Farming and Breeding Fresh, Local Rabbits for New York City Restaurants
In our never-ending quest to show you how local food is raised and brought to market, I’m going to take you on a little tour inside a rabbit farm – John Fazio’s Rabbit Farm.
Yes, he’s the same farmer who raises ducks for big name chefs in New York City. But, you should note, he was known for his prized rabbits even before he started raising ducks. And he delivers them fresh, never frozen to NYC kitchens no more than a day or two after “processing” – offering a service that is really hard to find for local chefs.
So, I wanted to share with you the short tour John Fazio gave me. It was never meant to be a video story, but I just couldn’t pass up the education. I don’t think most people have ever seen a commercial rabbit operation. I hadn’t. And all I can tell you is that it’s interesting, very organized and very clean. So come along as John Fazio tours us through his facility, and shows his methods for raising fresh, local rabbits.
For more info on the farm, please contact me on Twitter: @SkeeterNYC
Or to purchase or taste John Fazio’s rabbits, please visit Marlow & Sons or Marlow & Daughters in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, or Savoy in SoHo.
Thanks for watching food. curated.
Also, many that show also used their culled rabbits to feed their families too. So not only woulld be supporting showing, but also food for the table. This esp applies to those that raise the medium sized, and large meat breeds. Most show breeders are farmers that keep them as livestock.
and, some even serve up rabbit dishes, like home made rabbit and noodles. Or rabbit BBQ sandwhiches. Yum! It all depends on the show though. not sure about the new york ones, but some of the ones i attend in Indiiana do.
Hi,
Thanks for sharing the video. It’s educational. I never had idea on raising rabbits commercially until I saw this video. It got me interested in it…now I have another list of things to research… thanks!
You eat vegetables grown by farmers who also eat livestock. Sorry, but you are not saving the world there.
“Just as you are going to eat meat and preach how good it is to do so, others are entitled to give the facts about”
But the problem is you people aren’t giving facts you’re posting lies. Example, “lite” posts “I highly recommend you find an alternative to ‚Äö√Ñ√≤raising‚Äö√Ñ√¥ animals to be murdered or exploiting them for dairy products.” If the idiot actually read my post it would know I am not a dairy farmer I just grew up living next to one. Then you have the other ARA throwing the term “murder” around. If you people weren’t so serious about your radical beliefs it would be comical.
ARAs are just as fanatical as the Islamic terrorists. It’s their way period, no respect for the way others live. You want to live without using animal products fine, but you have no right to lie and try to force everyone to live your way.
“am a vegan and I do donate to charity,”
Well lite I mean you donate every cent to charity because you sit here attacking a farmer for trying to make a living so obviously you must live like a monk and any money made goes to charity.
Corinne,
Is idiot the only term you people know how to use? May I suggest ignoramus or is that term too advanced for you? You can say you don’t agree with someone but at least give them the opportunity to speak. This is a forum for free speech. If you don’t want to hear a difference of opinion than don’t advertise on the internet. You eat meat and you support an industry that does. I don’t eat meat and I will support an industry that does. I can state my views and so can you. But please don’t call anyone an idiot!!
Correction…I don’t eat and I will not support an industry that does!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok… this is getting funny now as I meant to say I don’t eat meat! That is how upset you got me with that stupid idiot comment. Please let’s try to discuss this as adults.
I’ve been following this post for a while now but I have trouble understanding the justification people have for deliberately harming to eat another living, breathing species. Is it because we regard them as lesser beings and completely disregard that they feel pain, that they have a yearn to live much like humans, that they love and care for their kin just as we do? I would like an intelligent explanation for this…not name calling which one has resorted to.
Marisa wrote: “How dare you call anybody who has a different opinion than you an idiot?”
Marisa, you’re a jewel! I would love to have you for my neighbor.
This is the way I view this name calling: If “idiot” means that I am guilty of being a compassionate consumer, I wear the title proudly. Also, the use of such adjectives only reflects on the author. Likewise, those who find such terms amusing and appropriate are usually lacking in maturity.
Since such terms have no credible relevance, they don’t phase me.
“We can’t change the heart, so we must stop the heartless.” Martin Luther King
Please support laws to protect animals from the heartless.
“If ‚Äö√Ñ√∫idiot‚Äö√Ñ√π means that I am guilty of being a compassionate consumer, I wear the title proudly.”
So typical of ARAs, it isn’t about you not eating meat it’s about attacking others and getting the facts WRONG. But by all means try to muddy the waters with more inaccurate statements. And you think you’re so compassionate but how many insects, birds, & other animals or shall we just lump them all together as fellow sentient beings living in the fields growing veggies are YOU responsible for killing in order to eat your vegan diet. That’s another angle to all this, you people think you’re oh so wonderful yet your vegan diet still contributes to animals losing their lives or habitats. Perhaps if you were really compassionate you’d just cease eating so no sentient beings would be harmed, now that would be a compassionate choice.
Marysia which is it you support farming or you don’t, you can’t seem to get it right can you. I called you an idiot because you failed to read and comprehend my post and stated I should “find a new job other than raising dairy cows” yet I said I lived next to one not that I ran one. You see stuff like that just shows how your people ignore the facts. ARAs show no respect towards views other than their own as evidenced by using terms like murder, or going on about how awful rabbit farming is when you have no clue why things are done, and getting the facts wrong.
Ittt it’s about the circle of life. Also animals are not like us, you’re giving them human feelings and emotions, they don’t love and care for their “kin” just like humans. Maybe that’s the answer you’re looking for, you may view them as humans in fur coats those that eat them recognize they aren’t little humans in fur coats. I believe in humane animal use but I also don’t think those opposed to animal use make good judges as to what the standards are.
LOL Corrine! I agree. When they eat vegetables, they are still supporting animal slaughter in one way or another.
Animals aren’t furry little humans. They don’t care about who eats their kin. they are animals and should be treated as such. My rabbits could give a crap less if the bunny in the cage next to them is sold or eaten. They don’t even care if you put one down in front of them. All they care about is food, attention, and breeding. And yes some of them can ‘love you back’ if they want to. That’s about as far as it goes. You learn to draw the line between pets and livestock. And guess what? Many of us that eat our culls also keep a few favorites as pets too.
