World meat industry news

Rabbit meat in Russia remains a rare commodity, in which buyers are of little interest. However, manufacturers are gradually increasing their production volumes.

In 2022, more than 10,000 tons of rabbit meat were produced in Russia, which is 4% more than in 2021. At the same time, the plan of the Ministry of Agriculture for the development of rabbit breeding until 2025 states that by the end of this period, rabbit meat production in Russia should be more than 70 thousand tons, that is, seven times more than current volumes.

The number of enterprises that produce rabbit meat in Russia is gradually increasing, sfera.fm has established according to open sources. The biggest surge occurred in the years after the embargo on the import of rabbit meat - then many enterprises hurried to occupy the niche of import substitution, among them - the agricultural holding "Semirechye", "Lipetsk rabbit", "ZayKo" and others. From 2015 to 2020, rabbit meat production increased by 72%, and the number of enterprises that produce rabbit meat has grown by 18% over the past five years, according to the Union of Rabbit Breeders.

The production of rabbit meat is associated with many problems, rabbit breeders say. Rabbits require extremely precise housing conditions, including temperature and daylight hours, to achieve maximum reproductive levels. In this area, the cost of feed is quite high, and they make up a large part of the further cost of production. In addition, Russians have little interest in eating rabbit meat. Rabbit meat is actively used in the production of baby food, dietary products and delicacies, but the average Russian, according to the Union of Rabbit Breeders, accounts for only 100 grams of rabbit meat per year.

The development of rabbit breeding in Russia can be achieved through state support, experts say. In addition to funding, there is a need for certified rabbit breeders. It is also important to popularize the use of rabbit meat so that there is a demand for it.