to Domestic Rabbits
The U.S. Rabbit Industry
Commercial Production of Meat Rabbits
Commercial Production of Rabbits for Laboratory and Research Markets
Commercial Production of Rabbits for Pets
Hobby Rabbit Breeding
Trade in Rabbits
Estimated Rabbit Population in the U.S.
Estimated Economic Value of the U.S. Rabbit Industry Groups
2. Introduction to the Domestic Rabbit

2.1 The European or Old World Rabbit
While the U.S. has a number of native rabbit species, the term domesticated rabbit refers
to the Old World rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus. O. cuniculus was introduced to North America
by early settlers who used the rabbits as a source of food and furs. Rabbits, hares and pikas are
members of the Leporidae family, commonly known as lagomorphs. Native North American
lagomorphs include the cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) and jack rabbits (Lepus). Jackrabbits
are actually hares and give birth to fully furred kits with open eyes that can hop shortly after
birth. Rabbits give birth to furless, deaf and blind kits that rely on their mothers milk at birth.
Rabbit will be used to refer to O. cuniculus throughout this report. Wild rabbits are herbivorous
and re-ingest waste, cecals, to retain as much nutrient value as possible from their diet. Wild
rabbits do not have very long lives (less than two years) and they reproduce quickly with litters
of five to six kits.
The Old World rabbit is native to Western Europe and Northwest Africa. The Old World
rabbit was spread to new areas by human exploration and exists today on every continent except
Antarctica. A rabbit's fur makes them well suited for cold climates and they can manage in
warm regions as well. Where rabbits have no natural predators they are considered pests, since
they eat agricultural crops and compete with native species for forage. Rabbits were introduced
to New Zealand and Australia, where the lack of natural predators allowed their population to
grow unchecked.
Rabbit domestication began when the Phoenicians reached Spain around 1000 BC.
Breeding was conducted either in hutches or in walled warrens and eventually rabbit rearing
became popular in cities. Rabbit meat production became relatively standardized in the late
nineteenth century, and improvements continued in the twentieth century. Early advances in
rabbit production flowed from the U.S. to Europe. After 1950 European production
improvements advanced more quickly as demand for rabbit in the U.S. was replaced by
increasing beef demand. Today, Italy and France maintain a comparatively high demand for
rabbit meat, and are leaders in rabbit production.
Rabbits are susceptible to a number of diseases, including myxamatosis, tularemia,
pasteurellosis, coccidiosis, enterotoxemia, encehpalitozoonosis and RHD. Tularemia is a
zoonoses that is often contracted when wild rabbits are hunted for game. Myxamatosis was once
used by Australia to control their wild O. cuniculus population. Over time the rabbits developed
resistance to the disease, and currently RHD is used to control the pest rabbit population in
Australia and New Zealand (Fenner and Fantini, 1999). RHD was first identified in the U.S. in
2000. RHD has the potential to affect both the commercial and pet rabbit populations in the U.S.
3. The U.S. Rabbit Industries

The rabbit industry in the U.S. may be described according to whether rabbits are bred
for profit or as a hobby. Figure 1 is a chart that organizes the rabbit industry by separating
hobby breeding from commercial breeding. Commercially bred rabbits can be used for meat, for
laboratory research, and as pets. Meat rabbits are sold live to processing plants who market them
to retail groceries and restaurants. Rabbit breeders raising and selling rabbits for laboratory use
sell directly to laboratories and are monitored and licensed by the USDA. Pet rabbits are raised
and sold to wholesale dealers or directly to pet stores. Commercial breeders selling rabbits using
a wholesaler, broker or bunny runner are licensed through the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
Many hobby breeders are breeding animals to participate in the show ring (also called
fancy). Culled show rabbits can be sold direct to consumers as pets, to other breeders for show
or breeding purposes, to reptile feeder markets, research facilities or consumed for meat. Hobby
breeders are not monitored by USDA, unless they sell to wholesalers or receive more than $500
from the sale of their stock per year. Direct sales to pet owners are exempt from the limit. The
other major hobby breeding group are small meat producers. Sales, when made, are usually
direct to consumers and demand is often generated on a word of mouth basis.
There are a number of small groups included in the Hobby - Other group. Shelters and
unintentional litters are included since shelters are a significant supply of pet rabbits (American
Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), 2001). Wool breeders who are raising
animals for wool production are also included. Though the number of rabbits being raised by
4H participants is not known, more than 95,000 youth participated in the various rabbit and cavy
(guinea pig) projects offered across the country.
Rabbit Industry Groups
Commercial Breeders
Meat
-USDA and State
inspected plants
-Grocery and restaurant
sales
Pet
Laboratory
-Wholesale
activities
licensed
-Medical research
-Educational research under the Animal Welfare Act
-Unlimited direct sales to pet
owners
Hobby
Show/Fancy
Hobby Meat
-Licensed sales of breeding or
-Custom slaughter
show stock when >$500
- State inspected processing plants
-Culls to pet, meat, 4H and
- Home kill and direct sales
feeder markets
- Home consumption
- Unlimited direct sales to pet
owners
Pet
-Under $500 in wholesale sales
-Unintentional breeding
- Shelter/Humane Society
(surrendered or unintentional
Figure 1: Rabbit Industry
breeding)Groups
Angora Wool
- Home collection
- Hand spun or sold raw
- Finished craft products
Other
4H
- Market meat
- Fancy
- Pet
- Limited home consumption
4. Commercial Production of Meat Rabbits

Commercial rabbitries are started with the purchase of all the necessary breeding does
and bucks, or begun with a small investment of does and bucks that are bred over time to build
up a herd. Commercial rabbitries in the U.S. generally use White (Albino) New Zealand rabbits,
Californian rabbits, or hybrid crosses of the two breeds. Medium sized rabbits, nine to twelve
pounds at maturity, are used because of their fast growth and high dressing percentages. Other
rabbit breeds in the U.S. can also be raised for meat, but they are not generally used in the
production of commercial rabbit meat in the U.S. Both the New Zealand and Californian rabbits
have white pelts which make them more acceptable to processors who can more easily access
markets for white pelts and byproducts.
4.1 The Rabbitry
Costs related to starting a commercial rabbitry include stock, housing, equipment, and
utilities. Estimates of per doe start-up costs are generally around $70 (as high as $90).
Automatic waterers are used to reduce labor time and cost, but incur a higher up-front
investment. Commercial rabbitries usually feed pellets, as they provide balanced nutrients for
production of meat but hay may also be provided. A review of extension publications on
rabbitries provides a range of rabbitry costs per doe per year. Table 1 has those values and
number of does in the herd and the type of production facility (closed building or
covered/outdoor). These estimates do not include capital costs, and do not suggest that one type
of operation is more economical than another. None of the cost estimates collected included
labor costs, as it is possible to maintain a herd of up to 1,000 does using only the services of a
husband and wife team (Lukefahr, et al.). Rabbitries do not appear to have the advantages of
economies of size and scale at the production levels usually considered in the U.S.
Table 1: Average Annual Per Doe Cost
Annual Cost Per Doe
Per Year
$72
$74
$83
$109
$118
$124
Number of Does in
the Herd
10
100
30
100
200
Total Annual
Operating Costs
721
7,391
3,282
11,760
24,743
Type of Building
Closed Building
Closed Building
Covered/Outdoor
Either
Closed Building
Closed Building
Source: Various extension publications
Modern commercial rabbitries are generally designed with rows of single tiered wire
bottomed cages attached to walls or hung from the ceiling. Multi-tiered systems can still be
found, but innovations from Europe indicate that single-tiered systems are more efficient (Lebas
et al, 1997). Multi-tiered systems in the U.S. are still popular with hobby breeders since they
reduce the amount of space needed for the herd. Rabbits are sensitive to the ammonia fumes
created by their urine and the more densely packed the rabbits are, the more likely they are to
develop medical problems related to concentration. Single tiered cage systems have open wire
mesh bottoms and waste and urine falls into a pit. The deeper the pit, the less often it needs to be
emptied.
The rabbitry can be closed with controlled atmosphere, or open with walls (plastic,
canvas, etc.) that can be lowered. Indoor facilities offer disease monitoring and control, and
protection from wind and weather. Negative impacts from concentration of waste and animals
can be managed through proper ventilation. Studies suggest that fourteen hours of light per day
is necessary to keep does at peak production, though bucks need substantially less light per day
to maintain peak performance (Lebas et al, 1997; McNitt et al, 2000). Light management is used
for both indoor and outdoor rabbitries to increase production. Outdoor rabbitries are less
expensive to construct but are susceptible to predators, drafts and disease transmission from wild
animals. The benefits of fresh circulating air may outweigh any potential predator risks when
choosing which type of rabbitry to construct.
4.2 Meat Breeding Stock and Breeding Practices
High quality commercial breeding stock can be purchased for $10 to $25 (Lukefahr,
Paschal and Ford). Replacement stock can be bred within the herd or purchased externally.
Replacement of all does is generally done every 18 months, though each production facility will
use its own schedule for replacement. Bucks can remain productive for up to 6 years and
replacement rates vary across rabbitries. Each doe will be bred and kindle 5 to 8 times a year,
based on the intensiveness of the rabbitry. Tracking production information has been eased by
the development of software programs specifically designed to track rabbitry production (i.e.
Stibbar, Bunny Master, Rabbit Register). Breeding stock can be sold to supplement the profits
from meat sales.
Medium sized rabbits, including the most common meat breeds, are ready to breed
between five and 6 months of age. Does can be re-bred immediately after giving birth, but the
practice requires a high level of expertise and a well managed feeding program. A more
extensive approach is more common with does rebred 14 to 28 days after the birth of the
previous litter. Large litter sizes (8 plus) are desired in the commercial rabbitry, but excessive
litter sizes (11 or more) are not manageable for does. Fostering, the transferring of kits from one
doe to another nursing doe, can be used to keep litter sizes manageable (Lebas et al, 1997).
A nest box is necessary for new born kits. A common size is 18" x 12" x 12" with one
low side of 6 inches (Schoenian, 1998). Prior to kindling, the doe lines the straw filled box with
wool pulled from her belly. The kits remain in the nest box until they can survive without the
body heat provided by their nest mates (15 days) and the nest box is usually removed by 21 days.
Mortality when the kits are in the preweaning stage can be up to 40 percent (Lebas et al, 1997).
Weaning depends on the rebreeding schedule, but the doe will reduce milk production after 3
weeks. Once the kits are weaned they are moved to grow out cages where they are fed to market
weight.
There does not seem to be a consensus in the U.S. commercial industry about the number
of fryers needed per doe per year to establish a profitable commercial rabbitry. Litters of 8 to 10
kits are considered to be optimal for commercial production. Breeding schedules, however, are
what determine the total annual fryer production per doe. McNitt et al. suggest that 35 fryers per
doe annually are needed to cover the costs of production. This would imply that for each doe, 8
kits per litter are marketed from 5 litters annually. A sampling of extension publications on the
topic suggest an average of 44 kits per doe per year is needed to cover variable costs.
Feed conversion for fryers is about 1 pound of meat from 4 pounds of feed (Lebas, et al,
1997; Bennett, 2000). Feed costs for producing one pound of meat, including the feed for does,
is estimated at $.60 pound (Bennett, 2000). Young rabbits are marketed live as fryers between 8
and 12 weeks of age and around 4 to 5.5 pounds of live weight.
4.3 Marketing Rabbit Meat
Meat rabbits are marketed live and killed at the processing plant. Large processors
market the meat, usually whole cut up rabbits, to groceries and restaurants. Processors also
profit from the sale of rabbit by-products (brain and blood serum). Furs or pelts can also be sold,
though fur from meat rabbits is low quality because of the young age of the rabbits. White
furred rabbits produce a lighter meat and the fur can be easily dyed any color. Average fryer
price hovers around $.80 per pound, though $1.00 a pound is quoted for some areas (Benett,
2000).
Rabbits weighing more than 5.5 pounds or older than 16 weeks (but not previously
sexually active) are sold as roasters at a large discount and the market is very small. There is not
a market for rabbits that have been sexually active (stewers) in the U.S. Dress-out percentage for
fryers is between 50 and 60 percent, resulting in a range of retail weights between 2.2 and 3
pounds. Retail supermarket prices for rabbit meat vary widely and a national average is not
available. Prices from $3 a pound to $6 a pound have been reported. Rabbit meat is also
marketed via the Internet with prices ranging from $2.65 per pound to $4 per pound, exclusive of
shipping costs.
4.4 Commercial Rabbit Production Byproducts
Rabbit manure can be a profitable byproduct. Rabbit manure does not need to be
composted to be an excellent fertilizer, and it can be sold to gardeners or garden suppliers.
Rabbit manure can also be used as worm habitat. The reptile feeder market pays well for dead
kits (pinkies and fuzzies). Live, fryer rabbits can also be sold to the reptile feeder market. The
live rabbit feeder market can pay up to $10 per rabbit (Bennett, 2000).
4.5 Rabbit Slaughter
USDA inspection is only done at a few processing plants nationally, and since rabbits are
not classified as livestock, the USDA inspection is conducted as a voluntary fee for service
program. Rabbits may also be commercially slaughtered according to an array of state, county
and municipal guidelines. In some states, direct sales from unlicensed processing are acceptable,
though usually the low values only make this an option for hobby meat producers. The
following table (Table 2) has the fiscal year slaughter of rabbits at USDA inspected slaughter
facilities since 1985. In 2001 there were five USDA inspected facilities, but only one in 2000.
Rabbit slaughter facilities come in and out of production, and since 1985 there have never been
more than eight USDA inspected facilities.
Table 2: Fiscal Year Domestic Rabbit Slaughter in USDA inspected Facilities - 1985-2001
Year
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
Slaughter
Number of Rabbits
382,179
385,435
367,654
339,797
516,351
562,171
418,500
266,721
374,164
431,975
492,007
598,837
786,585
789,921
607,076
663,614
826,703
Source: FSIS
Total rabbit slaughter/consumption is estimated to be between 20 and 25 percent larger

