Raising Rabbits

Wes Nelson and his daughter Emily were the presenters on January 23.  They raise award winning rabbits.  They described the process of growing and showing rabbits in Iowa and nationally.

There are 140 different breeds of rabbits.  The largest can grow to 40 pounds.  At the National show in California this year there were 14,000 rabbits shown by adults and another 4,000 by youth.  At the Iowa State Fair there were 800 youth showing 1100-1500 rabbits.

The Nelsons have a 14x50 heated shed that has 90 holes for rabbits on each side.  One side is used strictly for breeders.  They have six varieties of rabbits for a total of 50 does (female).  Each rabbit litter is 6-8 babies.

All the bucks (male) rabbits have a name.  Every rabbit has a tattoo in its ear to track them.  They buy and sell breeding stock throughout the country.

Rabbit shows are not large money-making activities.  This year they sold 21 rabbits at the National competition in California, which basically paid for their trip.  One of the Nelson’s rabbits won first place