If you guys were so compassionate then you would leave this poor guy alone and let him do what he wants with his rabbits. They aren’t abused, so get over it.
Do you have cats or dogs? If you do then you are also supporting animal slaughter because you are feeding a carnivore.
Rabbits are delicious, HEALTHY meat. They are efficient producers of high quality protein.
Every animal that has ever been eaten has been cute at some point in its life, or has been kept as a pet. If you choose not to eat rabbit (chicken, pork, lamb, etc), that is YOUR choice. it is not your RIGHT to force your choices on others.
As far as happy rabbits frolicking in the fields, if the worms and coccidia don’t get them the hawks, coyotes, and stray dogs will have an easy meal – sometimes beginning to eating the rabbit while it is still alive.
Whee! What a discussion–only as usual, it’s descending to name- and cat-calling.
1. If you don’t eat meat, fine. If you eat meat, also fine. There’s your corner, and your corner, and stay there unless you can discuss without squabbling so darn much!
2. “How is slaughter humane?” By making it an absolute to minimize or eliminate all avoidable fear, pain, or stress at the time of slaughter. Instantaneous unconsciousness or instantaneous death is what is strived for, and while many anti-meat organizations would have you believe that rabbits are stil alive and aware when hung, this is NOT the case in any ethical slaughter area. The movement that is seen after the stun/kill method has been applied is purely reflex and does not indicate consciousness or pain or even continued life.
Nothing is perfect, and slaughter is no exception. But an ethical butcher will strive for perfection, every time, and will suffer along with the animal when something goes wrong.
3. A return question for DMuller: You’re in favor of animals fulfilling their natures, right? So I do hope that all twelve of your animals are herbivores….otherwise you are not allowing them to fulfill their natural behaviors and requirements.
4. In order to produce rabbits which are clean and healthy, without use of antibiotics, they must be raised off the ground in cages. I’ve heard of colony-raisers who claim that they can raise rabbits on the ground to the same quality and health standards, but I have yet to see proof of research done on it which indicates an equality of health and welfare.
5. I do not know of a single person who raises rabbits and slaughters them ‘with joy’. One of the most common questions meatrabbit raisers get is, How can you deal with that?
Many of us deal with it by addressing the animal and apologizing for what we are about to do. We often have to euthanize animals to which we have become to some degree attached, and that is one of the very hardest things to do, no matter the reason.
There is a distancing that meat raisers of all kinds must attain in order to survive the mental stress of slaughtering. Some people never manage it, and instead, sell their rabbits on to a processor, who has workers capable of skilled slaughter.
There is NEVER any ‘easy’ in killing, nor should there be, emotionally speaking. If you enjoy killing things, you need a psychiatrist, posthaste. On the other hand, the normal human reaction to stress of this kind is to use black humor to help oneself deal with it–similar to why we giggle when anxious, an instinctive reaction.
6. DMuller said: “We are talking about a business that requires a person to engage in the joy of killing for profit: snapping their necks, cutting off their heads, enslaving them in intense confinement so you can create more space for more intense confinement, we are talking about the lack of conscience it takes to be in the rabbit killing business.”
Why is raising animals for profit de facto cruelty? There is nothing wrong with doing so, provided that the animals are decently and humanely treated. If you can pull it off, more credit to you. If you compromise animal health or welfare in your pursuit of profit, you need to rethink your methods.
As for lack of conscience…think again. No animal owner can afford to be without conscience, for without conscience, the animals deteriorate, do not produce well, or die. Every animal owner and user should go to bed with their brain busy reviewing their methods and be resolved to find better ways the next morning. And most do.
7. EmilyMartin said: “That the animals are kept out of their own waste is again to maximize profit, not out of any regard for the animals.”
Um, I beg to differ here. Without regard for the animals, there can be no profit, and that’s never more true than in raising rabbits for food. If you don’t keep rabbits content, healthy and clean, production drops–so the pursuit of profit necessitates very close observation and a lot of maintenance labor to ensure that the animals are in good condition and produce well. The hardest thing for many in raising rabbits for food is being able to distance oneself enough that logical herd management and selection can be done, rather than doing so based on emotion.
There is not a single barn I know of which does not contain at least one ‘special’ animal–one that the owner is attached to, or has retired honorably, or is ‘just special’. How does that happen without regard for the animals?
8. There is nothing wrong with choosing to eat rabbit, or choosing to have rabbits as pets, or for that matter, doing both at the same time. (It’s possible–I have both a houserabbit and a barn full, for instance.) There’s nothing wrong with choosing not to eat meat, or choosing to make it the main staple of your existence.
What everyone really needs to realize is that there are an awful lot of choices out there, and that we each need to respect and honor the choices of others. If you disagree, dandy–but it is possible to disagree without being disagreeable–and that is something we should all strive for.
“1. If you don’t eat meat, fine. If you eat meat, also fine. There’s your corner, and your corner, and stay there unless you can discuss without squabbling so darn much!”
I can see, onafixedincome, you are a person of character, and obviously you have attained some maturity.
“2. “How is slaughter humane?” By making it an absolute to minimize or eliminate all avoidable fear, pain, or stress at the time of slaughter. ”
While there is need for humane euthanasia across all species, the term slaughter adds a whole different slant. I will not/can not capitulate to the notion that slaughter and humane can both be used in the same context: slaughter is the killing of those who are defenseless or helpless to resist for purposes other than relieving them of misery.
When this deed is carried out for the purpose of profit, it cannot be justified away by self-consoling mantra.
In your case, you do have a compassionate side. Unfortunately, when it comes to your rabbit business, it not your compassionate side that is in control, it is your profit-driven greed character (sorry, I am at a loss for a better description).
“3. A return question for DMuller: You’re in favor of animals fulfilling their natures, right? So I do hope that all twelve of your animals are herbivores….”
Humans aren’t the only species who can have excellent health on vegan diets. Dogs are omnivores, and they can have exceptional health on vegan diets as can raccoons, opossums, many kinds of birds and others.
“4. In order to produce rabbits which are clean and healthy, without use of antibiotics, they must be raised off the ground in cages.”