than the numbers above. That would imply that 20002 total slaughter was between 1.9 and 2.3
million rabbits. Lebas and Hake, suggest that U.S. rabbit consumption in 1992 and 2000 was
35,000 metric tons of carcass weight (37 million pounds) or 8.3 million rabbits (at 4.5 pounds
carcass weight). Others suggest that between 6 and 8 million rabbits are consumed per year and
200,000 thousand producers market those rabbits. The Lebas and Hake estimates are based on a
survey originally conducted in 1991 by Lebas and Colin, and no original source for the 6 to 8
million rabbit production estimate was found. The 1.9 to 2.3 estimate is used in the rest of the
paper as it was developed by producers and processors marketing rabbits daily in the U.S.
The 2000 number is used to ease comparison with other available data.
8
5. Commercial Production of Rabbits for Laboratory and Research Markets

5.1 Commercial Laboratory Production
The laboratory rabbit industry group is composed of research facilities using rabbits for
medical research or testing, and educational facilities or hospitals using rabbits for research and
training purposes. In fiscal year 2000, 258,754 rabbits were used in research, down from 1999.
Rabbits used by the laboratory industry group are provided by breeders licensed under the AWA.
Rabbits used in research may be raised conventionally (in the same manner as other commercial
rabbits), specific pathogen free (SPF) or barrier specific. SPF and barrier specific production
methods require closed facilities and excellent disease management. In barrier specific
production kits are delivered by cesarean section so as not to be contaminated by pathogens in
the birth canal (Lamar). SPF and barrier specific rabbits are more costly to produce than
conventional rabbits, but higher prices are paid by purchasers. The distribution of production
practices for laboratory rabbits is not known, though it is suggested that most laboratories prefer
the SPF free rabbits.
High quality animal production is essential for the laboratory market, and commercialtype intensive production is not appropriate. Variable demand from laboratories is an additional
challenge to marketing rabbits to this industry. Laboratories may require older animals, rabbits
of one sex, SPF or animals of specific breeding lineage, all of which can contribute to extra costs
in raising rabbits for the laboratory market. Each order for rabbits received by the producer will
be specific to the research to be undertaken. Pricing depends on the specific characteristics of
the rabbits ordered, with the majority of sales conducted on an as-needed basis.
The USDA monitors the breeders of animals for use in laboratory research as well as the
laboratories themselves under the provisions of the AWA. Data on the number of rabbits in
USDA inspected facilities is included in Table 3. Research facilities are exclusively part of the
laboratory industry group, while the breeders and dealers listed in Table 3 may also supply the
pet market through wholesalers and brokers. Wholesalers or brokers would also be included in
these columns. Laboratories using rabbits in research are located throughout the U.S., but
concentrated in California, Texas, Ohio and the East Coast. Federal agencies using rabbits in
research are neither licensed nor inspected but are expected to provide the same quality of life as
the inspected research facilities. Use of rabbits in research by federal agencies was only 4
percent of the total number of rabbits used in research facilities in fiscal year 2000 (USDA,
APHIS, Animal Care) .
5.2 Laboratory Rabbit Breeds
The New Zealand is the most common breed utilized for the research sector. New
Zealands are popular because of their consistently abundant supply (Bennett, 2000)). The Dutch
(also known as the Dutch Banded) is the second most frequently used breed of rabbit in research.
The Dutch are smaller rabbits than the New Zealand requiring less cage space and less feed,
characteristics that can make them attractive alternatives to the New Zealand. Laboratory
breeders may not choose to advertise the fact that they are raising animals for medical research
due to potential reactions from animal rights activists. Information regarding the industry seems
specific to each producer, with industry standards dictated by the research facilities and the
AWA.
Table 3: Laboratory Industry Group - Research Facilities, Breeders and Dealers

Research Facilities1
(1999)
State
Facilities
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Dist. of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
Rabbits
Used
2,045
5
6
115
11
9
6
8
9
13
1
3
26
13
13
7
4
6
3
32
47
20
15
4
19
4
10
1
4
30
4
53
16
3
29
9
8
43
4
5
892
1,657
50,541
1,479
2,882
4,241
1,290
1,491
12,191
59
80
9,377
2,678
5,853
1,607
1,708
2,706
182
11,409
11,495
5,126
4,469
255
4,711
632
3,465
92
369
23,038
44
7,014
10,273
6
20,023
446
680
37,027
68
335
Breeders2
(1999)
Number
Dealers2
(1999)
Rabbitries
Rabbits
Dealers
Rabbits
67
86
1
1
4
1
2
2
5
67
3,539
26
18
7
5
1
712
70
1
4
3
3
8
30
21
17
732
61
24,400
756
1
2
23
720
169
1
1
3,934
127
2
1
2
56
457
28
1
3
800
2,000
1
7
250
260
19
1
1
3
1
1
2
680
13
493
1,300
2,194
6
3
5,500
26,080
4
2
4
6
148
29
300
59
155
9
1,935
10
Table 3 (Continued): Laboratory Industry Group - Research Facilities, Breeders and Dealers
Research Facilities1
(1999)
State
Facilities
Breeders2
(1999)
Number
Rabbitries Rabbits
Rabbits
Used
South Carolina
4
470
South Dakota
4
223
1
Tennessee
10
1,692
1
Texas
43
18,279
4
Utah
8
620
Vermont
2
127
1
Virginia
10
4,333
Washington
11
3,099
1
West Virginia
3
134
Wisconsin
11
4,505
1
Wyoming
2
26
Total
735
277,444
36
1
The number of rabbits is the number that was used in research in 1999
2
The number of rabbits is the inventory at last inspection
Dealers2
(1999)
Dealers
Rabbits
12
427
496
1
1
1
1
2
369
8
1
150
32
71,975
101
12,283
10
2
1,860
545
2,000
Sources: USDA, APHIS, Animal Care and USDA, NASS
11
6. Commercial Production of Rabbits for Pets

