Developing a Sustainable Rabbit Enterprise Through Pet-Food Market Integration and On-Farm Feed Production

Commodities

Practices

Our earlier SARE-funded project (FNC12-850) demonstrated that small-scale meat rabbit production could not support full-time income levels. The two key barriers were (1) limited consumer demand for rabbit meat, and (2) high and volatile feed costs-the single largest overhead expense in rabbitry operations.

Today, pet-food processors such as My Pet Carnivore and The Butcher's Hound have created new, steady demand for rabbit as a raw ingredient in natural dog and cat diets. However, few farms are equipped to supply rabbit to this market at scale or with consistent cost control.

Meanwhile, feed costs continue to rise. Bagged commercial pellets have doubled in price since 2012 and depend on imported ingredients. A more regenerative approach-growing and processing on-farm feedstocks using locally grown grains and forage crops-could stabilize costs and improve farm independence.

This project seeks to test whether integrating (1) pet-food market access and (2) on-farm feed production can together make rabbit production a viable full-time agricultural enterprise for family farms in the North Central Region.

Solution (500 words)

We will conduct an applied, on-farm research and demonstration project at Mud Creek Farm in Indiana to test two linked innovations that could improve the economic sustainability of rabbit production:

1. Market Integration with Pet-Food Buyers
   We will partner with My Pet Carnivore and The Butcher's Hound-two regional raw pet-food companies headquartered in Indiana-to establish a steady-volume outlet for rabbit carcasses and offal. These buyers already process rabbit products into pet diets but lack sufficient local supply. We will supply dressed rabbits, track pricing, yields, and logistical costs, and document the market viability for small-farm participation in this value chain.

2. On-Farm Feed Production and Pelleting
   We will plant 2 acres of mixed annual feed crops (oats, peas, sunflower, sorghum, and field peas) to replace purchased pelleted feed. The crops will be ground and pelleted using small-scale equipment to produce a complete rabbit ration.
   Data collected will include:

   • Crop input costs (seed, fertilizer, labor, fuel)

   • Processing time and energy use (grinding, pelleting)

   • Feed nutritional analysis (lab testing for protein, fiber, fat, calcium, phosphorus)

   • Feed conversion ratios (FCR), growth rate, and cost per pound of rabbit produced

   • Comparison of purchased commercial pellets vs. self-produced feed

3. Economic Analysis & Outreach
   We will calculate per-pound production costs, labor inputs, and profit margins under both feeding systems. Our outreach will share these findings through field days, short videos, and a downloadable "Rabbit Feed Independence Guide" summarizing results for other small-scale producers.

Objectives (100 words)

1. Demonstrate a replicable system for supplying rabbits to regional pet-food buyers.

2. Develop and test a cost-effective on-farm rabbit feed using locally grown annual crops.

3. Compare feed performance, growth, and cost metrics between self-produced and commercial feeds.

4. Conduct lab analysis of feed nutrition and carcass quality.

5. Share results through on-farm field day, online publications, and collaboration with Indiana's Small Farm Conference.