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| Will the Giant Rabbit Feed North Korea? |
| [Update] German hare no solution to Pyongyang's food needs |
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Shannon McCann (joethefig)  |
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Published 2007-02-16 12:19 (KST) |
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[Update, May 16] I wrote an article in February on OhmyNews looking at the possibility that the world's largest rabbit could be turned into a major food source for the North Korean population.
Last month, it seems, this idea came to an abrupt end.
Last year, the North Korean government purchased 12 giant gray rabbits from a specialized breeder in Germany. North Korea had told the breeder, Karl Szmolinsky, that they were planning on using the rabbits to build a breeding stock that would eventually help resolve food shortages in the country.
Szmolinsky was scheduled to visit North Korea earlier this year to check on North Korea's progress.
After many delays, his visit to North Korea was cancelled without notice or reason. Szmolinsky, suspecting that his rabbits had all perished or already been eaten, told Spiegel Online, "North Korea won't be getting anything from me any more."
Seemingly, ending another chapter in North Korea's fight against hunger.
In late 2006, Carl Szmolinsky's prized German Gray Giant rabbit, Robert, won the title of "Germany's Biggest Rabbit." Robert weighed in at an impressive 23 (10.5KG) pounds and gained some worldwide attention due to his size. This caught the attention of North Korean officials.
Soon after, officials from the North Korean embassy in Germany contacted Szmolinsky and arranged a visit to look at his famed rabbit collection. They were so impressed with the size of these hares that they purchased eight females and four males, including Robert, and shipped them back to Pyongyang.
It has been reported in many media outlets that Pyongyang is planning on establishing a breeding program for these rabbits which it is hoped will eventually help alleviate North Korea's food shortages. This followed a request by Pyongyang's state run news agency in September 2006 that suggested that people should breed rabbits for food. Providing he receives a visa, Szmolinsky is supposed to travel to North Korea in the spring. He will be supervising and training staff to get this breeding program off the ground.
According to Szmolinsky, eight female rabbits should produce between 60-70 offspring each year. So, in theory, North Korea could have a large enough population of German Gray Giants in less than decade to begin using the rabbits as a food crop. Each rabbit should provide around 15 lbs (7 kg.) of meat, enough to feed more than one family.
If it is true that North Korea plans on turning these rabbits into a high-volume food source to help feed its 23 million citizens, it will be interesting to see how Pyongyang actually makes it happen. Many European countries, China, and Indonesia do produce and consume significant amounts of rabbit meat. But no major population on Earth uses rabbit meat as a primary food source. Malta is the worldwide leader in per capita rabbit consumption. And, at present, North Korea is not even one of the world's major rabbit meat producers.
The problems that North Korea faces setting up this program are significant. First, how would Pyongyang establish such a large breeding operation? It is doubtful that the government could create the infrastructure needed to make this a viable industry. In order to produce five million pounds (2,273,000 kg.) of rabbit meat annually, North Korea would have to build facilities to house at least one million rabbits. The number and size of housing could be reduced by turning a large portion of the public into "backyard breeders."
But, leaving this program in the hands of an underfed populace and small farms is not a viable option. Especially when you consider the eating habits of these giant hares. Each rabbit eats close to two pounds (one kg.) a day of grains and vegetables that could otherwise be consumed by humans. Szmolinsky himself limits the number of rabbits he keeps on-hand because of the cost of feeding them.
Nationwide, a population of 1,000,000 rabbits would be consuming 2,000,000 pounds (910,000 kg) of food staples daily. Should this rabbit population grow into the millions, it is conceivable that the rabbits would end up eating more potatoes and rice daily that the North Korean population.
Plus, these giants do not reach their full size until they are one year old, making them a very poor choice for any large scale farming operation. Major rabbit meat producers in Europe typically slaughter their fryers -- young rabbits ready for market -- at between 9 and 15 weeks. Plus, most rabbit breeds used in large operations can produce over 25 offspring a year per female. Szmolinsky's giants only produce a third of that total. A preferred operation would be stocked with proven rabbit breeds such as New Zealand reds or whites, Vienna Blues, or Californians.
Instead of contacting a specialized breeder who raises a limited number of rabbits for their size only, Pyongyang should have approached Italy, Indonesia, France, or China. These countries have established producers and markets for rabbit meat.
These monster rabbits are a great addition to any children's zoo and may someday become an exotic menu addition, but they have no viable future in becoming a staple food source on a large scale.
It has been widely reported by many news organizations over the last couple months that North Korea purchased these rabbits to help feed its population. But if Pyongyang really thinks that these rabbits will be an effective means to alleviate its chronic food shortages, it's in for a major disappointment.
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©2007 OhmyNews
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