At The Organic Butchery, we’ve always prided ourselves on offering a carefully chosen range of organic and ethically sourced meats, with full transparency about where they come from and how they’re raised. Some customers may remember that in the past we offered wild rabbit as part of our selection. Today, however, you won’t find wild rabbit on our shelves — and we’d like to explain why.

A Long History of Wild Rabbit in the British Kitchen

For centuries, rabbit was a staple of the British table. Originally introduced to the UK by the Normans in the 12th century, rabbits were farmed in managed warrens and became a valuable source of lean protein. By the 19th and early 20th century, wild rabbit was considered an affordable, everyday meat, often making its way into pies, stews, and roasts.

Even in more recent decades, wild rabbit held a small but loyal place in traditional British cooking, appreciated for its distinctive flavour and versatility. Many butchers and home cooks saw it as a healthy, low-fat alternative to other meats.

Why Wild Rabbit Is Harder to Find Today

Unfortunately, the availability of wild rabbit has changed significantly in recent years. Several factors have contributed to this decline:

• Disease in rabbit populations: Myxomatosis, first introduced in the 1950s, devastated rabbit numbers across the UK. More recently, Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHDV) has further reduced wild populations. Both diseases spread rapidly in the wild, causing sudden declines in availability.

• Unpredictable supply: Unlike farmed meat, wild rabbit cannot be reliably sourced. Populations fluctuate, and this makes it difficult to guarantee consistent, high-quality availability.

• Changing demand: While some still enjoy rabbit as part of traditional cooking, modern demand has shifted. As consumer awareness grows around provenance, welfare, and sustainability, rabbit has become less of a regular choice.

• Sustainability and welfare concerns: At The Organic Butchery, we believe in sourcing only the highest quality organic and ethically raised meat. Because wild rabbit is not farmed organically and populations are under pressure, continuing to sell it doesn’t align with our sourcing values.

Our Commitment Moving Forward

While we no longer offer wild rabbit, we remain dedicated to bringing you a wide variety of organically certified, ethically reared meats. Our focus is on working closely with trusted British organic farmers who share our values of sustainability, soil health, and animal welfare.

We understand that for some customers, wild rabbit was a nostalgic or traditional choice. But our decision not to stock it today reflects the reality of availability, sustainability, and our promise to only provide meat that meets the very highest standards of care from farm to fork.

Closing Thoughts

The story of wild rabbit in Britain is a reminder of how food culture changes over time — shaped by history, environment, and the choices we make as consumers. While rabbit once played an important role in kitchens up and down the country, today it is far less available, and not in line with our organic principles.

Instead, we invite you to explore our incredible range of organic beef, lamb, poultry, and pork — each cut carefully sourced to bring the same delicious flavour, trust, and quality to your table, without compromise.

Photo by Butuza Gabriel on Unsplash