About New Zealand Rabbits

New Zealand rabbits are the number one meat rabbit in the United States. They convert feed to meat efficiently with finer bones, and have been bred to have high disease resistance, large litter size, and better overall performance.

Size

The New Zealand is a medium meat rabbit averaging 10-12 pounds.

Colors and Fur Type

White and red are the most common colors, they can also be, black, gray, and broken (broken is where the rabbit is white with markings) New Zealand's have soft medium length fur. Their hair type is normal, not rex, satin or agora.

Meat

Americans raise more New Zealands for meat than any other breed. Rabbits convert meat in a 1:4 ratio, so for every pound of feed they eat you will get a fourth of a pound of meat. With a 5-pound rabbit you will get 3 pounds of meat, or 60-65% of their live weight. A trio of New Zealands will give in one year 600 pounds of meat, that is more than you can get from a steer!

The cuts you will get from a New Zealand will be: two hind legs, two front legs, two shoulders, two loins a liver, a heart, and the kidneys.

Personality

New Zealands are calm and docile, they enjoy human interaction and will get bored if they are left alone without a rabbit friend (however, male rabbits may prefer to be alone. It depends on the rabbit and whether or not they were raised alone or with other rabbits)

Litter Size

New Zealands average 6-12 kits per litter.