Rabbit meat eyed as pork alternative amid ASF
Credit to Author: Eireene Jairee Gomez| Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2020 17:18:09 +0000
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said it is considering rabbit as an alternative to pork among backyard raisers, citing the shorter growth cycle of the animal than that of pigs affected by the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in the country.
On the sidelines of the International Farmers Summit Philippines 2020 in Pasay City,
Agriculture Secretary William Dar told reporters that while the DA was looking at poultry as the major alternative to hogs, the agency was also studying the production of rabbit, given that many hog farmers have expressed discouragement on raising pigs due to ASF.
“We are serious. All options are on the table. It’s part of a basket of options,” Dar said.
“Nagbigay na kami ng ayuda in terms of kung ano yung gustong livelihood or enterprise ng mga naapektuhan but ayaw muna nila ng hog raising. (We already provided aid in terms of what livelihood or enterprise the affected farmers want but they don’t want hog raising for the meantime) With this development we have to now look at commodities that can substitute kung bababa pa yung pork supply (if pork supply will go down),” he explained.
Dar said the DA was optimistic on rabbit farming “because the growth cycle is very short. You can expand more when you have a shorter growth cycle.”
The Agriculture chief also noted the nutritional benefits of consuming rabbit meat, compared to others such as pork and beef.
“It’s also high in protein. Parang manok din (It’s like chicken),” he said.
Typically associated with chicken, rabbit meat was listed by the United States’ Department of Agriculture (USDA) to be among the healthiest meats available, although it has not been widely available in the Philippine market. It has a high percentage of easily digestible protein, provides a wide range of minerals, and contains the least amount of fat among all the other available meats.
However, studies showed that prolonged consumption of only rabbit meat risks starvation or protein poisoning or toxicity, thus, consuming it with moderation is highly suggested.
Cultured rabbits are typically found in Bulacan, Dar said, noting that the province is considered to be a major area for rabbit raising.
When sought for a comment, Eugenio Mende, president of Philippine Veterinary Drug Association, admitted that the government was clearly “looking at other alternatives.”
However, he expressed doubts that the local market and Filipino consumers will easily welcome rabbit meat.
“Sabi nila (They said) it tastes like chicken but to directly convert from pork to rabbit, baka hindi ganun kabilis (it may not be that fast). But we’re looking forward to increasing opportunities for other sources of meat,” Mende said.