6.1 Production and Sale of Pet Rabbits
Commercially produced pet rabbits are most often sold through pet stores and are often
requested at four weeks of age. Older rabbits are not as desirable, and larger breeds of rabbits
are also not as popular with pet stores. There does not appear to be a pet rabbit producer
organization in the U.S. The USDA regulates producers breeding pets for wholesale trade and
for direct deliveries to pet stores. The number of licensed breeders and dealers in 1999 was
listed in Table 3. Commercial pet producers selling to wholesalers, brokers or pet stores are
licensed according to the AWA. Producers selling pets directly to owners, without the use of a
middleman, do not need to be licensed under the AWA, though this practice is most likely used
more frequently by hobby producers.
Rabbits bred by the commercial producer reach the pet store through a number of
different routes. Some commercial breeders sell their rabbits directly to pet stores. They
arrange for a price and age of rabbit to be delivered, and make the delivery themselves or hire
someone else to make the delivery. These delivery people, bunny runners pick up rabbits from a
number of sites, fill their vehicle and deliver to a single large store or to a number of smaller
stores. A commercial rabbit producer can also use a broker to arrange sales. The broker
contacts the pet store, arranges the price and delivery date, then contracts with a wholesaler,
bunny-runner or large producer to deliver the rabbits to the pet store.
6.2 Pet Rabbit Ownership
The size of the pet rabbit population in 2000 was estimated at 5.28 million by the
American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA). The APPMA survey was
conducted nationally and asked respondents numerous questions about the pets that live in their
household. The total pet population in the U.S. was 353 million, which included cats, dogs,
birds, saltwater fish, freshwater fish, reptiles and small animals. Of the 63.4 million households
that owned pets, 5.5 million owned small animals, or a small animal population of 19 million.
Forty percent of households owning small animals owned rabbits (2.2 million households) and
the average number of rabbits owned per household was 2.4. Table 4 lists the major pets
investigated by APPMA, and Table 5 provides the same information specific to the small animal
category.
The pet rabbit community has an active on-line presence. There are numerous pages of
owners with pictures of their house-rabbits as well as owners with outdoor rabbits. Pet rabbits
and their owners are represented by a number of groups throughout the U.S., including the
House Rabbit Society (HRS). The HRS advocates keeping pet rabbits inside and altering rabbits
once they reach sexual maturity. Advice about what to feed, how to house, and potential health
concerns for pet rabbits are also available on the web.
12
Table 4: Pet Ownership in the U.S.

Number of
Percent of
Number of
Animal
Households
Total U.S.
Animals Owned
in Millions
Households
in Millions
40
60
68
Dogs
34.7
34
73
Cats
12.2
12
12.2
Freshwater Fish
6.9
7
19
Birds
5.5
4
19
Small Animals
4
<.1
9
Reptiles
Source: 2001/2002 APPMA National Pet Owners Survey
Number of
Animals Owned
Per Household
1.7
2.1
13
2.7
3.4
2.2
Table 5: Household Ownership of Small Animals

Percent of Total Number of Each
Total U.S.
Small Animal
Small Animal
Population of Small
Population
Owned
Animals
Total Households Owning Small Animals in 2000 = 5.5 million
40
2.4
5,280,000
Rabbit
29
2.3
3,668,500
Hamster
18
1.4
1,386,000
Guinea Pig
10
1.8
990,000
Ferret
10
2.9
1,595,000
Mouse/Rat
8
2.4
1,056,000
Gerbil
3
1.4
231,000
Chinchilla
2
2
220,000
Hermit Crabs
2
2.7
297,000
Pot-Bellied Pig
1
1
55,000
Hedgehog
15
4.9
4,042,500
Other
Total Small Animal Pet Population 18,821,000
Type of Small
Animal
13
7. Hobby Rabbit Breeding

7.1 The Show Rabbit
Hobby breeders and owners of show rabbits are represented by a number of organizations
that facilitate and organize rabbit shows. The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA)
registers and sanctions rabbit shows, breeds and organizations throughout the U.S. ARBA
recognizes breed specific and showing organizations at both the state, region and local area
levels. These groups are active with state and local shows held every month throughout the
country. The ARBA maintains an Open section for adults and a Youth section. ARBA
sanctioned 3,0003 shows in 2000. ARBA sanctions fair shows, but there are also 4H/FFA
programs that operate without ARBA oversight. There is an overlap of enrollment in the
4H/FFA rabbit programs and the ARBA Youth organization, but to what extent is not known.
The ARBA recognizes 45 show breeds. Other countries recognize additional breeds but
all show rabbits in the U.S. and elsewhere are O. cuniculus. The 45 breeds have been developed
from breeding programs that emphasize various characteristics including body type, fur color,
ear carriage and ear length. Pictures of each individual breed can be seen at the ARBA website
(www.arba.net). Each of the breeds must conform to the guidelines published by ARBA in the
Standard of Perfection, and are judged during rabbit shows on their conformation to those
guidelines. Average herd size may be thirty rabbits, but much larger herds are also possible.
Space limitations lead many show breeders to utilize existing structures such as garages or barns
and to use multi-tiered systems for housing their animals.
Table 6 shows the top 10 entrants by breed at the 2000 and 1999 ARBA national
conventions. The 1999 show had 20,861 rabbits entered and the 2000 show had a total of 21,783
rabbits entered. The most popular rabbit breeds for showing are also some of the more popular
breeds for pets. The 2000 and 1999 ARBA national shows were dominated by the Netherland
Dwarf, Mini Rex and Holland Lop breeds. Pet stores request small breeds, and these three reach
maximum weights under four pounds. It is common for breeders to sell their culled breeding
stock or non-premium kits to pet owners. The popularity of small breeds at the national shows
and the demand for the smallest rabbits in the pet marketplace suggest that these two markets
may influence each other.
A participant in a show may show as many rabbits as they want and the average number
of rabbits per open exhibitors at the 2000 open national show was 11. The average number of
rabbits per youth exhibitor was 8 rabbits. Unlike dog shows, the rabbit owner must show the
rabbit, and, therefore, there are no professional rabbit handlers. Rabbit owners showing their
rabbits are called exhibitors. To compete in a show the rabbit must have an identifying tattoo in
their left ear, with the characters in the tattoo at the owner's discretion. ARBA membership is
not required to compete in an ARBA sanctioned rabbit show.
This number includes shows for Cavies (guinea pigs), which are also sanctioned by the ARBA.
14
Table 6: Most Popular Breeds at the 1999 and 2000 ARBA National Conventions
ARBA National Convention Rabbits Shown By Breed - Open Shows
2000 Columbus, Ohio
1999 Louisville, Kentucky
Breed
Number of Rabbits
Breed
Number of Rabbits
Netherland Dwarf
2,360
Mini Rex
2,084
Mini Rex
2,196
Netherland Dwarf
1,898
Satin
1,936
Satin
1,888
Holland Lop
1,645
Holland Lop
1,398
New Zealand
1,334
New Zealand
1,147
Dutch
1,065
Mini Lop
1,068
Mini Lop
1,039
Dutch
1,045
Rex
908
Rex
949
Jersey Wooly
827
Jersey Wooly
901
Flemish Giant
787
French Lop
726
Source: ARBA Website (www.ARBA.net)
Rabbits entered in a show should be in good health, but are not required to show a
veterinary certificate if they traveled across state borders. Veterinary certificates are generally
not obtained for travel between states, and ARBA members are expected to bring healthy
animals to competition. The judge may disqualify a rabbit on the basis of health when presented
for competition. Show participants are encouraged to quarantine their animals once they return
home.
While most breeders insist that high-quality breeding stock can be had for no more than
$50, there are some breeders selling rabbits in excess of $200. ARBA rules stipulate that
exhibitors must be owners, but it does not require them to also have bred their show stock, and
this provides a market for high quality show rabbits that may not be suited for breeding. The
average cost of purchasing show rabbits can be higher than rabbits purchased for any other use.
The more actively shown breeds seem to have higher prices, potentially attributable to a small
supply of high-quality show animals and a large demand for them. High prices should indicate
high quality, but many breeders continue to state that high-quality stock can be purchased for
reasonable prices (under $50).
Rabbit shows provide a marketplace for rabbit products. Feed, toys, supplies and
accessories can all be found at rabbit shows. While APPMA suggests that pet owners spend
$116 per year on their rabbits, there is no comparable figure for show rabbits. Bennett estimated
the annual cost of maintaining a rabbitry at $942 per year, but the size of the rabbitry or the
specific management characteristics were not included. Information about industry averages
were not available to compare to the Bennett estimate.
7.2 Other Hobby Breeding Groups
7.2.1 4H Rabbits
The 4H rabbit projects offer youth an opportunity to raise, show and breed rabbits. Total
U.S. enrollment in the rabbit and cavy project in 2000 was 95,892. The specific projects
available to the youth vary across the individual states, but they are generally a marketing project
where the rabbits are produced for meat, a showing project where show quality rabbits are bred
15
by the youth, and a pet project where the care and welfare of the animal is emphasized. The
showing project also has breeding aspects as the goal is to bring a high-quality rabbit to the table
that was the result of a breeding program. Successful showing skills can also be gained by
showing rabbits someone else bred. The pet project offers an opportunity for urban youth to
participate in a livestock project. The average number of rabbits owned by the youth
participating in the programs is not known. Distribution of the participants across the various
projects is also not known. Figure 2 is a map of the concentration of 4H youth participation in
all of the various rabbit projects, including cavies (guinea pigs). Ohio has the highest number of
participants in rabbit projects, followed by Michigan, Texas and Minnesota. It is not known how
many rabbits each participant owns, though estimates range from one to thirty depending on the
project goal. Only Mississippi and Virginia reported no participants in the rabbit program in
2000.
7.2.2 Wool
Rabbits are also raised to produce wool. Any of the wool breeds are capable of
producing wool, but length, texture and color of the fiber will vary across each breed. Average
wool production can be 2.4 pounds per year for intensive production facilities. Production falls
off after three or four collections of the wool (Lebas et al, 1997). As there are limited markets
for Angora wool fiber in the U.S., most of the sales are limited to direct sales of raw wool, yarn
or finished products for sale in the craft or specialty market. Yarn and garments can be
purchased through local specialty shops or via the internet. Only 1.9 metric tons of Angora yarn
was imported in 2000, and most Angora wool is imported as finished garments.
7.2.3 Unintentional Breeding
The final hobby rabbit production group includes individuals who accidentally breed
rabbits that are then passed onto friends, family or adopted to final homes through humane
societies (APPMA, 2001). Rabbits purchased as pets may be turned into shelters when their
owners can not care for them. The number of small or unintentional pet producers or shelters
with rabbits is unknown, but these rabbits could represent more than six percent of all bunny
sales (APPMA, 2000).
16
White: <1000 participants

