Carmagnola Gray rabbits are medium sized with soft thick
gray fur from Carmagnola. Carmagnola is a commune (municipality) in the
Metropolitan City of Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont, located south of
Turin. Carmagnola Gray rabbits are prominently raised for meat.
Carmagnola Grey rabbits were the only widespread Piedmontese
native rabbit of France until the 1950s. Then due to the difficulty in breeding
them in cages they gradually disappeared. Recently, thanks to a genetic
recovery from the University of Turin, grey rabbits have returned to the
territory of Carmagnola and have repopulated the countryside.
The ideal environment to raise these delicate rabbits is a
fenced area with lawn and a small shelter in case of bad weather. Their ideal
diet is based on grass and natural feed.
They are noted for excellent yield, good bone structure, and
fine-muscle mass. All of which make them superior meat rabbits to other breeds.
Their meat is tender, savory and not stringy. This is the variety of rabbit
called for in the traditional French recipe for ‘Hare al Civet’.