Yes, I can understand the management problems, not to mention the space needs, of farming high volumes of rabbits. But your rational does not mitigate the fact of intense confinement for greater profit. It is your excuse.
” 5. I do not know of a single person who raises rabbits and slaughters them ‘with joy’. One of the most common questions meatrabbit raisers get is, How can you deal with that?
Many of us deal with it by addressing the animal and apologizing for what we are about to do.”
“Some people never manage it, and instead, sell their rabbits on to a processor, who has workers capable of skilled slaughter.”
Goes to show the extant some go to to continue in the business for profit.
“6. Why is raising animals for profit de facto cruelty? There is nothing wrong with doing so, provided that the animals are decently and humanely treated. If you can pull it off, more credit to you. If you compromise animal health or welfare in your pursuit of profit, you need to rethink your methods.”
What about just simple respect for life, no matter the species. Obviously we will not agree on what defines “decently and humanely treated.” You consol your spirit by convincing yourself that what you do is right.
“7. EmilyMartin said: “That the animals are kept out of their own waste is again to maximize profit, not out of any regard for the animals.”
Um, I beg to differ here. Without regard for the animals, there can be no profit, and that’s never more true than in raising rabbits for food.”
So there it is, the bottom line.
“There is not a single barn I know of which does not contain at least one ‘special’ animal–one that the owner is attached to, or has retired honorably, or is ‘just special’. How does that happen without regard for the animals?”
I can honestly say, I have never been involved with an animal that I didn’t consider special. Therefore, I find they all are deserving of respect, and they all have the right to life. I could never single out one to love and slaughter the rest. I would never be involved in conditions that violate my moral and ethical standards.
I realize this discussion is not about me. But it is about conscienceless acceptance.
“8. What everyone really needs to realize is that there are an awful lot of choices out there, and that we each need to respect and honor the choices of others.”
When one stands for everything, he stands for nothing.
You guys are the ones are the ones shoving your vegan ways down everyones eles throat. . Give it up. You are not going to convert us. The more you do it, the more it makes me want to go eat more meat. Yes I agree you guys are a bunch of Idiots. Actually more like raving lunatics.
Also dmuller, you need to get a clue. Many of us do not sell the rabbit after it has been butchered. many use them for their own purposes to feed their families because they want a clean meat they raised themselves that is free from antibiotics. It is not profit. Also there is nothing wrong with selling live animals to be slaughtered and believe you me there is no profit behind that when the money you get back from them barely covers feed expenses. So before you continue to go on and on about people only slaughter rabbits for profit you need to do some research. There is a whole lot more in it then just ‘making money.’ Personally i am glad that john has found a way to make money off of providing healthy rabbits to the public. Everyone else is lucky enough to break even. So again, do your research before you go spouting off a bunch more misinformation. All of us are passionate about our rabbits. We just don’t see them in the same way you do, and know where to draw the line between pets and livestock.
The problem is the ARAs have a great need to view themselves as better than everyone else. The fact is they are no better than anyone else.
I love it, forcing a dog to be vegan. This is what I see as the fanatical fantasy world ARAs live in. I have never met a dog that did not love eating meat, it’s their nature. Yet the ARAs are so mentally delusional they think they can make their dogs “vegan”. I wonder if they even give their dogs a choice, perhaps there is a need to investigate animal cruelty here, I’m betting their dogs would be grateful to be removed and placed in a loving home that provides them with some tasty meaty dinners. But being owned by an ARA I’m sure the poor dog get s no choice in the matter. Now THAT is really sad!
Corinne, thats great it shows what a Idiot he is why not put 2 dishes of food down one with meat and one without and see what the dogs goes for. and you are right that is cruel to fource feed a dog and the only way to do this is by letting the dog at first get so hungry and locking it your house and then puting in front of him what you want him to eat. I think anyone who can do this should be locked up for life and only put meat in front of them to eat.
They are probably feeding the poor thing vegetarian dog food. They are carnivores and they need meat in their diet to stay healthy. Its wonderful when people like that force their beliefs onto their pets…
To John, janelle, & corrine:
You are not my favorite people, nonetheless, I will defend you.
When a friend of mine commented about how ignorant you act, I defended you. I told him that it is no act!
There is no real crime in being ignorant, it just defies my imagination why some want to flaunt it–I guess it goes with the territory.
TO D Muller I guess thats all you can think of when we now make good points and you can not come up with a answer that makes any sence I guess we all showed that you way of thinking is just BS. Bring it on with more stupity we all stoped you in your tracks what happened can’t figure out what to say. so go ahead and feed your dog carrots. BY THE WAY LET US NO HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU NO THAT LET THIER DOGS OUT AND THEY RUN TO THE GARDEN AND EAT THEIR VEGGEIS. and then i will tell you how many run to the chickens.
John, if it makes you feel better, I will be thawing a nice juicey home grown rabbit for mine this weekend. Beats feeding her food that could be full of chemicals.Thats something you might want to look into when you sell yours. The pet food industry. A lot of people prefer raw feeding animals like that to their cats and dogs instead of feeding them kibble. Mine also gets canned rabbit dog food now and then.
Hi, that was definitely an interesting post. I had actually been searching for a photo printing related blog for a while now. Great! I have a similar blog, how much do you charge for advertising? because I can’t seem to find the details anywhere.
Mullr “how ignorant you act,” we don’t care what you think because as a fanatic your opinion and those of your friends don’t matter. It’s sad that you have nothing better to do than show up on this board to attack people who don’t have the same messed up fanatical view of the world. You really need to go crawl back under your rock and shut up. Oh here is some info on those vegan dog diets., I mean really the SPCA needs to investigate you and probably seize your poor dog.
The Problems of Feeding a Natural Vegetarian Diet – A Survey
The protein intake was inadequate for over half of the dogs. Nutritional
errors typical of all homemade diets also occurred in the vegetarian diets.
The calcium requirements were not met in 62% of the dogs’ diets,
likewise for phosphorus, which was below standard for roughly half of
the dogs. This resulted in an unbalanced Ca/P ratio.
In addition, 73% of the dogs had an insufficient intake of sodium. In
many cases, the supply of trace elements was inadequate. A high number
of the plasma samples also showed insufficient amounts of iron, copper,
zinc and iodine. Of the vitamin contents calculated, vitamin D was most
often below recommendations.
