RABBIT meat as a staple food is now being introduced in San Carlos City by farmer Dr. Archilles Ponferrada through the ongoing Agri-Tourism Fair running from October 30 to November 14.
Ponferrada, who is also the focal person of San Carlos City Cultural Heritage Council and People's Park Management Office head, was able to exhibit, promote and slowly change people’s mindset on rabbits by marketing it not only as a pet.
Ponferrada is also introducing rabbits as staple food through its meat, a souvenir item, and its dirt as fertilizers.
He served fried rabbit meat called "bunny joy" at his Yanchie Farm extension through the half month-long agri-tourism fair.
Ponferrada, in a statement, said rabbit breeding was popularized in the Philippines five years ago where most breeders are from the Luzon area.
But during the Spanish colonial period, he said, friars brought rabbits for meat consumption and due to the cute appearance and fur, they were made as pets by Filipinos.
“There are two types of rabbit -- the fancy breed like the Lionhead which are for pet and the ones intended for meat consumption which are heavier in weight and can be butchered in four months time like the New Zealand, California, Chinchilla, Palomino and American Blue breed,” he said.
Ponferrada said that he and his business partner, Ian Publico, a nurse, have been raising rabbits for almost a year at their farm in Barangay Quezon in the city.
They started raising rabbits since it was introduced to them that rabbit meat is a healthier substitute for pork and beef.
In fact, it is rich in protein and Selenium, good for women trying to conceive and at the same time boosts men’s sperm count, the statement from the City Government said.
They said the prices of their rabbits range from P1,000 per pair depending on the type. Dressed rabbits, meanwhile, are sold at P450 per kilo.
The farmer-doctor said they are willing to give lectures and aids to eager individuals to sustain their rabbit breeding.
Ponferrada said the advantages of rabbit breeding include affordability due to its production cost even with limited space and fast propagation.
Also, it can be fed with 100 percent grass with high content of protein maramais, napier and mulberry and madre de agua, or 70 percent grass and 30 percent pellets.
In terms of challenges in rabbit breeding, meanwhile, he said it happens when Does (female rabbits) give birth.
“You have to prepare the necessary materials needed five days before to ease delivery of kits but this may be overcome through thorough research,” he said.
Ponferrada added that the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental accredited their farm as an agri-tourism farm due to varied productions.
He expressed hopes that the local government of San Carlos, through the City Agriculture Office, will venture on dispersing rabbits and conduct seminars to educate the people.
“I looked forward to people in San Carlos City raising rabbits in their spaces and backyards especially the meat type for food security and as a good source of income and later on share opportunity with other families,” he added.