Raising TAMUK Rabbits in the Texas Heat with Jordan | Rebel Food Systems

The Rabbitry Center Podcast – Episode #45

If you’ve been curious about TAMUK rabbits, heat tolerance, sustainable feeding, or building a productive meat rabbit system long-term, this episode is packed with practical experience and honest insight.

In Episode #45 of The Rabbitry Center Podcast, we sit down with Jordan from Rebel Food Systems to talk about raising rabbits in real-world conditions — including the challenges of Texas heat, breeding for sustainability, feeding strategies, genetics, and beginner mistakes.

Jordan shares what has worked, what hasn’t, and how her rabbitry has evolved over time through trial, error, and experience.

🐇 Why TAMUK Rabbits?

One of the biggest topics in this episode was TAMUK rabbits and how they compare to more traditional meat breeds.

Jordan discusses:

• Why she chose TAMUKs
• Their performance in hot climates
• When they’ve outperformed other breeds
• Situations where they may not be the best fit
• The importance of selecting rabbits that work for your environment and goals

This was a really balanced conversation that didn’t just hype a breed — it focused on practical rabbitry decisions based on real experience.

🧬 Genetics Without the Confusion

Rabbit genetics can feel overwhelming for beginners, especially with TAMUKs showing so many color variations.

Instead of turning the conversation into a science lecture, Jordan explained how she personally approaches genetics in her rabbitry and what traits actually matter most to her.

We also talked about:

• Unexpected pairings
• Surprising outcomes
• Long-term herd management
• Avoiding weak genetics over time

If you’re newer to breeding rabbits, this section keeps things practical and easy to understand.

🌿 Feeding & Reducing Pellet Dependency

Another major topic in this episode was feeding strategy.

Jordan shared:

• What her feeding program currently looks like
• How much she has reduced pellet feed
• What alternative feeds and forage methods have worked best
• The importance of adapting feeding to your environment and rabbit goals

For anyone interested in more sustainable rabbit raising or lowering feed costs, this part of the conversation is especially valuable.

🏠 Housing, Setup & Simplifying the Process

One thing many beginners struggle with is overcomplicating their rabbitry setup early on.

Jordan talked openly about:

• What housing systems she uses
• What equipment actually matters
• What she wasted time or money on early
• How her setup evolved over time

This section alone can save new rabbit raisers a lot of frustration.

⚠️ Hard Lessons & Rabbitry Challenges

No rabbitry journey is perfect, and one of the best parts of this episode was the honest discussion about failures and difficult lessons.

We talked about:

• Rabbit losses
• Mistakes made early on
• Management challenges
• How setbacks changed the way she raises rabbits today

These conversations are important because they give newer rabbit raisers realistic expectations instead of just showing the highlights.

🎯 Advice for Beginners

Toward the end of the episode, Jordan shared some excellent beginner advice, including:

• What to focus on first
• What NOT to do immediately
• Common mistakes with TAMUK rabbits
• What she would do differently if starting over from scratch

If you’re thinking about getting started with meat rabbits this year, this section is worth listening to carefully.

🚀 Final Thoughts

This episode wasn’t just about TAMUK rabbits — it was about building a rabbitry that actually works long-term.

Whether you’re raising rabbits for meat, sustainability, breeding, or simply learning the ropes, Jordan brings a grounded and practical perspective that many people will relate to.

Thanks again to Jordan from Rebel Food Systems for joining us on the podcast and sharing her experience.

🎧 Listen to Episode #45

The Rabbitry Center Podcast
Episode #45 – Raising TAMUK Rabbits in the Texas Heat with Jordan | Rebel Food Systems

Be sure to subscribe and follow for future rabbitry discussions covering:

• breeding
• feeding systems
• genetics
• housing
• sustainability
• marketing
• homesteading
• and more