Here also, a reduced plasma content of 25-OH-vitamin D was common.
Fifty-six percent of the dogs showed a vitamin B12 intake below
recommendations.
Source: E. Kienzle and R. Engelhard. A field study on the nutrition of
vegetarian dogs and cats in Europe. From Proceedings of Sixth Workshop
in Pet Food Labeling and Regulations. p. 139.
How do you know an ARA is lying?
Answer: Their lips are moving
How many vegans does it take to change a lightbulb?
None, vegans can’t change anything.
Corrine ‚Äö√Ñ√∫how ignorant you act,‚Äö√Ñ√π we don‚Äö√Ñ√¥t care what you think because as a fanatic your opinion and those of your friends don‚Äö√Ñ√¥t matter. It‚Äö√Ñ√¥s sad that you have nothing better to do than show up on this board to attack people who don‚Äö√Ñ√¥t have the same messed up fanatical view of the world, flaunt your ignorance, show a serious lack of control, have temper tantrums on a public site and display your lack of morals and ethics. You really need to go crawl back under your rock and shut up–maybe some rabbits will escape their execution. Oh here is some info you probably need:
Mental Health Services Locator
This database includes information about 1800 organizations and government offices that provide mental health services. Entries include contact information , …
mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/facility-sea.
How do you know a rabbit killer abuser is lying?
Answer: Their lips are moving
How many rabbit killers does it take to change a lightbulb?
A lot. They can’t stop killing long enough to get the job done.
“Corrine ‚Äö√Ñ√∫how ignorant you act,‚Äö√Ñ√π we don‚Äö√Ñ√¥t care what you think because as a fanatic your opinion and those of your friends don‚Äö√Ñ√¥t matter. It‚Äö√Ñ√¥s sad that you have nothing better to do than show up on this board to attack people who don‚Äö√Ñ√¥t have the same messed up fanatical view of the world, flaunt your ignorance, show a serious lack of control, have temper tantrums on a public site and display your lack of morals and ethics. You really need to go crawl back under your rock and shut up‚Äö√Ñ√¨maybe some rabbits will escape their execution. Oh here is some info you probably nee”
And in the real world people eat meat. Get over it.
You know, it’s funny. Both sides are getting it wrong. A dog can be healthy on a carefully balanced vegetarian diet (according to the humane society).
Cats can’t..and guess what? Neither can humans! We need nutrients found ONLY in meat to live and rabbit is an excellent source. Your right, we shouldn’t slaughter them. We should free them from living and put them on a plate.
Rabbits do have feelings. Very strong feelings. Close to the same range of feeling as ours and, it’s for that reason, I hate to kill them. But I love to eat them!
I am attached to all of my breeding rabbits. They’re not pets, but they get very humane treatment.
Rabbits are overpopulated, according to the humane society… let’s eat them!
This is MY two cents…eat more rabbit!
P.S. I didn’t name-call. I got my point across without. I’d appreciate everyone else doing the same, please! I don’t think vegans are idiots, just misinformed.
Some may be healthy on it, but I wouldn’t do that to mine. Carnivores need meat.
yes there are a lot of rabbits in humane societies. many are wastefully killed when they could be put to good use. And sometimes they are inhumanely killed at those places.
Oh, I forgot, there are no rabbit killer abusers here, that I can see. Just people who raise rabbit for meat humanely and butcher them humanely. I have never abused a rabbit. In fact, since they’re passed out when they’re killed, they don’t even feel THAT. It’s like a patient under anesthesia. You just don’t know what’s happening.
Muller you’re oh so original. Did ya stay up all night figuring out how to take what I said and change it around a little?
Hey you know you never did respond with a justification for the animal lives and habitats your vegan diet destroys. You ARAs think you’re so wonderful and “compassionate” but in reality you aren’t. I see you have done some research to find mental health help by all means take advantage of some professional help you really need it.
How much money do ARAs contribute to help people?
None because they hate humans
“…you‚Äö√Ñ√¥re oh so original.”
I can see the message went right over your head. But, then, I suspected it would.
“Did ya stay up all night figuring out how to take what I said and change it around a little?”
I hate like heck to disappoint you. Fortunately, a response to you is not much of a challenge. Your comment posted at 7:04 pm, and my rebuttal posted at 7:32 pm on the same day–I trust you have some math skills (?).
we should all just say lets eat rabbit and we will get DICK MULLER to say it too, being he only repeats what others say, now we know why he was saying in the begining what he said he must have read it on another site, notice how he can not answer any ?’s anyone askes him. He sounds like someone else we all know if he can’t read it off a teleprompter then he can’t say anything.
I’m not saying it’s right or humane to feed dogs nothing but veggies. I don’t believe it is. Nor is it natural for people not to eat meat! We’re omnivores. The moment we stop eating meat, we go down hill, health wise. Yes, Humane societies are wasteful. They keep rescuing perfectly good meat rabbits and giving them to vegans! LOL!
EAT MORE RABBIT! Otherwise, you’re contributing to their overpopulation.
P.S. Does anyone have any meat rabbits they’d be willing to part with? I have two litters on the way, but this conversation is making me hungry!
Sorry i just sent the last of mine to some meat rabbit buyer in in indiana saturday. Won’t have any more for a couple of months. I heard they may end up going up to newyork.
Even the meat rabbit buyers halfway across the country are sending them up that way. There seems to be a good demand for them there.
i am all for rescuing and finding good homes for those bunnies, provided they were actually rescued and not wrongfully stolen from someone. But some of those rabbits would not make very good pets. Its too bad they drug them up with all kinds of medications, and either kill them, or let them sit there. There is one up my way that has over 200 rabbits caged up in a warehouse. Its clean but dang that is a waste and a lot of pet rabbits.
They also charge around $100 for them. Its to offset the spay and nuter fees, but nobody is going to want to pay that much for a pet rabbit unless its show or breeding quality.
Hey Dmuller you still have not addressed the lives of fellow sentient beings you kill and displace with your vegan diet. I suppose your attacks on people who do eat meat is meant to relieve yourself of the guilt you have for killing animals to produce your vegan diet. Why won’t you answer for YOUR crimes?! Typical ARA behavior, change the topic, slander/libel, and avoid the tough questions.
