Australian Rabbit Farms have recently identified a new business opportunity in the form of a possible export market to Japan. ARF are currently in negotiation with a pharmaceutical/biotechnology company wishing to import rabbits from Australia.
Through our contacts in Japan, a pharmaceutical/biotechnology group based in Hokkaido has approached ARF. They manufacture syphilis antibodies from the buck’s reproductive organs. Currently they use around 10,000 bucks a year with some 4,000 imported from China.
The required number of rabbits is expected to grow to 15,000 in the near future and rabbits are imported on a monthly basis. Due to concerns surrounding the current ‘bird flu’ epidemic sweeping across China the Japanese are considering replacing their foreign supplier of bucks (China) with Australian (ARF) bucks.
Australia’s high standards in regards to animal health and husbandry in all livestock industries is another positive factor for the Japanese market. Currently a 12% to 13% mortality rate within 2 to 3 months of arrival is being experienced with their Chinese stock (where as their Japanese sourced rabbits don’t). There is a significant cost associated with these losses and the Japanese hope that by sourcing such a company as ourselves, they will reduce these losses and have a more standardised product.
At this time ARF is investigating the existing protocols and requirements in regards to exportation/importation of live rabbits between Australia and Japan and assessing the economical viability of such a project, stay tuned for further developments.
AUSTRALIAN RABBIT FARMS Pty Limited
Matthew Carota – General Manager of Operations and R & D