Rabbit production and consumption in South Africa

English: The needs, perceptions and attitudes of potential consumers and producers with regard to consumption and production of rabbit products in Moqhaka, Ngwathe and Matjhabeng local municipalities are analysed in this study. The consumers in aforementioned local municipalities consume common livestock meats such as chicken, mutton, beef and pork. The consumers prefer lean meat. Pork is the most disliked meat by the majority of the surveyed consumers due to stomach problem that it causes when consumed. Pension and casual forms of employment are common sources of income among the African households surveyed. The African and Coloured communities showed more interest in the consumption of rabbit products than the White communily. The main attribute that will encourage the African and Coloured communities to consume rabbit products is its lean meat that is suitable for heart disease patients and people who are over weight. The members of the White population will use rabbit products mainly in the form of rabbit fur apparels and manure. The 'White community showed to have more knowledge about the potential attributes of rabbit products such as meat rich in protein, low on fat, manure suitable for vegetable growing as well as the ability of rabbit fur to make clothes. Rabbit meat was subjected to sensory taste analysis in a bid to determine consumer preference and taste with regard to meat consumption. Rabbit meat was compared to chicken, mutton and beef. Mutton was the most preferred meat by the panelists. However, the differences in the rank sums were all not statistically significant to justify preference of one meat over the other. This could be attributed to the tasting panel which was selected from a broad socioeconomic background and was familiar with at least seventy five percent of the tested meat types. Some members of the tasting panel were familiar with all the meat types. The small-scale farmers in Moqhaka, Ngwathe and Matjhabeng local municipalities are currently involved in both Ianning and non-farming activities which they depend upon for survival. The farming activities include livestock and vegetable production while the non-farming activities include sewing, selling of fat cakes and so forth. The majority of producers and consumers have superficial knowledge about the potential of rabbit production and its products. The surveyed producers are faced with a number of problems such as lack of financial resources, lack of storage facilities and reliable form of transport in order to run their activities efficiently. This condition necessitates the formulation of a well co-ordinated support programme. The formulated programme would determine what form of production credit would be best suited for the rabbit producers in the different production areas. The enterprise budgets formulated indicate that the rabbit enterprise is not only a cost-effective enterprise but also profitable. This is shown by the low cost production ratio and high returns to investment when compared to other enterprises. An investigation of the international market. shows Europe as the most attractive and largest market for rabbit products.