Corinne,
In response to the first part of your comment to me on 3/16/10 at 6:08pm, “Marysia which is it you support farming or you don‚Äö√Ñ√¥t, you can‚Äö√Ñ√¥t seem to get it right can you.”
It’s called a typo! So deal with it. I DO NOT SUPPORT FARMING!!”
In response to the latter part of your comment, “I called you an idiot because you failed to read and comprehend my post and stated I should ‚Äö√Ñ√∫find a new job other than raising dairy cows‚Äö√Ñ√π yet I said I lived next to one not that I ran one. You see stuff like that just shows how your people ignore the facts.”
You are responding to the wrong person as I did not make this comment. I merely asked that you refrain form calling those with differing opinions idiots.
I think that the best way to get a person’s attention is to make it hurt where it counts, in their pocket. While I appreciate Mr. Fazio’s invitation for people to come and demonstrate at his farm, I think a far better plan would be to demonstrate peacefully at the upscale eateries that purchase his duck and rabbit meat. Because although Mr. Fazio would appreciate such attention at his business I can assure you that the businesses that purchase his “goods” would not.
Bunnybabe,
Since you advocate the slaughter of all rabbits in shelters I believe that that this should also be extended to all dogs and cats. I am sure that those on here who like to feed their dogs rabbit meat would be the first to volunteer their precious family pets. After all, all killing would be done humanely. Why leave out cats and dogs from the process? I for one have two wonderful rabbits as companion animals and take great offense to your comment!!!
D Muller,
I applaud you for your efforts in trying to share your views and doing it in a manner that is not insulting to others. But please keep in mind that those on here would not be defending their actions on a per minute basis if their conscience were at ease. I believe that some may be unemployed on here as they seem to live on this site. It is either this or this so called humane slaughter is much easier and less time consuming than we ever gave it credit!
“I DO NOT SUPPORT FARMING!!‚Äö√Ñ√π”
Yup pretty much says it all. So why should those of us who benefit from farming-either by doing it or eating the products have any respect for those of you who do not support farming? It’s never about animal welfare it’s always about you people attacking farmers and trying to ruin their ability to make a living.
It’s just too sad, you don’t support farming yet where do you think your veggies come from.
ARAs simply aren’t going to win, farming is too important, you want to live you need farmers. The vast majority of people enjoy eating meat. You people come onto public forums and just post personal attacks. There is no better proof of the fanaticism of ARAs than just showing people what they write.
“You are responding to the wrong person as I did not make this comment. I merely asked that you refrain form calling those with differing opinions idiots.”
If it wasn’t you that mixed up what I posted whatever. I didn’t call whichever one of you who did an idiot for your fanatical views rather for lying about what I posted. But I do believe the anti-farming attitude and the lack of understanding why certain husbandry practices are done can put you all in the idiot category.
And still none of the ARAs will address the killing that comes from a “vegan” diet.
Here are some interesting comments from New York Times readers on the article on a recent article on raising and eating rabbits coupled with pictures of rabbits taken at Mr. Fazio‚Äö√Ñ√¥s farm. This article was titled, “Don’t Tell the Kids.” I am including both positive and negative comments here in fairness to all while also informing that the negative comments greatly outweighed the positive.
1. Stacy Southern California March 5th, 2010 10:19 am
I sent a letter to the editor before finding this blog. Being so outraged, I will post some of my comments here as well:
I am an academic librarian in California who recently subscribed to the NY Times. I was absolutely appalled (as was my colleague) by Kim Severson‚Äö√Ñ√¥s article (3/2/10), “Don’t Tell the Kids,” but I am certain you are expecting such comments. If you have not received others, I wonder where the humanity and compassion is amongst the readership. The beginning line, “Rabbits are supposed to be easy to kill” along with the photograph of the white rabbit may have caused the shock value or sick humor hoped for, but I was disgusted. The language throughout discussed killing in a flippant manner. I suppose I have much to look forward to. Perhaps I will find an article about the methods for killing dogs and cats in a future issue. Maybe the photograph could show a German Shepherd. To be honest, however, it was not necessarily the rabbit being used that made it appalling, although some readers may associate rabbits as pets, but simply the way the killing was gleefully presented. For all the knowledge and discovery the paper has provided me, the callousness of this article makes me question my subscription. I assumed, perhaps foolishly, that the paper would report on brutality and insensitivity in the world, but not blatantly promote it or laugh about it.
2. leelers Charlotte, NC March 3rd, 2010 3:53 pm
This more than rubbed me the wrong way–it made me cringe. Rabbits are affectionate and gentle animals and seem far too close to our beloved cats and dogs to be destined for dinner plates across the country. And for me, rabbit falls into the same category as veal, quail and duck, which is to say that people should only indulge in such meats once in a while as a delicacy. Why would one choose to eat so much rabbit meat that they feel it’s necessary to raise them on their property? I find this choice incredibly shortsighted, selfish and cruel.
3. Judy Brown Lawson Silver City NM March 3rd, 2010 9:14 am
Rabbits ARE cute, but so are baby lambs, and little goat kids, and little baby calves, and remember Babe, the cute little pig? What about beautiful deer? Even fish are gorgeous swimming around in the sea, etc. Yes, children should always be taught about where meat comes from, that hamburger starts as a calf or a cow, and that pork chops are part of a pig’s body. For that matter, perhaps adults should think about it more often. If animals must die in order to feed us, let them die with dignity and without fear or pain.
4. Scott San Francisco, CA March 3rd, 2010 8:56 pm
When was the last time the NYT had a picture slideshow of the butchering of cows or pigs? The article talks about how the process should be humane. How does taking detailed pictures of the taking of an animal’s life be humane? For this I called and cancelled my home subscription to the NYT this morning. They say that you are not writing real news unless you are getting hate mail, so I hope for you that this is the case, because you just lost probably one of your last readers in their 20s who actually paid for your newspaper to be delivered each morning.
5. Rhonda New YorkMarch 3rd, 2010 8:59 pm
I am shocked at the first paragraph of this article. Three ways to kill a rabbit?? As your lead dining article?
What were you thinking?
This was a really outrageous article, with no real value to your readers.