Gray: Between 1000 and 3000 Participants
Black: >3000 Participants
Figure 2: 4H Participation in Rabbit Projects
17
8. Trade in Rabbits
8.1 World Trade
World exports in 2000 of rabbit meat were 56 thousand metric tons ($154 million),
22,000 ($46 million) of which originated in China (FAO). France, Hungary, the Netherlands and
Spain also exported large quantities of rabbit meat in 2000. France, Italy and Belgium were
significant exporters of rabbit skins in 2000. China and the Czech Republic exported smaller
numbers of skins, but they were of comparatively higher value than the skins exported from
France, Italy or Belgium. Belgium and Spain exported the largest quantities of live rabbits in
2000 with 1.1 million and 700,000 live rabbits exported respectively. France exported only
212,000 live rabbits in 2000, but their value was $2 million making France the largest exporter
of live rabbits on a value basis.
8.2 U.S. Exports and Imports
The U.S. exports small amounts of rabbit meat and rabbit products. In 2001, 57 metric
tons of rabbit meat with a value of $160,000 were exported from the U.S. to the Dominican
Republic, Japan and the French Pacific Islands. In 2001, the U.S. exported a total of 45,000
furskins, either raw or dressed with a value of $435,000. Most of the furskins exported in 2001
went to Germany. The U.S. exported 54,000 live rabbits in 2001 with a value of $217,000 to
Canada.
Total U.S. rabbit meat imports in 2000 were 682 metric tons with a value of $1.5 million
and in 2001 were 576 metric tons with a value of $1.1 million. Total rabbit product imports in
2001 were worth $2.5 million and most of the products were unprocessed furs. Live rabbit
imports into the U.S. in 2001 originated from Canada, Hungary and Czechoslovakia with the
majority being imported from Canada (111,000 rabbits).
Imported rabbit meat is inspected by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Though
most meat imported into the U.S. is inspected by the USDA, rabbit is inspected by the FDA
because it is not included in the federal meat inspection laws. The FDA issued a surveillance
alert regarding rabbit imports in 1988 and updated the alert in 1993. The FDA is concerned that
frozen rabbit meat contaminated with salmonella may be imported into the U.S. Decomposition,
pesticide residue, and contamination by filth are also ongoing issues monitored by the FDA in
frozen rabbit meat.
Appendix 1 contains a table listing imports and quantities for all rabbit meat and products
from all countries since 1996.
8.3 Rabbit Trade Related to RHD Incidence
RHD is an emerging disease issue that affects rabbit production in many countries.
Tanned skins, raw skins and wool from rabbits can harbor RHD for a significant length of time.
Many rabbit products imported into the U.S. are imported from countries that have reported
RHD outbreaks. Table 7 contains a list of the total rabbit products, meat and processed products,
imported into the U.S. from 1996 through 2001. Table 8 contains the same list only for products
from countries that have experienced RHD outbreaks. The tables show that 74 percent of all
rabbits and rabbit products imported in 2000 were from countries previously reporting
incidences of RHD infection. In 2001, 80 percent of imports were from countries that had
experienced RHD outbreaks in the past.
18
Table 7: Total Rabbit and Rabbit Product Imports All Countries - Value (1000 Dollars)
Country or Region
ARGENTINA
BELGIUM-LUXEMBOURG
BRAZIL
CANADA
SRI LANKA
CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC
CHILE
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
FINLAND
FRANCE
GERMANY
GREECE
HONG KONG
HUNGARY
ITALY
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
NETHERLANDS
NORWAY
NEW ZEALAND
PERU
POLAND
PORTUGAL
SOUTH AFRICA, REPUBLIC OF
SPAIN
TURKEY
TAIWAN
UNITED KINGDOM
UKRAINE
TOTAL
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
177
8
133
157
1094
82
1
20
72
969
4
2717
228
377
317
517
1426
5
27
11
2
64
9
56
78
868
21
9
4013
325
76
577
497
10
3
59
160
60
718
49
2535
328
25
799
556
38
544
8
134
86
3
425
1
81
3030
441
23
1037
2
1438
231
265
107
10
19
56
218
61
18
77
8
533
59
24
1
4629
262
7
1215
1018
37
1
187
10
7
191
6
9
670
4
5
3629
Source: U.S. Customs Data
19
Table 8: Total Imports from Countries that Have Experienced RHD Outbreaks - Value (1000
Dollars)
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2000
2001
8
BELGIUM-LUXEMBOURG
1094
CHINA, PEOPLES
REPUBLIC
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
82
FRANCE
GERMANY
GREECE
1
ITALY
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
NETHERLANDS
20
NEW ZEALAND
POLAND
72
PORTUGAL
991
SPAIN
TAIWAN
4
UNITED KINGDOM
TOTAL 2272
449
1720
254
497
328
556
441
1438
276
937
262
1018
5
27
11
64
9
56
97
856
21
9
3322
3
59
160
42
706
49
1769
38
544
134
86
425
81
2191
231
265
107
10
218
61
18
77
533
24
3423
200
142
91
10
164
61
7
77
322
10
2296
37
187
10
191
9
670
4
2887
Country or Region
Source: U.S. Customs Data
20
9. Estimated Rabbit Population in the U.S.

The size of the domestic rabbit population in the U.S. is difficult to determine accurately.
The domestic rabbit is not considered livestock by the USDA, and no independent entity exists
that monitors all aspects of the various rabbit industry groups. USDA does monitor the number
of rabbits that are slaughtered in USDA inspected facilities and requires licenses for exhibitors,
breeders, handlers and laboratories according to the AWA. The Professional Rabbit Meat
Association monitors prices and tracks active slaughter plants for members, but total national
slaughter numbers are difficult to verify. The Agricultural Census monitors rabbit farms by state
and the number of rabbits on the farms, but these numbers include rabbits from all of the
industry groups, regardless of whether they are hobby or commercial rabbitries, and may include
some pets that are kept on farms. The APPMA and the American Veterinary Medicine
Association (AVMA) monitor the number of pet rabbits owned in the U.S. Their monitoring
occurs through household surveys, which are subject to self-selection and other errors common
to self-reporting. While ARBA maintains detailed membership records, they do not regularly
monitor average herd size. The 4H youth program only monitors the number of participants but
does not count the number of animals each youth owns. Finally, there are a number of rabbit
breeders and dealers that do not need the USDA breeders license because they sell less than $500
worth of rabbits to qualify for the license, or sell rabbits direct to consumers (a summary of
regulations relevant to the rabbit industry is included as Appendix 2).
The following table (Table 9) contains an estimate of the number of domestic rabbits in
the U.S. categorized by industry group and wherever possible attempts have been made to
contact industry leaders to verify the estimated numbers. These estimates represent a good-faith
attempt at a snap-shot of rabbit population in 2000. The most conservative population estimates
have been used, and these values may represent a low estimate of the entire rabbit industry.
Table 9: Estimated Total U.S. Rabbit Population/Production by Industry Group 2000
Industry Group
Farms*
Number of Estimated Rabbits

530,189
5,280,000
Pet
258,754
Laboratory Use
267,000
4H
Hobby Breeding Stock/Show
Animals
USDA Inspected Slaughter
Other, Estimated Slaughter
Commercial Breeding Stock
(meat, laboratory, pet)
Shelter Population
Total
930,000
385,435
1,540,000 - 1,930,000
62,000+
43,000
9,300,000 - 9,700,000
Source of Estimate
1997 Agricultural Census
APPMA 2001/2002 National Pet
Owners Survey
Animal Care: 2000 Annual Report
of Enforcement
2000 4H Enrollment Report with
average herd size 3
ARBA membership (31,000) and
average herd size of 30
USDA FSIS
Industry Experts
Calculated from estimated
slaughter, no commercial pet or
laboratory estimate possible
1996 Survey of Animal Shelters
21
9.1 Farm Rabbits

