Bourbonnais Grey
The Bourbonnais grey, or Gris du Bourbonnais, is a French domestic rabbit from the old Bourbonnais region of central France. It was shaped as a farm rabbit for meat and skins, using the familiar wild-grey agouti color rather than a showy marked coat. Mature animals are usually medium to large, with upright ears, a broad back, and a dense coat that reads as grey-brown across the body with lighter shading on the belly and underside of the tail. The breed sits among France's regional utility rabbits, less common internationally than Californian or New Zealand meat lines.
Keepers usually encounter Bourbonnais grey rabbits through French heritage breeders, local shows, or small rabbitries interested in traditional breeds. Practical selection centers on strong feet, good mothering, growth without excessive fat, and an even grey coat that matches the breed standard used by the relevant club. They need ordinary rabbit management: dry shelter, good hay, measured pellets or forage, and protection from heat and predators. Outside France, buyers may need to verify pedigrees carefully because many agouti meat rabbits can look similar.
