Farmed Rabbits

[GaryD]

Hi,

.....the integration of other crops ie poultry and (for those outside of QLD) rabbits.

In our native SA, about 25 years ago (long before it was legal to do so), Jan and I grew NZ White rabbits.

We were able to produce much of what they ate and the rest of their ration was relatively inexpensive.

We researched what we could from Europe and the US. We built the rabbits pens ourselves.

Farmed rabbits produce meat which is valued by chefs of just about every culture. Nutritionists also recommend feeding the finely-grained, easily digested meat to the elderly.

While I'm not usually conspiracy-minded, the prohibition on rabbit farming in Queensland has less to do with looking after the environment than it it does with preserving other partisan interests.

The rabbit prohibition laws are like Queensland's daylight saving laws....they are based on very little that is logic or rational. I would welcome a change on both counts....but I'm not holding my breath.


GaryD

[echidna]

On rabbits, they are a Class 2 pest in QLD and carry a fine of up to $30,000. I recently noticed a new sign at the NSW/QLD stock gate on the Mt Lindsay Hwy. pointing out rabbits are prohibited in QLD and carry a fine of up to $30,000. Given that there has been a recent push to legalise rabbit keeping in the SE, I suspect they're just itching to find someone to slap a fine on. As much as I like fresh rabbit, I don't think I want to be the "bunny" (pun intended) to cop the first fine.

I've seen a few wild rabbits locally, but they are outnumbered by European Hares. They are the size of wallabies! Oh for a .22!

[Murray]

My father-in-law has a colony of rabbits living on his 3 acre house block at Park Ridge.
The Rabbit inspector has been but F-I-L denies any knowledge of the rabbits. They are becoming very tame coming up to the back door of the house for some tit-bits.
There are a number of Greyhound type places in the neighborhood and it is suspected that perhaps the rabbits are escapees from such establishments.
The rabbit inspector was canvasing the area as someone had dobbed one of the greyhound places for "blooding" the dogs using live rabbits. It is assumed that the greyhound place in question must have released the rabbits after being tipped of about the impending inspector visit.
Anyway, they (the rabbits) are proving to be loved wild pets at the F-I-L's place.
(I deny any knowledge of rabbits in my area)

[Jonathan Dyer]

Hi Gary,

So I taking it that you support daylight savings?

I see very little point as do at least 60% of West Australians regarding this matter. In WA we have a Gov that does as they will and disregards its people. Why should Qld follow suit to the rest of Australia?

[Murray]

Daylight saving makes some sense in the lower latitudes, but from around Bundy north is would be an annoyance to people that is for sure.
When we lived in Port Moresby the difference between sunup in summer and sunup in winter is 15 minutes

[GaryD]

Hi Echidna,

As much as I like fresh rabbit, I don't think I want to be the "bunny" (pun intended) to cop the first fine.

If you like bush rabbits, you'd be blown away with the taste of farmed rabbit. The only similarity between bush rabbits and the likes of NZ White or similar meat rabbits is that they both have long ears.

Many years ago, BSA made an air rifle that had some real grunt....and rifling in the barrel for accuracy.......just the thing for urban poachers to sort out hares.

A good hare.....and a cook with the necessary skill.....also makes for a good meal.

Jonathon......to be candid I've never heard an intelligent argument against daylight saving......or rabbit farming. Different speed limits, different daylight zones, different regulations for business.....all more good reasons for eliminating state governments (speaking of rabbits).

Gary

[anniefish]

Hi Gary,
Please add different education systems and drivers licences.

[anniefish]

My husband heard this at work last night - a learner driver drove into NSW, pulled up by police and fined $230 and lost their licence. What did they do? drink driving, no, speeding, no, ran over someone, no.
Answer - they had their L plates inside the window.
Do we need one set of road rules Australia wide??

[GaryD]

Hi,

Annie.....the list of state government inconsistencies would fill an encyclopaedia.

As the person responsible for getting this thread off topic, can I suggest that we now get back to farmed rabbits?

I'm happy to have someone create a thread on the shortcomings of state governments in the Lounge Area forum....if the subject still has life in it.

Gary

[Jacomish]

Hi All,
This my first post but it happens to be on a topic with which I have some experience. I farmed rabbits on the South Coast about 15 years ago before calicivirus came into the country.
I was always amazed at how an animal which survives so well in the wild dies so easily in a cage.......it turned out to be our fish farming friend, ammonia.

They are excellent eating and produce enough meat to eat rabbit twice a week from 2 breeders.

DO NOT feed them lettuce, it is poison to rabbits, most of the ones I have had turned thier noses up at it anyway.

There are lots of other 'rules' if you want to be successful with them but once you have worked them out they are fairly easy to keep, I am planning to incorporate them into my new backyard as part of the self sufficient cycle.