It was poor judgment on your part, pandering to the lowest common denominator.
6. Nancy California March 3rd, 2010 3:02 pm
If you eat meat at all, what makes the difference between what kinds of meat are acceptable? I grew up eating rabbit and tongue but never had sweetbreads or tripe. Today I can eat rabbit and tongue but cringe at sweetbreads and tripe.
Isn’t it simply conditioning? I’ve seen animals slaughtered at home farms and heard the farmers talk about wasting nothing … that is a respectful way to honor the life that was given, in my opinion.
7. nj Madison, WI March 4th, 2010 8:49 am
I turn to the dining section as a respite from the mayhem and catastrophe elsewhere in the paper. As I read the oh so fashionable bunny butchering story this a.m., our wonderful pet rabbit was doing her “binkys” around the room, dancing her happiness spring may be finally on its way.
So I guess if the apocalypse hinted at elsewhere in the paper comes to pass, I’ll have a recipe to use ala “The Road” scenario. In the meanwhile, skinning a bunny for dinner is about as appetizing as fricassing up the cat or the dog—after all, other cultures enjoy eating them and it might become quite fashionable in NY restaurants to serve them up.
8. Leeza MA March 5th, 2010 2:17 pm
I agree with you about inconsistency when claiming the ” moral high-ground here,” so are you okay with eating dogs and cats? Just asking….most people seem to feel disgust with cultures that do.
9. gbalasub nyt Nashville March 3rd, 2010 8:53 am
Kill every animal. Then publish NYT editorials about the value of life and why the death penalty should be abolished.
Along the way, write glowing articles about how you ate shark’s fin soup and whale meat. The NY times dining journal is a good example of hypocritical sanctimonious-ness at its worst.
10. nolan raleigh, nc March 3rd, 2010 10:01 am
This is horrifying. Rabbits are not food. Given the chance to thrive, rabbits display their unique personalities, lavish affection, and dance with happiness. I live with a 12-year-old house rabbit named Fred who has brought much joy to my life. I often find myself apologizing to him for what my people have done to his people.
Animals do not have to die in order for humans to eat well, to eat richly.
11. Leeza MA March 3rd, 201010:11 am
Vegetarians, obviously, wouldn’t eat rabbits, but for the rest of you – that is, most of you: how would you feel if I told you I was learning how to kill, prepare and eat a dog? Or a cat? Would that be okay with you? If not, why are rabbits different? They are incredibly wonderful – sweet, affectionate, funny, smart and curious (when they haven’t been neglected and/or mistreated), and yet, somehow, you are happy to eat them, but not a dog or cat. Why?
12. Linda New York NY March 3rd, 2010 6:28 pm
Wild predators must kill other animals to live; for humans other than those living on the edge of the wilderness subsistence level, it is a choice. Glorifying this choice and making it cute by this long article on rabbit-killing and preparation (complete with provocatively adorable large photo of a bunny) goes beyond “knowing where your food comes from” for those who eat meat.
I found this coy article morally repugnant, glorifying rabbit-killing as one more boutique activity for the leisure class. I think the editor probably felt similarly, heading the article, “Don’t tell the kids.” Why not? Because kids usually know that frivolous killing of defenseless animals is wrong.
Let us not act morally superior to those cultures that kill and eat dogs and cats, and let us think of the individual lives of all those individuals whom we eat not because we must, but because we choose to.
13. Pam Chicago March 3rd, 2010 10:51 am
Then why is the Mona Lisa bunny the chosen shot for the story on nytimes.com? Is there often a different editorial choice between print and online illustrative photographs?
14. Sandra Naperville, IL March 3rd, 2010 10:51 am
I grew up in Ohio and was always impressed by the 4H kids at the county fair. I had only cared for animals as pets, not as food, so it was amazing to me that the 4H kids knew their animals would be sold and killed for food after a year of dedication and loving attention.
My 9 year old son keeps a black and white Dutch bunny as a pet here in our home. When the rabbit is happy she does a little dance around the family room. When she is relaxed, she stretches out like a kitty in a windowseat on a sunny afternoon. She is litter box trained, and she knows her name!
We will not be biting down on braised Bunny anytime soon, but this article did make me pause and remind myself to appreciate my food more.
Oh for gods sake the article was meant to show people how to humanely raise their own food so they know where it comes from. They weren’t telling everyone to go out and kill their own pet rabbits. There is a huge difference between pets and livestock, and those rabbits are livestock. I hope they do more articles on how to keep them in your backyard and properly care for them. its too bad the house rabbit people had to speak up and ruin it for everyone else. But then again I am not surprised because these are the same people that can’t grasp the concept of livestock. Nor that the veggies they buy are grown by farmers who raise and eat their own livestock. Not to mention the amount of wildlife that have lost their homes because the fields had to plowed to grow the vegetables in.
Yes all of us read the article and it is a great article.
Cats and dogs aren’t considered a multipurpose animal in this country like rabbits are. It would make sense to butcher those rabbits that wouldn’t make good pets and use them as dog food.
Janelle,
The purpose of posting these comments was to prove that your view is not the only view but obviously that has gone over your head. Using your argument that cats and dogs are not considered a multi-purpose animal in the US. That may be true yes but there are many countries in the rest of the world who beg to differ. At least please own what you say and don’t discriminate on what or should not be considered edible. This article was in response to a recent trend in self sustainability due to the downturn in the economy. Dog or cat may just be the next thing on the menu whether you like it or not. I have a feeling that you would not be too fond of that.
The House Rabbit Society Is a wonderful organization just as is the AKC.
And unlike you who must be unemployed because you are on here every minute, I have to get back to work! Face it, us idiot vegeterians are here to staywhether you like it or not, you stupid hicks!
Notice that I said multipurose animals. Guess what. that means I accept the fact that rabbits are kept as pets, and as a food source. Its not the one sided view you guys seem to have. Which is pets and only pets. Personally I have no problem with people eating dogs and cats.