The 1997 Agricultural Census lists 530,189 rabbits on 13,320 farms. A farm is defined
as any place from which agricultural sales greater than $1,000 are made. Unfortunately, it is
impossible to tell how many of these farms would be considered commercial or hobby. It is also
impossible to determine which of these rabbits were destined for research, pet or meat sales.
Though an important indicator of rabbit production on farms, it may exclude urban production of
rabbits for meat or pet sales and large hobby herds. The Agricultural Census shows that the total
number of farms producing rabbits is down since 1992 from 14,506 to 13,320 and inventory fell
from 789,406 to 530,189. Sales in 1997 were made by 4,262 farms for a value of $11 million
down from sales of $15 million in 1992. However, it is not known if these sales were
exclusively for meat or if sales were also made to laboratory or pet markets.
9.2 Pet Rabbits
The APPMA's most recent survey results estimated pet rabbit population at 5.28 million.
Small animals are owned by 5.5 million of the households that own pets and 40 percent of
households owning small animals own rabbits. Each household that owns rabbits owns, on
average, 2.4. The AVMA also conducts and publishes a survey of household pet ownership, but
their most recent survey was published in 1997. The AVMA's and APPMA's population
estimates were similar in their previous publications (AVMA in 1997 and APPMA in 1998).
9.3 Laboratory and Research Rabbits
The AWA mandates that animals used in medical research are cared for in a humane
manner. To accomplish this, all research facilities using animals are licensed and inspected by
the USDA. In fiscal year 2000, 258,754 rabbits were used in research facilities in the U.S.
9.4 4H Rabbit Population
The National 4H website indicates that more than 95,000 youth participated in a
rabbit/cavy project in 2000. There is no information provided by the national 4H regarding
average herd size or distribution in the Rabbit and Cavy projects. Since the 95,000 plus
participants are reported as participating in a Rabbit/Cavy project, an estimate is needed of the
number of youth raising rabbits. In 2001, 93 percent of the animals shown at the national ARBA
Youth show were rabbits, and this rough approximation is applied to the 4H numbers to separate
out the participants in the cavy project4. The range of rabbits in the 4H youth program could be
from a low of 267,000 when the estimated average herd size is 3.
9.5 Show Rabbit Population
ARBA members are judicious about announcing the size of their breeding herds because
of concern over local regulations and the potentially negative activities of animal rights activists.
ARBA has a membership of roughly 31,000. Cavy owners are included in the ARBA
membership information and it is not known how many of the 31,000 ARBA members raise
cavies exclusively. At the 2000 national Open show, 4.5 percent of the animals shown were
cavies, and 7 percent of the animals shown at the national Youth show were cavies. If it is
4H does not track the number of animals utilized in their projects. They also have no
information regarding the split between rabbit/cavy projects.
22
assumed that all ARBA members have at least one rabbit and an average herd size for all ARBA
members is 30 rabbits, then there are could be 930,000 show rabbits in the U.S.
9.6 Meat Rabbit Production
An informal survey of rabbit industry sources indicate a consensus that the rabbits
slaughtered at USDA inspected plants account for only 20 to 25 percent of all rabbits
slaughtered. In fiscal year 2000 USDA inspected slaughter was 385,435 rabbits. If this number
represents 20 to 25 percent of the total number of rabbits slaughtered, total slaughter in 2000
would be between 1,540,000 and 1,930,000 rabbits. Average retail fryer size is estimated around
three pounds (a 4 or 4.5 pound carcass weight) indicating that between 4,625,000 and 5,781,000
pounds of rabbit meat were produced in fiscal year 2001.
9.7 Commercial Breeding Stock Population
The 3 commercial rabbit industry groups, meat, pet and laboratory are all supported by
breeding stock. The number of breeding does and bucks needed to produce the estimated annual
meat rabbit production in 2000 is estimated using the average fryers per doe per year of 44
developed from extension publications. Between 44,000 and 52,000 does are needed to support
the 2000 production. Average production of fryers per doe varies and values from 35 to 52 have
been suggested for the average commercial production per doe in the U.S. It appears that there
is usually 1 buck in the breeding herd for every 10 does, though fewer bucks may be needed, and
between 4,000 and 5,000 bucks are used. Finally, replacement stock is also in the herd. If onethird of does are replaced every 6 months (18 months to replace the total doe herd) then there
should be an additional 14,000 to 17,000 unproductive young does. Bucks are replaced less
often then does, perhaps every 5 years, and are ignored for this estimate. The total estimated
commercial meat is breeding stock is between 62,000 and 75,000. Utilizing the data at hand it is
not possible to estimate similar breeding stocks for laboratory and pet rabbits. Conservatively,
total breeding stock should be in excess of 62,000, but by how much is not known.
9.8 Shelter Rabbit Population
Another potential area where rabbits may reside, but be unreported is in animal shelters
and rescues. It is unlikely that the APPMA pet-owner survey captured the full size of this
population. National shelter rabbit populations are not available and the distribution of
organizations across national, regional, state and local levels makes comprehensive data
collection difficult. The APPMA estimated that 6 percent of the current pet population was
obtained from the "Humane Society." However, the survey also included the categories
Friend/relative, Internet/online, Newspaper/classified ad, Previous/private owner and Other, all
of which could be methods through which shelter animals can be adopted. These categories sum
to 49 percent (2,587,200) of all adoptions indicating that the shelter population of rabbits could
in fact be very large at any point in time. A 1997 report estimated that 43,000 rabbits were
abandoned at shelters in 1996.
23
10. Estimated Economic Value of the U.S. Rabbit Industry Groups

Because information is limited regarding all aspects of the rabbit industry groups, the
value of the entire industry is not known. The following table (Table 10) provides estimates that
are based on available information. The valuations are limited to pet care costs, pet purchase
price and commercial production and sales of meat rabbits.
Table 10: Estimated Value of Individual Rabbit Industry Groups
Industry Group
Pet Purchase Price
Pet Supplies and Care
Retail Meat Sales
Value
($1,000,000)
105 - 184
612
16 20
Live Meat Rabbits from

Farm or Rabbitry
7-8
Rabbit Feed Industry for

Commercial Meat
Production
2.8 3.5
Rabbitry start-up costs

(one-time)
Estimated Total Value of
Groups
3 3.7
745 831
Source of Estimate
APPMA
APPMA
USDA slaughter estimates and
estimated retail price
USDA slaughter estimates and
price for live fryers
Bennett, 2000; Does not include
estimate of laboratory or
commercial pet production feed
costs
Extension estimates for meat
production
Does not include value for
laboratory rabbits or commercial
breeding stock (pet, lab, meat)
10.1 Purchase Price and Value of Pet Care for Pet Rabbits
Of the 5.28 million pet rabbits, 33 percent were bought at a pet store or pet superstore
(Petsmart, Petco), 13 percent were obtained from friends/ relatives, 13 percent were obtained
from previous/private owners, 6 percent were bred at home and 6 percent were obtained from a
Humane Society. The average purchase price was between $20 and $35, with a significant
number of rabbits being given as gifts or for free. The one-time value of pet rabbit purchases
was between $105 million and $184 million for the rabbit population reported by APPMA.
On average, rabbit owners spent $1165 on food, toys, supplies and non-surgical
veterinarian visits per rabbit, per year (Table 11). This is down from 1998 when rabbit owners
reported spending on average $160 per rabbit, per year. These results indicate the value of the
rabbit supply/products industry in 2000 was $612 million. This represents .8 percent of the total
non-surgical vet costs to all pet owners in the U.S. The cost of purchasing a pet rabbit and the
amount of money spent on supplies and routine veterinary care easily make the pet rabbit group
the most valuable of all the rabbit industry groups.
These numbers should be valued with caution as they represent only 138 responses for the
entire nation.
24
Table 11: Average Value for Non-Surgical Pet Care in 2000

Animal*
Average NonNumber of
Average Total Cost for
Surgical Pet Care Animals (Millions)
Non-Surgical Pet Care
Costs Per Pet
(Millions)
Dogs
$549
68
$37,332
Cats
$387
73
$28,251
Birds
$293
19
$5,667
Small Animals
$128
19
$2,432
Reptiles
$171
9
$1,539
Total
$1,528
188
$75,221
Rabbits**
$116
5.28
$612
* Fish are not included as the APPMA did not collect data on pet care costs for either Freshwater or Saltwater Fish
**Rabbits are a subset of small animals, and do not count towards the total
10.2 Retail Rabbit Meat Value

Average retail price per pound for rabbit meat is difficult to ascertain, though prices
between $3 and $4 per pound and as high as $6 per pound have been suggested. The USDA
inspected slaughter is mainly distributed to high-end restaurants in major metropolitan areas and
grocery stores. The distribution amongst the two outlets for rabbit meat is not known. Meat
processed in state or locally inspected plants may also find its way into the supermarket or
restaurant, but is also likely sold at specialty or ethnic stores and meat shops. Assuming all of
the meat from the total slaughter estimate (1.54 to 1.93 million rabbits) is sold through retail
chains at $3.50 per pound, then the value of the 2001 rabbit slaughter was between $16 and $20
million.
10.3 Farm or Rabbitry Rabbit Meat Value
Average price received by the farmer in 2001 was estimated at $.80 per pound of live
weight fryer at an average weight of 4.5 pounds. Not all rabbits were sold for this price, as many
producers sold meat directly and charged prices closer to retail values. Regional demand
differences will also affect the price received for live rabbits. At a live weight price of $.80, the
farm-gate value for the estimated 2001 rabbit production was between $7 and $8 million.
Compared to the value for the major livestock industries the rabbit industry is fairly
inconsequential (Table 12)
25
Table 12: Value of Livestock Industry Sales and Supporting Industries

2000 Cash Receipts
Average 2000 Per Capita
(Millions)
Consumption (Pounds)
Beef
40,800
69.5
Pork
11,800
53.8
Poultry & Eggs
21,200
100 (poultry)
Lamb
469
1
Rabbit (Meat Only)
7 to 8
0.02
Source: Meat Animals: Production, Disposition, Income (ZMA-BB), 4/27/01,USDA, NASS; Poultry: Production
and Value--supplement (PBH-BB), 4/25/01, USDA, NASS.
Livestock
10.4 Related and Support Industries for Rabbits

