Rabbit production and rabbit market in Romania : the most frequent breeds, half-breeds and their characterization

This study has in view to investigate grossly the Romanian rabbit market as starting point for a future deeper and larger economic approach of the Romanian rabbit market as part of the European market. In Romania, the rabbit meat is expensive (4.48-9.01 Euro perkg), and this is due to its lownumber of consumers. The local rabbit production in Romania is supported only by small farms, and these are not competitive. Rabbit meat imported from Spain is con siderably cheaper than the one local produced. The profitable rabbit farming in Romania is oriented to brood-stock production and pet animalsproduction. Such animals, sold as pure breeds, bring considerable income: 33.81-100.00 Euro per adult animal, depending on breed, variety, size, age, and pedigree. However, Romania has some geo-pedo-climatic advantages which could help the farmers to expand their activity also to meat production and export, and make it more profitable.