I never said you should butcher your pets! I, for one, have four rabbits I would never butcher. I simply think the UNWANTED animals(rabbit ONLY, not dogs or cats) should be humanely butchered to feed people and those wanted companion animals, like dogs and cats. The humane society and other shelters wouldn’t have to always be begging for dog and cat food that way. Besides, rabbit is a much more commonly accepted food in the US as well as most other countries (I believe, and don’t quote me on this, that China and Korea are the only two who do eat cats and dogs, and Korea only eats dogs and the long-haired cats are considered pets in China.There’s also a movement to stop people from eating cats altogether see http://www.messybeast.com/eat-cats.htm) Let me see, in England, France, The US, Canada, all eat rabbit. In fact, The USDA praises it’s health benefits.
This is an excerpt from http://ciaosamin.blogspot.com/2010/03/rabbit-statement.html .
“many of the letters seem to be written by people who own rabbits as pets and are disgusted at the thought of anyone eating an animal they consider part of the family.
to this, i ask: do you eat beef? in India, cattle are considered sacred. do you eat chicken? across the world, chickens are kept as pets. what about fish? practically every child in America has a pet goldfish at some point or another. unless you are a vegetarian (and even then, you must carefully consider where your dairy products are coming from) or a vegan, consider that the same atrocities you’re accusing us of committing are being committed in your name to animals of other species and breeds every single day. even a vegan diet, on one level or another, affects the welfare or quality of life of some living thing.
under what conditions are these pet rabbits bred, raised, and sold? how are they treated once adopted?
furthermore, rabbit meat has been a common food for humans on every single continent (except Antarctica) since ancient roman times. contrary to what is being argued, promoting the human consumption of rabbit is not a novel idea (sorry, but novella and i aren’t that creative). ”
I think that pretty much said it all!
“The House Rabbit $ociety Is a wonderful organization just as is the AKC”.
HR$ sucks, and they are nothing like the AKC because they are opposed to using rabbits as anything other than a substitute family member.
Rabbit as meat is very acceptable. I know the rabbit activists urged their mind numb followers to write in complaining to the Times about that rabbit article. If one doesn’t think rabbit is acceptable as meat just take a look at how much is harvested per year. No one is suggesting people eat their pet rabbit, but rabbit has always been and always will be acceptable as a food source. Most normal pet owners understand and respect others choices, the ARAs, well they respect no one and just like to complain.
But Marysia is like Muller ignoring the question how do they justify all the fellow sentient beings they kill and displace while they munch on their bean sprouts.
Vegan diet = murder
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=97836&page=1
Steven Davis says he didn’t set out to start a fight, but found one when he began attacking one of the most sacred beliefs of the vegetarian community.
One of the reasons most commonly cited by vegetarians for giving up meat is the conviction that other animals have a right to life as well as humans. But when Davis began setting up a course on animal ethics for the animal science department at Oregon State University four years ago, he reached a rather surprising conclusion.
Nobody’s hands are free from the blood of other animals, not even vegetarians, he concluded. Millions of animals are killed every year, Davis says, to prepare land for growing crops, “like corn, soybean, wheat and barley, the staples of a vegan diet.”
Smaller Victims
The animals in this case are mice and moles and rabbits and other creatures that are run over by tractors, or lose their habitat to make way for farming, so they are not as “visible” as cattle, he says.
And that, Davis says, gives rise to a fundamental question: “What is it that makes it OK to kill animals of the field so that we can eat [vegetables or fruits] but not pigs or chickens or cows?”
“If they say they don’t want to kill an animal so they can eat, I think their conclusion is misguided because they are killing animals so that they can eat that vegetarian diet,” Davis says. “Those animals happen to be a little bit invisible. They are not as obvious to the man on the street as killing a steer in the slaughterhouse. But nonetheless, it’s still going on.”
Corinne, Corinne, Corinne, you finally posted a defense that brought me to my knees (in prayer with a whole lot of head shaking).
Using Mr. Davis’ rational, I am horrified at the thought that everyone who drives a car, including me, is guilty of homicide. Why, think of all the lives and property that would be spared and no more road kill, etc, if we all stopped driving. And please, oh please, get rid of all the scissors! No telling how many eyes those things have poke out! And OH MY GOSH! Get rid of all the electricity! How many buildings have burned to the ground, people have died, animals have lost their lives, businesses have been destroyed and we, the consumers, are sooo selfish and we don’t care.
I don’t even have an MS or a Ph. D., nonetheless, look at all the barbaric cruelty I have been awakened to! The horror of it all is a lot for me to deal with. Perhaps you are right Corinne, I should crawl in a hole and weep for mercy.
There is much more I could write, but I have concluded, I am no match for YOUR level of intellect and education which appears to include your BS, MS and Ph. D (Bull S**t, More S**t Piled Higher and Deeper). Sorry folks, but I’m very traumatized by the awakening to all my criminal behavior.
Corinne, I don’t expect you to understand the message here, but perhaps others will.
P. S. If you don’t want to be ridiculed, don’t set yourself up for it.
The message should be while you ARAs think you’re so superior to the rest of the world…you’re not. So don’t speak out publicly calling farmers and people who support them and their products names because your diet also kills and displaces animals.
Vegan diet = murder
Doesn’t look like she cares that a bunch of wildlife die by being hit by the blades of a plow so she can eat her vegetables.They came on here slamming this poor guy for ‘farming’ his rabbits, and now they are trying to play the victim because we were soooo mean for standing up for him. They need to be a little bit more open minded towards animal ownership and accept the fact that some rabbits are kept as livestock and humanely killed and eaten.
rabbits, cows, pigs, and chickens are ‘multi-purpose’ animals because society has ascribed them as such…not by any measure of their intelligence or any other measure that deems them less of sentient beings. it is interesting how we so blindly assume this is right and okay to eat their flesh…while we love and protect other animals as members of the family…just because society tells us so. just because some letter of the law was written that has no basis or justification “why.” just because “traditionally” we have been taught it’s okay, doesn’t mean we can’t look deeper and question the validity.
yes, perhaps they don’t live and love and communicate just like humans. but all animals do have a yearn to live, as do we, and if we don’t want to be captured for the flesh on our bones, why do we succumb another being to such torture? and before we can fully understand the language of all the living, it is unfair and unfit for us to judge they are “lesser” beings only suitable to be meals simply because they look different.