The feed industry is the primary benefactor of the commercial rabbit industry groups.
Estimated average cost to produce one pound of meat feeding pelleted rabbit food, including the
feed for the dam, is $.60 (Bennett, 2000). For three pound market rabbits this suggests that the
rabbit feed industry may be worth between $2.8 and $3.5 million for meat production only.
Other markets that benefit from commercial rabbit industry groups are suppliers of the products
needed for housing and caring for rabbits. Start-up costs per doe are around $70.00 per doe or
between $3 to $3.7 million to set up the estimated meat breeding doe population. Similar
estimates for the cost of commercial production of laboratory and pet rabbits are not available.
26
References
American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, Inc. 2001/2002 APPMA National Pet
Owners Survey. Greenwich, 2001.
American Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc. American Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc.
Yearbook. ARBA, 2000.
American Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc. Official Guide Book: Raising Better Rabbits &
Cavies. ARBA, 2000.
American Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc. Standard Bred Rabbits and Cavies: Standard of
Perfection 1991 thru 1995. M&D Printing Company, IL, 1991.
American Veterinary Medical Association. U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook.
AVMA, IL. 1997
Bennett, Bob. Storey's Guide to Raising Rabbits. Deborah Burns and Marie Salter, eds. Versa
Press, 2001.
Campbell, Marc. Personal Communication. President, Pel-Freez. October, 2001.
Columbia Encyclopedia. "Rabbit." 6th ed. Columbia University Press, 2001.
Fayo, Corrine. "The Overpopulation Myth." http://www.geocities.com/heavyhitter1.geo/
overmyth.html.
Fenner, Frank and Fantini, B. Biological Control of Vertebrate Pests: The History of
Myxomatosis, an Experiment in Evolution. New York, CABI Publishing, 1999.
Hayhow, C. Personal Communication. President, American Rabbit Breeders Association.
October, 2001.
Lamar, Pat. "Commercial Rabbit Industries." http://www.3-cities.com/~fuzyfarm/.
Lamar, Pat. Personal Communication. President, Professional Rabbit Meat Association.
November, 2001.
Lebas, Francois, Coudert, P., de Rochambeau, H., Thebault, R.G. United Nations, Food and
Agriculture Organization. The Rabbit - Husbandry, Health and Production. Rome, 1997.
Lebas, Francois and Hake, M. "Rabbit Meat Production and Consumption in the World Estimate
in the Year 2000." Paper Presented at the 7th World Congress of Rabbit Breeding. Valencia,
Spain. July, 2000.
27
Lukefahr, Steven, Paschal, J.C., Ford, J.E. "Backyard Production of Meat Rabbits in Texas."
Elizabeth Gregory, ed. Texas A&M University System. Texas Agricultural Extension Service.
McNitt, James, Patton, N. M., Lukefahr, S. D., Cheeke, P.R. Rabbit Production. 8th ed. IL,
Interstate Publishers, Inc., 2000.
McReynolds, Kenneth and Addison, C. "Budgets for Commercial Rabbit Meat Production."
Cooperative Extension Research Service. Kansas State University. Manhattan, KS.
Seely, Beth. Personal Communication. Marketing Director, Southern Commercial Rabbit
Producers Association, Inc. November, 2001.
Schoenian, Susan. "Production of Rabbits for Meat." University of Maryland Cooperative
Extension. November, 1998.
Smith, Tom. "Commercial Rabbit Production." Mississippi State University Extension Service.
August, 1997. http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/rabenter.htm
Suckow, Mark and Douglas, F. A. The Laboratory Rabbit. Florida, CRC Press Inc., 1997.
Tislerics, Ati. "Oryctolagus cuniculus: Domestic Rabbit." Phil Myers, ed. Animal Diversity
Web. University of Michigan, 1999.
http://animaldiverity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/oryctolagus/ o._cuniculus$narrative.
28
Appendix 1: All U.S. Rabbit Imports (Value in $1,000; Quantity in MT or Number)

Country
Product
Whole, Raw Furskins

ARGENTINA
Yarn, <85% Angora
AUSTRALIA
BELGIUM-LUXEMBOURG Whole, Raw Furskins
Tanned Rabbit & Hare Skins
BRAZIL
Whole, Raw Furskins
Live Rabbit or Hare
Fresh /Frozen Rabbit or Hare
Meat
CANADA
Yarn, <85% Angora
Whole, Raw Furskins
Carded Angora Yarn
SRI LANKA
Fresh/Frozen Rabbit or Hare
Meat
CHINA, PEOPLES
REPUBLIC
CHILE
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
FINLAND
FRANCE
GERMANY
GREECE
HONG KONG

Whole, Raw Furskins
Whole, Raw Furskins
Yarn, <85% Angora, NESOI
Live Rabbit or Hare
Whole, Raw Furskins
Carded Angora Yarn
Yarn, <85% Angora
Live Rabbit or Hare
Combed Angora Yarn
Live Rabbit or Hare
Yarn, <85% Angora
Whole, Raw Furskins
Quantity
1996
Units
Value Quant.
1997
Value
Quant.
1998
Value
1999
Quant.
Value
2000
Quant.
NO
MT
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
177
8
131
2
147
419000
15650
25702
24
33636
228
215
162
317
496
575350
753648
74086
78481
26383
257
68
76
542
606441
114629
20600
23426
283
45
24
1
644
NO
2597
2408
35
120
MT
MT
NO
MT
8
1
-
2597
4387
-
10
11
-
2408
196
-
31
3
1
-
551
534
60
-
10
5
2
NO
981
158400
1331
120850
456
60000
521
53567
NO
MT
NO
NO
NO
MT
NO
NO
NO
NO
MT
MT
MT
NO
MT
NO
NO
MT
NO
NO
NO
112
2
75
7
-
350
464
134833
88
-
95
5
23
4
11
2
-
685
2001
3340
60
846
300
-
41
10
3
58
1
-
283
38590
1000
101000
6
-
34
1
36
2
427
43
6
10
33
11
13
8
-
50
282
90575
1000
663891
155
203
79
434
181
183
6
874
-
29
647978
10052
2016
20
55979
Value
400
41
23
818
2001
Quant.
3
992189
12348
1845
72019
Value
Quant.
152
109
7
979
274248
35187
1400
111153
230
42
599
756
10
<1
6
-
180
-
1337
107733
910
534
87
14
198
33
187
35
35
6
1
102
4
1
10
17
1
39772
648
600306
18000
30
352249
2240
165
13
10
26877
51
1000
1935
1
108
33
4
1
114
14
14
25
18
1
8
1
-
85942
22533
250
36
401021
39
139
<1
<1
12
-
204
Country
HUNGARY
ITALY
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
NETHERLANDS
NORWAY
NEW ZEALAND
PERU
POLAND
PORTUGAL
SOUTH AFRICA
SPAIN
TURKEY
TAIWAN
UNITED KINGDOM
UKRAINE
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Quantity
Units
Value
Quant.
Value
Quant.
Value
Quant.
Value
Quant.
Value
Quant.
Value
Quant.
Whole, Raw Furskins

Live Rabbit or Hare
Combed Angora Yarn
Carded Angora Yarn
Yarn, <85% Angora
Yarn, <85% Angora
Fresh or Frozen Rabbit or Hare
Meat
NO
NO
NO
NO
MT
MT
MT
MT
NO
NO
MT
1
-
850
-
64
9
-
62216
360
-
160
-
225271
-
91
3
3
29
7
4
139839
784
198
15
76
<1
56
181
23
6
4
3
61
2
19287
228008
63
47
13
7
25067
155
7
182
1
2
3
3
-
44
17
149056
-
MT
20
52
16

Yarn, <85% Angora
Whole, Raw Furskins
Combed Angora Yarn
NO
MT
MT
NO
NO
MT
MT
NO
NO
NO
MT
NO
NO
MT
72
905
64
-
222104
1339425
100001
-
4
78
795
73
21
-
3
407994
1136633
65871
30000
-
60
694
24
-
559904
1116001
40000
-
86
3
407
18
1
44
7
398000
<1
813618
26000
28
172
112
18
77
8
499
33
59
19
4
11910
559000
214
628718
187328
25908
14
1
--
642
27
-
4975
920228
45635
-
MT
<1
<1
<1
16
NO
MT
MT
NO
2,717
Product
Yarn, <85% Angora

Whole, Raw Furskins
Yarn, <85% Angora
Carded Angora Yarn
Fresh or Frozen Rabbit or Hare
Meat
Whole, Raw Furskins
Combed Angora Yarn
Total
4
468 4,013
85
-
47
164250
13
1
702 2,535
291 3,030
30
69
1
-
1
307 4,629
3
3
9
-
1
3
1000
5
684 3,629
4
2500
576
Appendix 2: AWA Licensing and Registration for Rabbits

Animal Care Licensing and Registration Relevant to Rabbits
Who Needs a License
Type of Licenses
Exemptions
1. Breeders breeding pets for wholesale trade
Class A - Sell only
1. Retail Pet Stores - Sells domestic animals to
2. Importers, buyers, sellers or traders of laboratory
animals bred and
pet owners
animals - direct or through other dealers; including
raised by them
2. Retail Chain Stores - Sells domestic animals
bunchers and direct research facility traders
Class B - Sell both
to pet owners, the entire chain must qualify for
3. Breeders of Laboratory Animals
animals bred by
the exemption
4. Animal Brokers - dealers of regulated laboratory
them and others
3. Direct Sales - Sells domestic pets direct to
animals that do not take possession
pet owners, regardless of sales volume
5. Sellers of dead animals including blood, serum or parts
4. Hobby Breeders - Gross sales of less than
6. Prize Animals - Either for a prize or sold for a prize
$500 per year
5. Private and Public Pounds that do not resale
animals
Exhibitors
1. Petting Zoos - Even if the petting zoo is in conjunction Class C
1. Private Collections - Not exhibited to the
with an agricultural fair or show
public
2. Roadside Zoos
2. Farm Animal Exhibition - at agricultural
3. Promotional Exhibits - if animal is used to promote or
shows, fairs and exhibits
advertise goods and services
3. Pet Shows
Transporters
1. Carriers - Including airlines, railroads, motor carriers,
1. Carrier
1. Animal Taxis - Transporters of private pets
shipping lines
2. Intermediate
to and from the veterinarian, groomer, etc.
2. Intermediate Handlers - Takes custody of animals to
Carrier
transport them on public carriers
3. Dealer
3. Contract Carriers - Transports animals by contract or
agreement. Do not meet requirements for 1 or 2, but do
transport animals for profit or compensation
Research
1. State-Owned and Local Government Facilities
Register with the
1. Federal Facilities - not inspected, but must
2. Drug Firms
USDA as a
still comply with all standards of animal care
3. Teaching Institutions - college or university medical
Research Facility.
2. School Laboratories - elementary,
schools, veterinary schools and biology departments
Parent organization
secondary and others below college level
4. Diagnostic Laboratories
must register if the
3. Agricultural Research Institutions institution is part of
including rabbits as livestock being
a larger organization investigated for food and fiber.
4. Institutions Using Only Biologic Specimens
- Only dead, whole animals
All information for this table taken from the Licensing and Registration Under the Animal Welfare Act: Guidelines for Dealers, Exhibitors,
Transporters and Researchers. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/awlicreg.html
Category
Dealers
31
Appendix 3: A Brief Look at a Rabbit Show

