Rabbit production stumbles on supply glut, weak demand
Rabbit production in the country declined by 15 percent last year, as raisers scaled down their output goals after a supply glut amid tepid demand from consumers.
Latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed that rabbit output in 2023 fell to 155,030 kilograms, about 27,480 kgs lower than the 182,510 kgs production recorded in 2022.
Rabbit production in 2022 was more than double the 94,760 kilograms recorded in 2021, when the first production figure of the animal protein was recorded.
This is the first time in the country’s history that the PSA released official statistics on the country’s rabbit meat industry.
It could be recalled that production and consumption of rabbit meat gained spotlight at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic that coincided with the ravage of African swine fever (ASF) on local pig farms in 2021.
No less than the Department of Agriculture (DA) touted rabbit meat as a quality alternative to pork after prices of the latter skyrocketed to unprecedented levels due to the decimated pig population nationwide caused by the ASF outbreak.
The PSA defines rabbit as “a domesticated rodent of the genus Oryctolagus Cuniculus” with “four legs, about the size of a large cat, medium or long ears.”
The DA is willing to put where its mouth is: boost rabbit meat production as an alternative protein source.
“We will allocate funds for rabbit meat production. We are just fixing it,” Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock Deogracias Victor Savellano told
The STAR. Expand rabbit meat production
Savellano disclosed that his office is preparing an inventory of other animal protein sources being produced locally, including rabbits and red ants. These alternatives, Savellano emphasized, are high in protein and low in cholesterol.
However, Savellano is cognizant that consumers’ acceptance of rabbit meat remains low since most Filipinos consider the animal as pet and not as food. This, he pointed out, is one of the biggest hindrances toward boosting domestic rabbit meat production.
“We need to work on education. What we are thinking of is doing a cooking show that will showcase various dishes of rabbit meat and let the public taste them and know the difference for themselves,” he said.
The decline in rabbit meat output could be attributed to lukewarm demand due Filipinos’ hesitation and skepticism toward eating the animal protein, Savellano said.
He added that the price point of rabbit meat products was also a factor in the performance of the industry since supplies remain low.
“If we will be able to expand rabbit meat production, then its price will go down just like chicken meat,” he said.
The DA is also targeting to introduce high-quality breeders to improve local genetics and conduct more promotions to market rabbit meat as a viable animal protein alternative and industry, Savellano said.
“I saw some breeds from France which grew as large as dogs. Rabbit raising is a good additional source of income for farmers besides they populate fast,” he added.
Growing demand today
Art Veneracion, president of the Association of Rabbit Meat Producers Inc., has second thoughts about the data methodology done by the PSA in getting the estimated rabbit production of the country.
Veneracion emphasizes that the figures released by the PSA are “too huge.” Nonetheless, he agrees that rabbit meat production declined last year.
He explained that the output fell last year due to an influx of rabbit breeders who eventually closed shop due to lack of demand from rabbit meat producers.
“It was overhyped and a lot of hog raisers who got hit by ASF ventured to rabbit raising with the thought that they can recoup their losses here,” he told The STAR.
“But their focus was wrong. They ventured into the breeders market and it turned out there’s no market for the offspring of their breeder stocks,” he added.
Veneracion pointed out that what the industry needs is a supply of rabbits for meat production and not breeder stocks.
One of the challenges we are facing right now is supply. Most of the rabbit raisers stopped because they were broke last year. So now, we are having a hard time buying rabbits for slaughter,” he said.
Veneracion said there is a need to boost rabbit meat supply because Filipinos’ acceptance and demand for the animal protein is slowly growing.
“Perhaps before only three out of 10 Filipinos would try and eat rabbit meat but now it is around six out of 10,” he added.
The country, as of Jan. 1, has a rabbit inventory of about 209,054 heads, almost 19 percent over the 175,979 heads recorded in the same period of last year, based on PSA data.