Loading...
Times Advocate, 1995-12-13, Page 30Page 30 Tines -Advocate, December 13, 1995 Keeping up with the business of rabbits Brenda Burke T•A staff EXETER - In Kitchener and To- ronto, rabbits are a popular Christ- mas dish. In the Exeter area, him Darling has discavered they're con- sumed on a steady basis all year long. "A lot of people get into rabbits because they produce quickly," said Darling, who "decided to ex- pand on the hobby farm," with a rabbitry three years ago, thus ful- filling an interest he's had since he was 14. His rabbitry holds up to 400 New Zealand Whites and Californians, most of which are raised for meat. About five per cent of the rabbits are sold as pets. He keeps 28 breed- ing does and three bucks at one time. After the ap- proximately 30 -day gestation period, the babies are born and the doe is bred again in three weeks. Two weeks later, the babies are weaned and put in fattening pens. Although a rabbit litter can range from one to 18 young ones, the average size is eight or nine. • "She can really take care of eight perfectly," said Darling, concerning the nursing doe. However. baby rabbits can be fostered to other does quite easily. Darling aims to keep the rabbitry ten clings to the meat. Although at its present size and will continue rabbit pelts were once popular for to deal with the two breeds he has. fur products, the trend has dwin- Although many rabbit dled due to the snvll breeders concentrate on size and expense of the particular blood lines pelts. when raising their an- Darling spends about imals for showing, Dar- 20 minutes each day car- ing for his rabbits that "A lot of peo- ple get into rabbits be - ling crossbreeds to pro- cause they duce rabbit. a hybrid meat produce quick - At a consistent $2.99 1y." per pound whole, rabbit meat is white, lean, low in cho- lesterol and easy to digest. Loins and legs cost approximately $4.59 per pound. "All rabbits taste the same," he said. "You can do anything with a rab- bit you do with a chicken." At nine to 10 weeks old, the average rab- bit weighs six pounds and produces a three and a half pound carcass. Of Dar- ling's rabbits, which he raises and slaughters at the rabbitry and then sells in his grocery stores, the Cal- ifornia breed is larger, weighing about 13 pounds, and is used only for breeding. For his business, he prefers white-haired rabbits since they re- sult in a cleaner -looking carcass whereas the fur of dark rabbits of - "All rabbits taste the same. You can do anything with a rabbit you do with a chicken." Brussels livestock sales BRUSSELS - Sales at Brussels Livestock for the week ending December 8. 1995. Fed cattle 726 Cows 387 Veal calves 236 •Sheep & Goats 232 Stockers 1331 Pigs 59 The market at Brussels Livestock saw all classes of cat- tle selling steady. On Thursday veal sold on a fully steady strong active trade. Lambs sold on a sharply higher trade. On Friday the stocker calves sold $4.00 to $5.00 higher with the yearlings selling steady. There were 423 steers on offer selling from 87.00 to 92.00 to the high of 100.00. Forty-five steers consigned by County Line Farms, Chesley averaging 1345 lbs. sold for an average of 88.70 with sales to 100.00. Forty-nine steers consigned by Cunningham Farms, Lucan averaging 1454 lbs. sold for an average of 89.67 with sales to 97.25. Fifty-five steers consigned by W.B. Pletch Co. Ltd.. Rockwood averaging 1303 lbs. sold to the high of 95.25. Three steers consigned by Gordon Daer. Auburn averaging 1368 lbs. sold for an average of 89.63 with sales to 94.50. Thirteen steers consigned by Ron Codlin, Grand Valley averaging 1303 lbs. sold for an average of 87.60 with sales to 94.00. Ten steers consigned by Kada Farms, Bluevale averaging 1332 lbs. sold for an average of 89.39 with sales to 93.75. Six steers consigned by Irvin Schenk. Petersburg averaging 1361 lbs. sold for an average of 90.52 with sales to 93.25. Seventeen steers consigned by Ohm Farms, Monkton averaging 1355 lbs. sold for an average of 88.57 with sales to 93.10. Four steers consigned by Robert Wanless Sr. Palmerston averaging 1288 lbs sold for an average of 87.62 with sales to 91.50. Thirty-seven steers consigned by Terry Dalton, Lucknow averaging 1282 lbs sold for an average of 85.10 with sales to 91.25. There were 274 heifers on offer selling from 86.00 to 90.00 to the high of 96.00.Fifteen heifers consigned by Wayne Rowe, Woodham averaging 1172 lbs. sold for an average of 86.86 with sales to 96.00. Two heifers consigned by Aaron Fischer, Ayton averaging 1 160 lbs. sold for an average of 89.58 with sales to 95.25. Seven heifers consigned by Blair R. Fraser, Blyth averaging 1026 lbs. sold for an average of 89.15 with sales to 92.50. Ten heifers consigned by Gordon Dougherty, Godench averaging 1 190 lbs. sold for an average of 85.48 with sales to 91.50. Twelve heifers consigned by Neil Faulkner, Moorefield averaging 1251 lbs. sold for an average of 85.10 with sales to 90.00. Eight heifers consigned by Samual Hoover Jr. Wroxeter averaging 999 lbs. sold for an average of 84.04 with sales to 90.00. Seven heifers