In 1999, CSIRO and industry partners, began developing the Crusader strain of meat rabbit, selecting for traits of prime economic importance to meat rabbit production.
Why rabbits?
Rabbit is part of modern Australian cuisine, reflecting its place in European and Asian cooking.
The restaurant trade is largely supplied by farmed rabbit meat and demand is outstripping supply.
Commercial rabbit farming is now undertaken in all states except Queensland which has a total ban on keeping rabbits.
For farmers wishing to diversify their incomes, the rabbit industry offers strong economic advantages:
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an established market and marketing system
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industry economics based on commercial product
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relatively low entry costs
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many farms have existing infrastructure that can be used for rabbit farming.
Estimates of gross margin per doe per year (before labour) are about A$174.
With vertical integration and reasonable economies of scale, this emerging industry has a high likelihood of sustainable returns, offering diversity of income to farmers within a realistic timeframe.
The industry has grown from producing 106 tonnes of meat in 1999 and is projected to reach around 594 tonnes by 2015 (Gordon & Garrett 2004).
CSIRO rabbit research
In 1999, CSIRO Livestock Industries began a research program, aiming to develop an improved strain of meat rabbits for the Australian industry.
Funded by CSIRO and Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the Crusader meat rabbit breeding program produced superior livestock for the industry, as well as management and husbandry information on rabbit reproduction and the Crusader Enterprise Model for estimating gross margins.
In 2004 the Crusader breeding program was commercialised.
Mr Michael Bowerman and Ms Kathleen Bowerman from the Snowy Mountains Gourmet Rabbit Company in Bredbo, New South Wales, Australia, took over management of the rabbits and breeding program.
The selection of this company was based on a competitive tender.
Approximately 25 per cent of the industry is using Crusader rabbit breeding stock.
Approximately 25 per cent of the industry is using Crusader rabbit breeding stock.
The Crusader breeding program has improved rabbit production by:
The Snowy Mountains Gourmet Rabbit Company is:
CSIRO continued its involvement with the project until 2007, focusing on improving the disease resistance of the Crusader rabbits, which is vital to efficient production.
Scientific advances were made in selection for disease traits in grower rabbits, helping to lift gross margins from an estimated A$174 to A$242 per doe per annum.
Crusader rabbits for purchase
Crusader rabbits are available for purchase from the Snowy Mountains Gourmet Rabbit Company, Phone: 02 6454 4256, Email: bowerman@snowy.net.au
Read more about Dr Sandra Eady: livestock geneticist and assessing agriculture life cycle.
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