| industry is one of my top priorities and I am committed to ensuring that we see this project through and we open a new market for our Alabama farmers and their products.”
One major step toward developing rabbit production is to obtain and breed top-quality brood stock. A major step toward developing top-quality brood stock was taken last month when Beth Sealy, the owner of an Ocala, Florida processing plant, delivered more than 100 rabbits to be distributed among Alabama growers. Sealy has been growing rabbits for 18 years and has been in the processing business for 10 years.
“We are about two years behind with grower development,” said J.C. Holt, president of the Tri-State Rabbit Growers Association. “We have got to start with top quality brood stock, we have to educate our producers and we have to make sure we have accessible, profitable markets available.”
The association currently has a contract with Carnival Cruise Lines, Holt said. The Alabama-grown rabbits are being processed in Mississippi and sent to Carnival through a contract with Ms. Sealy, who owns Sealy’s Ark. Sparks said he would lead an effort for the Alabama producers to obtain a second contract with the Carnival cruise boat that is scheduled to dock in Mobile.
“We have got a long education process ahead of us and we need to make sure that growers know how to economically produce commercial rabbits,” Sparks said. “That is why it is so important that we have a unified effort.”
The state’s three land grant institutions, Alabama A&M, Tuskegee University, and Auburn University, currently are working on a budget and an overall business plan for rabbit producers. In addition, the consortium is working on feed evaluation and development and has agreed to establish a 1-800 number for growers to call when they have questions about disease and other health-related issues.
Coordinators of local RC&D councils also met with
Commissioner Sparks, rabbit producers, Sealy and other interested officials in February. The coordinators agreed to hold a series of regional meetings and workshops on “Rabbits 101” this spring. Rabbit will be served at the meetings compliments of the rabbit grower’s association, Holt said.
“One doe rabbit can make more profit in a year than a cow,” Holt said. “It takes three acres for a cow, it takes a two square feet for a rabbit, and you can produce 6 pounds of rabbit to one pound of beef.”
Holt said he is encouraging new growers to start out small and build their stock.
“I am telling farmers to get into this with a minimal investment and build,” Holt said. “They can start out with 10 does and 1 buck and make a profit.”
In addition, the groups are working on a marketing analysis which will serve as the basis for a marketing plan, a business model and long-term goals for the producers, Holt said. One major goal is to locate a processing plant in Alabama.
“I like getting out of the box and looking for new opportunities,” Sparks concluded. “I see this as a real opportunity for our farmers.” |
