Rabbit breeders struggle to meet demand

Increased awareness about healthy eating has boosted demand for rabbit meat to such an extent that breeders hardly managed to meet demand last year, Joe Gauci Maistre, president of the Malta Rabbit Club, said yesterday.

The Rabbit Club is holding its annual national winter rabbit championship show at Nissen Hut 3 in Qormi Road, Luqa, until 7 this evening.

Mr Gauci Maistre, who judged this year's competition, said that more people were realising that rabbit meat was healthy, had very little fat and was very low in cholesterol. He said that the big producers were increasing production to be able to keep up with demand.

Mr Gauci Maistre said that 265 rabbits from 37 breeds took part in the competition.

The best in show and winner in the adult category was a Seal Point Marten Rex buck belonging to 12-year-old Matthew Grech. The best of the opposite sex was a Belgian Hare doe belonging to Felix Farrugia.

A Blue Dutch doe and a Blue Dutch buck won best in show in the under five months category. Both belonged to Marco Pisani.

Nearly 700 people visited the show yesterday.