HAVING TALKED WITH THIS WRITER I MUST COMMEND HIM ON AN EXCELLENT STORY. AFTER RAISEING RABBITS FOR 65 YRS PLUS AND STILL HAVE A FEW FOR MEAT WHICH I SHARE WITH FAMILY,FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, I FIND I MUST NITPICK THE ARTICLE,OR MAYBE JUST GIVE MY EXPERIENCE WITH THEM. I ALSO AM APPALLED AT THE NUMBER OF ALA FOLKS THAT DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE HEALTHY ASPECTS OF DOMESTIC RABBIT MEAT. .IN ADDITION TO THE ARTICLE ,THE USDA HAS STATED THAT DOMESTIC RABBIT MEAT IS THE MOST NUTRITIOUS MEAT KNOWN TO MAN. NOW --- RABBITS ARE NOT HARES--WILD AND DOMESTIC RABBITS WILL BREED---NO RABBIT WILL BREED WITH A HARE---DIFFERENT ANIMALS. MOOT POINT MAYBE

2ND * IM ADDRESSING SMALL SELF ONLY BREEDERS, IF YOU BREED A DOE TO HAVE BABIES EVERY 31 DAYS-(-AVERAGE GESTATION IS 28-32 DAYS--NORMALLY 30 Days-) SHE WILL NOT LAST LONG--YOU WILL NEED MANY MANY MORE CAGES,MANPOWER TO WEAN, AND MAY (PROBABLY) WILL HAVE A MUCH HIGHER MORTALITY RATE. THE AMERICAN RABBIT BREEDERS ASSOCIATION ARBA SAYS MOST PRODUCERS HAVE REBREED SCHEDULES OF 11--14--21--28--OR 42 DAYS AFTER KINDLING. I HAVE NEVER HAD OVER 50 DOES AND USED TO SELL TO STORES AND INDIVIDUALS. NOW OF COURSE WITH DADDY GOV IN OPERATION YOU MUST BE USDA APPROVED TO SELL TO STORES.MY EXPERIENCE IN RAISEING FOR SELF AND FAMILY WAS A 36 TO 42 DAY SYSTEM. THIS ALLOWED THE DOE TO REST,AND RESULTED IN HIGHER LITTERS OF 8-10 BABIES... ALSO AS STATED IN MR HUGGINS ARTICLE HOT WEATHER REDUCES LITTERS,AND WEIGHT GAIN. ITS ALSO HARD ON THE DOES. FOR SMALL SELF ONLY LIKE MYSELF,I DO NOT BREED THRU HOT MONTHS. IDEALLY A TRIO OF 2 CALIFORNIA DOES AND 1 BUCK CAN PRODUCE ALL THE MEAT MOST FAMILYS NEED. CURRENTLY MY CALIFORNIA DOES AVERAGE 8-10 BABIES EACH LITTER. SINCE MR HUGGINS ARTICLE WAS AIMED AT COMMERCIAL BREEDING I FEEL I MUST ADD SOME RECENT EXPERIENCES. I HAVE BEEN CALLED BY 3 DIFFERENT GROUPS ie 2 OR 3 FAMILYS-- MAYBE NOT EVEN RELATED ,ARE GROWING LARGE GARDENS TOGEATHER, RAISEING CHICKENS FOR MEAT AND EGGS AND WANTED TO START RAISEING RABBITS. ONE GROUP SAID THEY HAD GOTTEN A MILK COW???---THAT MAY BE THE ROUTE TO TAKE TO BEAT THIS ECONOMY SITUATION.. RAISEING RABBITS USED TO BE THE POOR KIDS 4 H PROJECTS. ANYONE KNOW IF THAT STILL APPLIES. THEY HAVE A USE FOR EVERY PART OF A RABBIT---EVEN ITS SQUEAL. CLEANINIG RABBITS CAN BE MUCH EASIER,AND CLEANER THAN MOST DEER AND FISH. I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO RAISE RABBITS FOR FUN,FOOD,OR FANCY, TO GIVE IT A TRY.--HAVE FUN,EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN AND EAT WELL