‚Äö√Ñ√∫Auschwitz begins whenever someone looks at a slaughterhouse and thinks: they‚Äö√Ñ√¥re only animals.‚Äö√Ñ√π –Theodor Adorno
regarding the question about animals being killed for vegetable growing/harvesting — perhaps no one has cared to respond for the sheer ridiculousness of the claim. consider the stark differences between unpreventable and pre-meditated. you’ve also neglected the fact that up to 85% of the world’s soy and 45% of the world’s cereals are NOT harvested for us vegans. they are to feed the mass produced animals that eventually become meat. meanwhile, grain prices are going up and billions of people can’t afford to eat and die from starvation. consider also that around 80% of rainforests are cleared simply for the purpose of meat raising.
we can sit here and stubbornly defend the right to eat animals, but know that such eating habits are simply NOT sustainable for the planet anymore. we say that the Earth is overpopulated with over 6 billion people. there are more than 30 billion cattle that WE are breeding to feed ourselves. I don’t need to calculate for you to realize how resource intensive this is. turning off the light and biking to work are going to do nothing to save the environment while there still exists factory farming.
lastly, humans are NOT carnivores; we are omnivores, meaning we can survive with or without meat. as we deem ourselves the crown of the creation and the stewards of the Earth, it is only fitting that we exercise compassion and don’t dine on the flesh of deceased animals. we call lions and tigers beasts, and vultures scavengers, yet we do the same thing feeding on the flesh of another.
someone also left a comment that said you can’t be healthy eating only vegetables — Carl Lewis, 9 time Olympic medalist, remarked that his BEST year as a competitor was the year he was vegan. there are too many case studies that prove veganism is a diet of health, endurance, and sustainability. if you care to know further, I’m sure you will read up on your own anyway.
but perhaps ignorance truly is bliss. and so is heart disease, obesity, cancer, diabetes, and methane pollution.
God I love it when people compare the death of an animal to something that was very tragic in history. Sorry but the death of an animal that is going to be eaten=/= Auschwitz. you obviously have no experience with farming either, because guess what? The rest of us do. Trees are cut down, and wildlife is killed and displaced to plow fields and grow crops in. And no the majority of soy beans grown does not go back into feeding livestock. Most of it goes into things like plastic, cars, etc. And you are also wrong about the rain forest. 80% is cleared to feed the worlds population, and guess what? A lot of people also eat the veggies and grains where those trees once grew.
Vegan diet = murder
The whole compare animals raised for food to the holocaust just shows the anti-human attitude ARAs have.
“it is interesting how we so blindly assume this is right and okay to eat their flesh‚Äö√Ѭ∂while we love and protect other animals as members of the family”
I’m not so sure dogs and cats have enough meat to make it worth it, taste as good as other animals, or their meat has the health value other meat like rabbit has. Rabbit is very healthy to eat, even more so than chicken. And the thing about rabbits, while some make nice pets many others simply don’t. They are prey animals and as such their personalities don’t always lend itself to being a great pet like a cat or dog. So yes they are a multi-purpose animal and there isn’t anything wrong with that. Get over it.
“consider the stark differences between unpreventable and pre-meditated. ”
And here we go, it’s okay for animals to be killed for vegans but it isn’t okay when it’s someone who likes meat. You ARAs are such hypocrites.
Vegan = murder
Their logic is way out of whack. must be from the lack of nutrients. They are starving!
Okay, I want to start by saying that I have nothing against vegans per se. I simply believe that we should all be able to choose our own diets instead of them being forced on us no matter who we are or who is doing the forcing. I don’t want to make you eat meat. I wouldn’t want you to tell me to eat nothing but veggies,either. Even though I actually like veggies. However, I did my research, and I will admit when I’m wrong. It turns out that, with a (artificial) b12 supplement, vegans CAN be healthy! I have no desire to become a vegan myself, but I thought it would be wrong to put the “vegans are unhealthy thing” out there without a retraction. Sorry. But eating meat is not murder, either. I just wanted you to know I really do see both sides of the issue, I just still don’t agree with you.
Here are some sites to check out.
http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/vegaveg/
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-20179-Manhattan-Vegan-Examiner~y2009m8d26-Can-Children-Be-Vegan-and-Vegetarian
http://www.starchefs.com/features/food_debates/html/issue_01.shtml
http://blog.vegansa.com/2010/01/can-unhealthy-vegan-diets-cause-brain-damage/
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/502843/seven_signs_that_you_might_have_a_vitamin.html
P.S. I hope all the vegans out there are making sure you’re getting enough B12. A shortage can cause brain damage and a whole host of other probs.
I would like everyone to take a look at the fruit and vegg. farmers who get permits to shoot deer at night with a spot light becuse of crop damage. and they belly shoot them so they will run off the land and die, they do this becuse of the vegans, and if they belly shoot them and their permit is to shoot lets say 50 deer it don’t count unless they have the deer. this is a question for the vegans how is this right. but I understand this if i was a farmer and the deer were eating my crop i would also shoot all of them too.
John, you mentioned in an earlier post that it was the last time you were going to write. I really think you might want to stop now. This “conversation” is getting a bit ridiculous. I’m not trying to silence anybody, just pointing out that arguing over this is a bit like arguing over religion…everybody is convinced they are 100% correct, and the other side is stupid/misled/evil/lying. And I view this argument with the same outlook I have on something like abortion. I recall seeing a sign at a Pro-Choice march in Washington in the late ”80′s that I think perfectly summed up my views on abortion: “Against abortion? Don’t have one.” In this instance it would be: “Against eating rabbits? Don’t eat rabbits.” It really is as simple as that.
I personally do not eat rabbits however I sell them to people who most likely do. I find it easier to sell rabbits using the no questions policy. -”Do not ask where your rabbits are going if you do not really want to know”
It’s incredible how callus and heartless humans are for the Almighty dollar. It’s easy when the victim is helpless and the brute can rationalize his behavior.
There is no hope for a gentler world as long as man would rather be blind and worry about how he looks rather than be concerned about what he sees.
Oops! a typo: the word is callous not callas.
U R A MURDER !!!
I HATE SUCH PEOPLE LIKE U!
I HOPE SOMEBODY WILL KILL AND EAT U AND EVERYONE WHO DOES THIS WHOLY SHIT TOO!!!
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