Comparative Nutrition Values of Raw Rabbit Meat

I was searching for information about the nutrition values of raw rabbit meat as compared with those of other animal meats like chicken, pork, beef, turkey and duck. There were some articles that describe the nutrition values of such animals but they are only in general terms, not in specific nutrition types and quantities. I was able to gather the nutrition values and quantities and presented them in a chart as shown below.

Chart: Nutrition Values of Raw Rabbit Meat (edible portion) Compared with
Other Raw Meats (edible portion)

Nutrient	Unit	Rabbit 100 g (1)	Broiler 100 g (2)	Pork 100 g (3)	Beef 100 g (4)	Turkey 100 g (5)	Duck 100 g (6)
Proximates
Water	g	72.82	65.99	49.83	58.21	70.68	48.50
Energy	kcal	136	215	376	278	161	404
Protein	g	20.05	18.60	13.91	17.48	21.96	11.49
Total lipid (fat)	g	5.55	15.06	35.07	22.55	7.43	39.34
Carbohydrate, by difference	g	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.13	0.00
Fiber, total dietary	g	0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Sugars, total	g	- -	0.00	0.00	- -	0.06	0.00
Minerals
Calcium, Ca	mg	13	11	19	8	11	11
Iron, Fe	mg	1.57	0.90	0.69	1.85	0.75	2.40
Magnesium, Mg	mg	19	20	13	17	25	15
Phosphorus, P	mg	213	147	155	156	188	139
Potassium, K	mg	330	189	253	271	223	209
Sodium, Na	mg	41	70	42	59	105	63
Zinc, Zn	mg	1.57	1.31	1.59	3.59	1.25	1.36
Vitamins
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	mg	0	1.6	0.4	0.0	0.0	2.8
Thiamine	mg	0.1	0.06	0.595	0.080	0.038	0.197
Riboflavin	mg	0.15	0.12	0.207	0.170	0.139	0.210
Niacin	mg	7.27	6.8	3.846	3.540	8.968	3.934
Vitamin B-6	mg	0.5	0.35	0.284	0.330	0.711	0.190
Folate, DFE	µg	8	6	4	7	7	13
Vitamin B-12	µg	7.16	0.31	0.61	2.69	0.67	0.25
Vitamin A, RAE	µg	0	41	2	- -	19	50
Vitamin A, IU	IU	0	140	8	0	62	168
Lipids
Fatty acids, total saturated	g	1.66	4.310	12.440	9.160	1.899	13.220
Fatty acids, total monounsaturated	g	1.5	6.240	15.930	9.820	2.431	18.690
Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated	g	1.08	3.230	3.800	0.860	1.952	5.080
Cholesterol	mg	57	75	74	74	67	76

(1) Rabbit, domesticated, composite of cuts, raw

(2) Chicken, broilers or fryers, meat and skin, raw

(3) Pork, fresh, carcass, separable lean and fat, raw

(4) Beef, carcass, separable lean and fat, select, raw

(5) Turkey from whole, light meat, meat and skin, raw

(6) Duck, domesticated, meat and skin, raw

Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services, National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 27

From the above chart, you will see that rabbit meat is high in protein, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, and vitamin B12.

On the other hand, rabbit meat is low in total lipid (fat), sodium, fatty acids (total), and cholesterol. Doctors and dietitians recommend rabbit meat to people with heart problems, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, diabetes, and obesity.



Protein is a complex organic nitrogenous compounds composed of amino acids, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, phosphorus, iron, iodine and other constituents that are needed by human living cells. It is the major source of energy and building blocks for muscles, internal organs, hair, skin and nails. Adult males need 56 grams of protein a day (about 280 grams of raw rabbit meat to be cooked). Adult females require 46 grams of protein a day (about 229 grams of raw rabbit meat to be cooked).

Phosphorus is needed by humans for normal growth; metabolism of glucose, protein and calcium; and prevention of anemia. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adults is 700 mg a day (about 329 grams of raw rabbit meat to be cooked).

Niacin or vitamin B3 is a water-soluble vitamin that helps to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides levels. It is essential in maintaining a healthy skin, gastrointestinal functioning and normal nervous system. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adults is 16 mg a day (about 220 grams of raw rabbit meat to be cooked).

Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that helps in maintaining cardiovascular health and preventing kidney stones, seborrheic dermatitis, and depression. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adults is 1.3 mg a day (about 260 grams of raw rabbit meat to be cooked).

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble that is necessary in maintaining the health of nerves, the production of blood cells, and the prevention of pernicious anemia. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adults is 2.4 mg a day (about 34 grams of raw rabbit meat to be cooked).