ARBA shows are normally hosted on weekends, with a different show being offered each
day and/or multiple shows in one day. Both youth and open shows are normally conducted
during one weekend. An ARBA rabbit owned by a youth showman cannot be entered in the
open class of the same show. However, if multiple shows are held together the youth can enter
the youth class in one show and the open class in another show. The same rabbit cannot be
entered in both a youth and open show on the same day. It is not acceptable for an adult to show
a youth rabbit in the youth show, even if they are the parent of the youth owner or a partial
owner of the rabbit.
Rabbit Classes
Showing a rabbit is based on the combination of age, sex, weight, and color of the rabbit.
Class refers to the sex/age combinations of Senior Buck, Senior Doe, Junior Buck and Junior
Doe. Large rabbit breeds (i.e. Flemish Giant, Cinnamon) also have Intermediate Bucks and
Does. Junior Bucks and Does are under 6 months of age, and many breeds also have weight
requirements. If a junior rabbit exceeds the maximum junior weight, then they must compete as
a senior. Small senior rabbits may not compete as juniors. Intermediates or 6/8s are between 6
and 8 months of age and are also usually subject to a weight constraint. Again, large, young
rabbits may compete up a class, but overweight senior rabbits are disqualified.
Judging Classes
Classes are judged first within a single variety. Variety refers to the fur color of the
rabbit. There are a number of possibilities including opal, beige, tortoise, cream, tan, self,
agouti, seal, sable, chocolate, black, red-eyed-white, blue-eyed-white, silver, lilac, squirrel,
broken and chinchilla. Most breeds also recognize color varieties that are broken, meaning the
above colors in combination with white. There are a number of other colors not mentioned here,
and acceptable colors are established in each breed standard. If a breed has a large number of
varieties, they can be grouped. For instance, the Netherland Dwarf breed has five groups: Self
group, Shaded group, Agouti group, Tan Pattern group and an All Other Varieties (AOV) group.
The Self group contains all rabbits of a single color all over their body and the Agouti group
contains all the rabbits with hair banded in three colors (agouti), in various different colors.
The order of judging within each breed will take all the animals of each class in a variety
beginning with Senior Bucks and ending with Junior Does. Once all of the classes in the variety
are judged then best of variety (BOV) is chosen from the class winners. A best of opposite sex
of variety (BOSV) winner is also chosen. For the breeds with groups, once the rabbits have
competed within their varieties the BOV and BOSV compete against all the other BOV and
BOSV rabbits in that group. Then best of group (BOG) and best of opposite sex of group
(BOSG) compete amongst themselves for the best of breed (BOB) and best of opposite sex of
breed (BOS). If the breed does not have groups, then the variety winners compete for the BOB
title. Once breed winners are chosen, they compete for the best in show title against all the other
breed winners. Other special awards may also be given, including Best Junior and best Senior
for each breed and best overall showing for all rabbits (best display).
Other competitions outside of the breed type also are competed at a rabbit show. All
breeds may compete in either a normal fur or commercial fur class, and the Angora rabbits have
wool competitions. These competitions are open only to animals that also competed in the breed
32
competition. Commercial type rabbits can also compete in the meat pen and single fryer
competitions. The meat pen has 3 same aged animals exhibited together and are judged, among
other characteristics, on their uniformity. Single fryers are judged on their type, flesh condition
and fur. Roaster and stewer classes may also be judged, with similar guidelines to the single
fryers. The non-breed competitions have small participation compared to the breed
competitions, and often are not held.
Legs
Owner/exhibitors are awarded legs that are derived from the rabbits placing during the
show. It takes 3 legs awarded at 3 different shows under 2 different judges, with at least 1 leg
awarded as an intermediate or senior, and senior age/weight for a rabbit to become a Grand
Champion. Once a rabbit is awarded their grand champion certificate they cannot receive
another. Even though the additional legs do not count towards an additional certificate, the
individual breed organizations use them to track the most successful rabbits. These
"sweepstakes" contest usually culminate with an award for the breeder/rabbit with the most
points in a year. Legs may be awarded at any ARBA sanctioned show where at least 5 rabbits
shown by 3 different owners compete. Legs are awarded for first place in class competitions up
to the Best in Show competition (BOV, BOSV, BOG, BOSG, BOB, BOSB, BIS). Sweepstakes
points are multiplied by the number of rabbits participating by a fractional multiplier, with the
multiplier increasing as the round of competition increases.
Registration
Rabbits that reach senior age or weight may be registered with the ARBA. Rabbits are
not required to be registered to compete in an ARBA show and cannot be registered before they
reach senior age (6 or 8 months depending on breed). Each rabbit awarded a grand champion
certificate must be registered with the ARBA. To be registered the owner must be a current
ARBA member, have tattooed their rabbits in their left ear with a number of their choosing,
present a 3 generation pedigree, and pay $4.00. The registrar checks the pedigree and the rabbit
for general, health or breed specific disqualifications, and weighs the animal. Then the
registration form is completed and forwarded to ARBA for filing. A registration tattoo is applied
to the rabbit's right ear.
The Show Ring
Depending on the size and length of the show the rabbits may be cooped during the show
together in one area, or brought into the show arena in carriers for the duration of the show.
All rabbits are brought to temporary or judging coops at the judging table when it is time for
their class to compete. Each rabbit is removed in turn from the coop and inspected by the judge.
The judge will disqualify rabbits for faults or poor health, judging the remaining rabbits against
the breed standard and the other rabbits. Once the class is completed the rabbits are returned to
their own coops or carriers and the next class is brought to the table and placed in the same
judging coops. Each exhibitor is responsible for maintaining their own animal and for cleaning
their cages during the duration of the show. Most exhibitors travel by car with their rabbits to
shows. The national show is usually the only show that rabbits are flown to, and depending on
its location most exhibitors choose to drive anyway because of the difficulty in flying with
multiple rabbits.
33
Most rabbit breeds, except for the wool breeds, require minimal grooming even when in
show form. The long-haired breeds need extensive and daily grooming, and their wool will fly
around the show area unless immediately caught. What grooming is necessary will take place on
the show floor and angora exhibitors utilize vacuums/blowers to blow out their animals wool.
Rabbits are not washed on the show room floor, baths being unnecessary for rabbits. Most
exhibitors groom their rabbits by rubbing the rabbit with damp hands to remove loose hairs.
Fixatives or other wool or fur enhancements (including clipping or trimming) are not allowed in
competition.
At the end of the show the exhibitors pack up their rabbits and return home. Rabbit
shows, especially the national convention, provide an opportunity for breeders to purchase
rabbits or make deliveries on prearranged sales. Imported rabbits may be delivered to shows,
especially the national show, since they represent a single communal location that eases delivery
logistics. Raffles are often sponsored where rabbits are offered as the prize, with the winner
taking home a new rabbit. Though it is often suggested to quarantine rabbits returning from
shows that does not always happen. While most breeders realize the importance of quarantining,
it is not always conducted due to space and equipment constraints.
34
Appendix 4: List of Abbreviations
4H - A youth service and leadership program sponsored by the Extension

Service
AC - Animal Care, APHIS-VS organization that monitors and enforces the
Animal Welfare Act
AWA - Animal Welfare Act
ARBA - American Rabbit Breeders Association
APHIS - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
APPMA - American Pet Products Manufacturing Association
EBHS - European Brown Hare Syndrome (a similar disease to RHD but only
infecting hares)
FFA - Future Farmers of America
OIE - Office International des Epizooties.
RCD - Rabbit Calicivirus Disease
RCVD - Rabbit Calici-Virus Disease
RHD - Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (name used by the OIE)
RHDV - Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (used interchangeably with RHD
but OIE uses this distinctively to refer to the virus that causes RHD)
USDA - United States Department of Agriculture
VHD - Viral Hemorrhagic Disease
VHDR - Viral Hemorrhagic Disease of Rabbits
VS - Veterinary Services; branch of USDA-APHIS
35
Appendix 5: Glossary
Buck - Male, unaltered rabbit. Bucks reach sexual maturity later than female rabbits, from five to
7 months. Large breeds reach sexual maturity later than small breeds.
Bunny Runner - A person who picks up or takes receipt of rabbits for delivery to an end market.
The Bunny Runner may pay for the rabbits themselves (wholesale) and resale them at the
terminal market. Some bunny runners may pay the slaughter price for meat rabbits directly to
the producer and be reimbursed through an individual arrangement with the slaughter plant. The
Bunny Runner may collect rabbits from a number of different locations to satisfy an order.
Cull - To remove a rabbit that does not meet the quality standards of the herd. Culling does not
exclusively refer to killing unsuitable stock. In some instances culled rabbits are consumed by
the producer, but that is not an option with some of the small hobby breeds. In this case, culling
refers to the removing from the herd and the culled rabbit may be sold as a pet or to other
hobbyists.
Doe - Female breeding rabbit. Does reach sexual maturity from 4.5 months to six months, large
breeds mature later than small breeds.
Fancy - Show rabbits. Especially the small rabbits that have no commercial applications.
Fryer - Young rabbit (8-12 weeks) marketed for meat
Fuzzy - A dead, furred kit.
Hare - Long eared, long legged hopping animals. Young are born furred and open-eyed.
Kindle - To give birth to rabbits
Kits or Kittens - New-born rabbits
Pelt - The rabbit skin with fur still attached
Pinkie - A dead, furless kit.
Rabbit - Animal with large front teeth, short tail and large hind legs. Length of ear varies, but is
usually longer than it is wide. Rabbits have shorter ears and legs than hares. Rabbits give birth
to blind and furless young.
Rabbitry - The common term for a rabbit production facility. Rabbitries can house commercial
or hobby herds and may be indoor, outdoor or any combination in between.
Wool - Rabbit fur. Technically all rabbits have wool and not fur covering their body. Angora
wool is a particularly long wool (three inches or more) that has been bred for over time.
36
Appendix 6: Industry Groups and On-Line Organizations or Groups