consigned by Bill Pearson, Ethel averaging 1 186 lbs. sold for an average of 87.04 with sales to 89.50. Four heifers consigned by Ron Gutscher, Elmwood averaging 1 105 lbs. sold for an average of 85.68 with sales to 88.25. Forty-six heifers consigned by Doug Calhoun, Dobhinton averaging 1199 lbs. sold for an average of 86.79 with sales to 88.00. There were 387 cows on offer selling from 32.00 to 50.00 to the high of 57.00. Twelve cows consigned by Charles Downey, Seaforth averaging 1365 lbs. sold for an average of 44.70 with sales to 57.00. Four cows consigned by Neil McKinnon, Tiverton averaging 1336 lbs. sold for average of 49.07 with sales to 54.00. Five cows consigned by Dennis Dolmage. Londesborough averaging 1314 lbs. sold for an average of 51.58 with sales to 54.00. There were 27 bulls on offer selling from 45.50 to 56.00 to the high of 73.00. One gold hull consigned by Schultz Bros.. Blyth weighing 2000 lbs. sold for 73.00. One limo hull consigned by Earl Quinn, Kincardine weighing 1925 lbs. sold for 68:50. There were 236 vat on offer selling from: Hol. 75.00 to 90.00; Beef 85.00 to 110.00. Three veal consigned by John Verberg. Londesboro averaging 675 lbs. sold for an average of 98.81 with sales to 110.00. Four veal consigned by Henry Tenhove, Monkton averaging 660 lbs. sold for an average o. 93.87 with sales to 106.00. Six veal consigned by John Martin. Lucknow averaging 703 lbs. sold for an av- erage of 87.13 with sales to 102.00. Lambs: Under 50 lbs. 175.00 to 300.00 50-80 lbs. 128.00 to 270.00 80-94 lbs. 130.00 to 140.00 Over 95 lbs. 101.00 to 124.00 Sheep: 26.00 to 46.00 Goats: 530.00 to 5112.50 Stockers Steers: 400 - 499 lbs. 79.00 to 114.50 500 - 599 83.00 to 108.00 600 - 699 83.0Qto 97.00 700 - 799 69.00 to 91.50 800 - 899 70.50 to 95.00 900 and over 85.00 to 109.00 Heifers: 300 - 399 lbs. 400-499 500 - 599 600- 699 700 - 799 70.50 to 101.00 74.50 to 91.00 71.50 to 83.00 77.00 to 93.50 74.25 to 90.25 800 and over 66.00 Ib 85.00 Brussels Livestock will be holding a special Lamb and (los( Sale on Thursday, December 14. and Thursday, December 21. are kept in an insulted, air-conditioned trailer with an automatic clean- ing and feeding system that provides a special Rabbit Chow. "They just cat all the time," said Darling of the rabbits, which tend to be more active at night and slightly Tess active during summer months. Although rabbits breed quickly. he said it would take thousands of them to make a feasible business venture, which would include about 500 does. a. a► �: . ,r'ist.d.lifll►rss J. ir�iiii� r:�:Ji ltllki ►�t, :+tTtti►:iaiftir�tdtatri: lei: iiiis1111iatw Jim Darling raises New Zealand Whites and Californians at his rabbitry in Exeter. Denfield Livestock Sales The market at Denfield Livestock traded on a good demand at steady prices on all classes of fed cattle. Don Eedy and Mark Vanderploeg, Denfield sold 10 heifers average weight 1300. ay. price 1.00 sales to 105 purchased by Dendekker and 102.25 purchased by Holly Park. Gwen Coulter. Parkhill soJdsteer 1270 lbs. at 101.25 purchased by Holly Park. Clayton Oneil and Sons. Denfield had the high sale for a steer 1320 lbs. at. 105.50 purchased by Dendekker Meats. Norman Hodgins, Parkhill sold 31 heavy steers average weight 1434 average price 91.35 sales to 96.50 purchased by Corsetti, and Holly Park. Howard and Jean Clarke, Dashwood sold a Holstein cow. 2135 lbs. at 42.7,5. Choice steers 95-1.00 sales to 105.50 Good steers 88-94 Plain steers 70-80 Choice exotic cross heifers 95-1.00 sales to 105. Common and medium 60-80 Canners 35-40 Good heifers 87-93 Good fed cows 45-50 sales to 55 Stockers Yearling steers 85-94 Steer calves 80-105 Pigs 40-60 lbs. 80-95 Sows 38-42 Yearling heifers 85-90 Heifer calves 75-95 over 60 Ib. 75-85 Boars 35-38 A JR QUALITY TYPESETTING Ryon • Resumes • Propams •-Brochures • Booldets • and more! For more information please phone Deb Lord at •1�r COME, HEAR WHATS NEW PLANTER CLINIC Thurs. ,Dec. 14 1:30 p.m. Sharp * Introduction of the NEW narrow row planting system * New line of tractors * Company Reps. on hand * Refreshments served Some call it a planter - some say Its a drill but they all say the central fill planter from. White is the planter they have been waiting for Come and find out what its about RUSSELDALE FARM EUIPMENT LIMITED' FA! WHITERR #1 MITCHELL 229-8975 man 41 • 4/ Air AP,' Pre -Christmas Sale Nov. 13 - Dec. 20 799' 16 pc. Polished Combination Wrench Set 114" + 1 1/4" Reg. $153.00 or 25 pc. Toolex Combination Wrench Set 7 mm to 19 mm & 1/4" to 1 1/4" Your Choice Hammlll Deluxe Coverall Zippered legs and hood Reg. $99.99 waukee 1.2 volt Specials Cordless Drill Keyed Chuck Reg. $265.00 Limited Supply SUPERTOUGH 2 VOLT Keyless Chuck Extra Battery & Case Reg. $278.99 Hammill Insulated Shirts Reg. $36.99 Asst. Winter Jackets & Remaining Vest 25 "" eck out our Pet Supplies 10% off. Cat and Dog Toys. Ask about 1 In 10 If not already on program for Shurgaln Dog and Cat Food L-;t,y other ins stclo r -c! s ,ce�als EI MSALL STRICT -OPERATWE Hensall 262-3002 Not exactly as illustrated .14r Air 4r ir Air I •