12/20/2025
Domestic meat animals are livestock raised for human consumption.
French monks domesticated rabbits for meat around 600 AD, but Ancient Romans kept wild rabbits in enclosed parks called leporaria, for a consistent food supply since the 1st Century.
Rabbit meat might not be a staple meat in the US but it is produced and consumed world wide.
China eats the most rabbit meat by total volume, consuming vast quantities, China accounts for over 60% of global consumption, the world's largest producer and consumer, eating hundreds of millions of domestic rabbits meat annually. Followed by North Korean and Egypt and smaller European countries like the Czech Republic, Malta & Spain/Italy consume most per capita.
American do eat domestic rabbits though! It’s estimated in the US through specific recent figures we consume up to 30 million pounds annually. Most coming from niche markets, largely driven by specialty diets and chef interest.
And yes Isabel, you can and do find rabbit meat at the grocery store, but it’s likely from China. It’s far better to find a local homesteader or producer here in the US to buy from!
