Rabbits are small mammals with fluffy, short tails, whiskers and distinctive long ears. There are also about 29 species around the world, according to nature by PBS and while they live in many different environments, they have many things in common. They are originally from Europe and Africa but are now found all over the world.
They belong to the Leporidae (which also contains the hare) family of the order of
Lagomorpha.
Rabbits are known for their insatiable reproductive habits for good reason. They breed three to four times each year. This is because only 15 of baby rabbits make it to their first birthday, according to the Animal Diversity Web (ADW). So, to ensure that the population grows, rabbits have more babies.
Hence a female rabbit produces between one and twelve babies, called kittens or kits. However, the average number is less than five. Rabbits are herbivores, according to the journal of mammalogy. Hence, they have a plant diet and do not eat meat. Their diets include grasses, clover and some cruciferous plants, such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts. They are opportunistic feeders, according to the University of Missouri, and also eat fruits, seeds, roots, buds and tree bark.
Below are some of the reasons why you should consider adding rabbit meat to your diet.
• It is one of the best white meats available on the market today.
• The meat has high percentage of easily digestible protein.
• It contains the least amount of fat among all other available meats.
• Rabbit meat contains less calorie value than other meats.
• Rabbit meat is almost cholesterol free and therefore heart patient friendly.
REFERENCES:
• Live Science
• Online Etymology Dictionary.
• abc- “rabbit” Encyclopedia Britannica Inc. 2007.
ARTICLE BY: ANUM JUSTICE OBODAI