The American Blue Rabbit
All of the rabbits at Cypress Valley Farm are American Blues or American White. The American Blue is a heritage breed of rabbit with less than 500 Americans in existence today. The American is one of the oldest breeds of rabbit developed in America.
The American rabbit is a fast growing rabbit with excellent mothering abilities. They are also the only true "blue" rabbit breed.
The History of the American Blue
The American Blue rabbit originally comes from Pasadena, California, developed and introduced by Lewis H. Salisbury in 1917. At least three different breeds of rabbit were used in the creation of the American rabbit. The American White variety was introduced in 1925. Americans were quite popular and sold for as much as $25 in the 1920's!
The American Blue rabbit originally comes from Pasadena, California, developed and introduced by Lewis H. Salisbury in 1917. At least three different breeds of rabbit were used in the creation of the American rabbit. The American White variety was introduced in 1925. Americans were quite popular and sold for as much as $25 in the 1920's!
American Rabbits Today
The American rabbit is classified as "Critical" by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. This means that there are fewer than 200 annual registrations in the United States and estimated global population less than 2,000.
Slow Food USA has included the American Rabbit on its "Ark of Taste" list. The "Ark of Taste" is a catalog of over 200 delicious foods in danger of extinction. By promoting and eating Ark products we help ensure they remain in production and on our plates. Foods listed are threatened by industrial standardization, the regulations of large-scale distribution and environmental damage. In an effort to cultivate consumer demand—key to agricultural conservation—only the best tasting endangered foods make it onto the list.
The American rabbit is classified as "Critical" by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. This means that there are fewer than 200 annual registrations in the United States and estimated global population less than 2,000.
Slow Food USA has included the American Rabbit on its "Ark of Taste" list. The "Ark of Taste" is a catalog of over 200 delicious foods in danger of extinction. By promoting and eating Ark products we help ensure they remain in production and on our plates. Foods listed are threatened by industrial standardization, the regulations of large-scale distribution and environmental damage. In an effort to cultivate consumer demand—key to agricultural conservation—only the best tasting endangered foods make it onto the list.
If They're So Rare, Why Should We Eat Them?
With the industrialization of modern agriculture, breeds such as the American Blue have lost their "job" as a backyard meat rabbit. Without a purpose, there is little need for a breed to exist. Commercial agriculture is more concerned with the homogenization of agriculture than in embracing diversity and utilizing the unique attributes each breed of livestock can provide. When a breed doesn't have a job, it no longer needs to exist.
As part of our conservation efforts with the American Rabbit, we need to produce additional rabbits to expand the gene pool. We also need to make sure that only the finest examples of the breed are used to create the next generation. This leaves breeders of all heritage livestock with surplus animals that need a purpose. This is where you come in, by dining on American Rabbit, you give the breed its job back and create purpose for the American Rabbit.
With the industrialization of modern agriculture, breeds such as the American Blue have lost their "job" as a backyard meat rabbit. Without a purpose, there is little need for a breed to exist. Commercial agriculture is more concerned with the homogenization of agriculture than in embracing diversity and utilizing the unique attributes each breed of livestock can provide. When a breed doesn't have a job, it no longer needs to exist.
As part of our conservation efforts with the American Rabbit, we need to produce additional rabbits to expand the gene pool. We also need to make sure that only the finest examples of the breed are used to create the next generation. This leaves breeders of all heritage livestock with surplus animals that need a purpose. This is where you come in, by dining on American Rabbit, you give the breed its job back and create purpose for the American Rabbit.
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