American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA): "The American Rabbit Breeders
Association, Inc. is an organization dedicated to the promotion, development and improvement
of the domestic rabbit and cavy. With over 30,000 members throughout the United States,
Canada, and abroad, our members range from the pet owner with one rabbit or cavy to the
breeder or commercial raiser with several hundred animals. Each aspect of the rabbit and cavy
industry, whether it be fancy (for exhibition), as a pet, or for commercial value, is encouraged by
our organization.
Website: www.arba.net
Publishes the Official Guidebook To Raising Better Rabbits, ARBA Yearbook, Standard of
Perfection and Domestic Rabbits Magazine. Membership includes a copy of the books and a
subscription to Domestic Rabbits. Membership also allows an exhibitor to register their senior
rabbits and receive Grand Champion Certificates. ARBA sanctions rabbit shows throughout the
U.S. and also sanctions rabbit shows at county and state fairs when requested. ARBA also
certifies the judges and registrars that manage and evaluate the entrants to rabbit shows. The
ARBA sponsors an annual national convention that can draw more than 20,000 rabbit entries.
Non-members may participate in ARBA sanctioned competitions.
Etherbun: A Listserv. "Devoted to the health, care and behavior of domestic, companion
rabbits. Please be aware in advance that discussion of breeding rabbits for *any* purpose-including pets or show--is NOT ALLOWED on EtherBun."
Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/etherbun/
Etherbun is very active, with a 1400 members, many of whom participate. Etherbun is a
moderated listserv that carefully directs posts to relevant topics, all of which are related to the
care of pet rabbits.
House Rabbit Society (HRS): "An all-volunteer, non-profit organization that rescues rabbits
and educates the public on rabbit care and behavior."
Board of Directors Chairperson: Marinell Harriman
Website: www.rabbit.org
Publishes the House Rabbit Journal sent to all members of HRS; provides on-line information
about rabbit care, advocates for appropriate care and feeding for pet rabbits, discourages the sale
of rabbits at Easter, encourages the adoption of pet rabbits from shelters or humane societies,
encourages neutering or spaying of pet rabbits.
Professional Rabbit Meat Association (PRMA): "A non-profit organization for the purpose of
providing professional guidance, information, current news, advice and the exchanging of ideas
on the rabbit meat industry for the serious growers, processors, brokers, buyers and those
desiring to participate in the rabbit meat industry, regardless of size of operation."
Website: www.prma.org
Publishes the bi-monthly PRMA Newsletter listing prices and market weights. The Newsletter
also reprints journal articles and gathers industry related popular press information in one place.
PRMA's monitoring of slaughter price for live rabbits is the only information on Rabbit
marketings collected nationally and is supplied by Dr. James McNitt of Southern University and
the Vice-President of the PRMA. PRMA also hosts chats periodically with industry experts and
37
sponsors a members-only listserv. The PRMA's President, Pat Lamar, is an active proponent of
the commercial rabbit industry and has published a succinct on-line overview of the various
commercial (for profit) rabbit industries active in the U.S. [http://www.3-cities.com/~fuzyfarm/]
Rabbit Education Society (RES): "We welcome breeders and pet owners interested in animal
welfare, not animal rights...There is far too little rabbit information currently available and we
want to change that. These pages will strive to be a source of accurate and complete pet rabbit
care information. It will also be a source of information for breeders to pass onto their pet rabbit
buyers and also serve to inform all about what is going on out in the rabbit world...We welcome
articles about pet rabbits and responsible ownership."
Website: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/1155/RES.html
This website covers the following topic areas: 1.) Rabbit Care Information 2.)Guidelines For
Show Rabbit Breeders 3.) Rabbit Shelter & Abandonment Information 4.)Minimizing Owner
Surrender 4.) National Shelter Census 5.)Rabbit Legislation. Corrine Fayo owns the website
and conducts surveys of breeders and shelters to clarify the actual activities of rabbit breeders for
use in animal welfare discussions. A Rabbit Education Society listserv
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Rabbit-Ed-Society/) is also moderated by Corrine Fayo and
addresses the topic of animal rights vs. animal welfare from the rabbitry perspective.
Rabbit Information Service (RIA; Australia): A vast array of articles and information about
all aspects of the rabbit industry. The web site covers topics specific to Australia, as well as
addressing research, concerns and the industry groups in the U.S. The most recently posted
information is regarding RHD and the spread of the disease through Australia to control the pest
rabbit (O. cuniculus) population. The information presented is biased toward the protection of
pet rabbits.
Website: http://members.iinet.net.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm
Rabbit Web: "The information you need to raise and care for your rabbits...Get advice on how
to raise your rabbits and bunnies on Rabbit Web. We have informative articles, cute bunny pics,
and lots of savvy bunny owners on the discussion board and in chat groups."
Website: http://rabbitweb.net/
Publishes the Rabbit Web Zine and sponsors a website dedicated to breeding, show and pet
rabbit owners. Articles contributed by active members of the rabbit web discussion board
(http://www.tcims.com/rabbitweb/index.cgi) and the Rabbit Web Zine, a chat room
(http://www.rabbitweb.net/cgi-bin/interchat.exe), book reviews, pictures, advertisements,
extensive listing of personal rabbit related websites and the ins and outs of showing rabbits are
some of the areas addressed by Rabbit Web.
Show Bunny: "ShowBunny initially began as an internet mailing list for people interested in all
aspects of breeding and showing bunnies. Over the years, ShowBunny has grown. Today,
ShowBunny consists of a family of internet mailing lists, as well as an extensive website."
Website: http://www.showbunny.com/
Show Bunny is not affiliated with the ARBA, however they are a popular forum for information
about all aspects of rabbit breeding and showing. Show Bunny provides an extensive listing of
rabbit breeders personal websites and a very active classifieds board for trade in all aspects of
38
rabbits and products. Show Bunny also hosts the very active All About Rabbits discussion
forum (http://www.showbunny.com/boards/forum.asp?forum_id=1&forum_title=All+About+Rabbits).
Southern Commercial Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc. (SCRBA): Goals of the SCRBA are
the, "educating and sharing of rabbit husbandry practices with an emphasis on the Southern
environment and market demands. Production stability through farmer networking and sharing
of the best management practices. Providing a forum for the exchange of ideas, information and
technology. Monitoring of foreign product competition. The development of relationships with
governmental and university systems."
Website: http://www.fl-ag.com/rabbits/index.htm
The SCRBA sponsors an annual educational workshop in the fall and a separate annual
conference focusing on all issues from breeding rabbits to marketing rabbit meat. SCRBA
publishes the Commercial Rabbit and provides the magazine with membership. The SCRBA
works to ensure that there is rabbit processing and market opportunities available to their
members.
World Rabbit Science Association (WRSA): "The WRSA is an international association
created in Paris in 1976...It's main objectives are : To facilitate the exchange of knowledge and
experience among persons in all parts of the World who are contributing to the advancement of
various branches of the rabbit industry. To promote the extension of knowledge by
encouragement of teaching, scientific research, practical experimentation, the collection and
publication of statistics and documents in relation with rabbit production. To promote World
Rabbit Congresses alone or in cooperation with other international bodies. To co-operate with
FAO and any other World Bodies interested in rabbit meat, pelt or fur production."
Website: http://www.etsia.upv.es/wrsa/english/main.htm [English version]
Publishes the refereed World Rabbit Science Journal and sponsors the World Rabbit Congress
every 4 years. World Rabbit Science is published four times a year and summaries of the recent
articles are available from the World Rabbit Science Journal order page (http://www.rabbitscience.com/uk-page3.htm). The next World Rabbit Congress will be held in 2004 in Cancun,
Mexico. Abstracts for papers presented at past Congresses are published in World Rabbit
Science.
World Rabbit Science Association - American Branch (WRSA-AB): The American Branch
(WRSA) has the mission of promoting the exchange of information relating to topics of interest
to rabbit scientists, breeders, project managers, extensionists, and others with an avid interest in
rabbit production. This includes meetings, newsletters, journals and line forums (in addition to
the statement for the WRSA).
Website: http://users.tamuk.edu/kfsdl00/abwrsa.html
WRSA-AB sponsors a list-serv for rabbit science related topics and supports the activities of
WRSA. WRSA-AB also hosts their own conferences and concentrates on developing
commercial rabbit production in the Americas.
39
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and
activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political
beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all
programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of
program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call
(202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Mention of companies or commercial products does not imply recommendation or endorsement
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture over others not mentioned. USDA neither guarantees nor
warrants the standard of any product mentioned. Product names are mentioned solely to report
factually on available data and to provide specific information.

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U.S.

Rabbit Industry Profile

Please address all comments or other correspondence to:

1. Purpose of the Report

2. Introduction to the Domestic Rabbit

3. The U.S. Rabbit Industries

Rabbit Industry Groups

4. Commercial Production of Meat Rabbits

Source: Various extension publications

Total rabbit slaughter/consumption is estimated to be between 20 and 25 percent larger

5. Commercial Production of Rabbits for Laboratory and Research Markets

Table 3: Laboratory Industry Group - Research Facilities, Breeders and Dealers

Sources: USDA, APHIS, Animal Care and USDA, NASS

6. Commercial Production of Rabbits for Pets

Table 4: Pet Ownership in the U.S.

Table 5: Household Ownership of Small Animals

7. Hobby Rabbit Breeding

Source: ARBA Website (www.ARBA.net)

White: <1000 participants

Figure 2: 4H Participation in Rabbit Projects

Source: U.S. Customs Data

Source: U.S. Customs Data

9. Estimated Rabbit Population in the U.S.

Number of Estimated Rabbits

9.1 Farm Rabbits

10. Estimated Economic Value of the U.S. Rabbit Industry Groups

Live Meat Rabbits from

Rabbit Feed Industry for

Rabbitry start-up costs

Table 11: Average Value for Non-Surgical Pet Care in 2000

Source: 2001/2002 APPMA National Pet Owners Survey

10.2 Retail Rabbit Meat Value

Table 12: Value of Livestock Industry Sales and Supporting Industries

10.4 Related and Support Industries for Rabbits

Appendix 1: All U.S. Rabbit Imports (Value in $1,000; Quantity in MT or Number)

Whole, Raw Furskins

Tanned Rabbit & Hare Skins

Whole, Raw Furskins

Tanned Rabbit & Hare Skins

Yarn, <85% Angora

Appendix 2: AWA Licensing and Registration for Rabbits

Appendix 3: A Brief Look at a Rabbit Show

Appendix 4: List of Abbreviations

4H - A youth service and leadership program sponsored by the Extension

Appendix 6: Industry Groups and On-Line Organizations or Groups

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