Commercial rabbit breeders in Malta are celebrating their victory after beating the European challenge of imported rabbit meat, Joseph Gauci Maistre, president of the Malta Rabbit Club, said yesterday.
Only nine months ago rabbit breeders were experiencing fear and uncertainty of the market being flooded by imported rabbit meat once Malta joined the European Union.
"Would the Italians succeed in dumping their surplus production here? "Would the Chinese rabbit get in a round-about way by being imported from a European country? How loyal was the Maltese consumer?
"These were the type of questions rabbit breeders were asking themselves, before last May," Mr Gauci Maistre told The Times.
Soon after Malta joined the EU, a consignment of imported processed rabbits hit the shops.
"The prices were dirt cheap but the quality was terrible! Following fast on the heels of the first consignment came a second, this time of supposedly good quality. But the price was three times that of the local rabbit and the quality quite unimpressive. A third consignment consisted of surprisingly large rabbits at favourable prices. But the Maltese consumer was not fooled because such rabbits are adults rejected by breeders after a long productive life," Mr Gauci Maistre explained.
Consumers are now convinced that it's hard to beat the taste and quality of the home grown rabbit.
The advice repeatedly drummed out by the Malta Rabbit Club to its members has paid rich dividends. The quality of Maltese rabbit, already extremely good, has become excellent. The presentation has improved and the price remains very favourable, he pointed out
The Malta Rabbit Club will be holding its annual National Winter Championship Rabbit Show today and tomorrow between 8.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. at The Nissen Hut, 3, Luqa Road, Qormi, opposite the Agricultural College near the rear door of the Ghammieri, along the old road to the airport.
This is the second largest show in the rabbit calendar and this year's event is the 40th since the Malta Rabbit Club's foundation.
A large assortment of rabbits in a multitude of colours and varieties and representing about 40 breeds will be on show. There will also be a section for pedigree rabbits for sale directly from the breeders. Other attractions will be pet rabbits and does with their litters of bunnies as well as a long-haired Angora imported from the UK a week ago.