Research model

New Zealand White (NZW) Rabbits

Research-ready, U.S.-origin New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits, bred and raised in Arkansas by Pel-Freez. Available as conventional NZW or from our Pasteurella-negative SPF colony, in both sexes and a range of ages, through one request form.

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Our animals are raised to uncompromising quality and ethical standards.

Find the NZW rabbit cohort for your study

Live animals

Find the NZW rabbit cohort for your study

Purchase live New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits for U.S.-based research, including:

  • Toxicology studies
  • Pharmacology research
  • Ophthalmic research
  • Immunology and antibody production
  • Medical device evaluation
  • General preclinical research

Two health grades, one form: conventional NZW animals, or Pasteurella-negative rabbits from the SPF colony when your protocol calls for them. Tell us quantities, sex, age range and delivery timing and we align the cohort with your study schedule and facility requirements.

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At a glance

What researchers specify when they order NZW rabbits from Pel-Freez. Tell us your parameters and we confirm availability, documentation, and timing.

  • Species: Oryctolagus cuniculus, New Zealand White (NZW), outbred albino stock
  • Health grade: conventional NZW, or SPF (Pasteurella multocida negative) from a dedicated NZW-only colony with quarterly culture reports
  • Sex: male, female, or mixed cohorts
  • Age and weight: matched to your protocol, from young adults to mature animals; SPF rabbits ship from 10 weeks (weaned at 8 weeks, then a two-week health hold)
  • Quantity and scheduling: single cohorts or recurring deliveries planned around your study
  • Delivery: coordinated live-animal transport to your receiving facility; freight quoted with the cohort
  • Origin and oversight: bred and raised in Arkansas, USA, since the 1950s; USDA APHIS licensure under the Animal Welfare Act; American Humane certified practices
Pasteurella-negative rabbits when your protocol needs them

SPF colony

Pasteurella-negative rabbits when your protocol needs them

The SPF program is New Zealand White only, no Californian crossbred sires, and is kept separate from conventional production. Some research-rabbit vendors publish a long panel of organisms marked "tested negative." We do not. The only pathogen we currently claim is absent from the SPF colony is Pasteurella multocida, backed by quarterly culture reports from random sampling of rabbits in the colony.

If your IACUC or protocol needs additional organisms cultured, tell us on the request form and we can discuss expanding the culture panel for a specific study. We do not currently track or publish colony vital signs or growth curves; ask if your protocol needs specific measurements and we will say what we can provide.

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Health documentation with the shipment

Tick what your facility needs on the request form. We confirm what accompanies the animals in the quotation, we do not attach documents we cannot stand behind.

  • Quarterly Pasteurella (P. multocida) culture report from colony sampling (SPF cohorts)
  • Veterinary health certificate, when your receiving facility requires it
  • Individual animal records (sex, date of birth, weight) on request
  • Certificate of origin for import or export, when applicable

How ordering works

  1. Tell us about your study

    Choose conventional or SPF New Zealand White on the request form and share sex, age or weight range, quantity, need-by date, IACUC protocol status, and your receiving facility.

  2. Quotation, including shipping

    We confirm availability and return a formal quotation for the animals plus coordinated live-animal transport. Freight is quoted because every facility receives differently.

  3. Health documentation

    The records your facility and IACUC require go with the quotation and the shipment; SPF cohorts include the current quarterly Pasteurella culture report.

  4. Delivery to your facility

    Coordinated delivery to your vivarium on an agreed receiving day. SPF rabbits are weaned at 8 weeks, held two weeks to confirm health and quality, and ship from 10 weeks of age.

U.S.-raised rabbits from the largest domestic producer of rabbit biologicals

Assurance starts at the source

U.S.-raised rabbits from the largest domestic producer of rabbit biologicals

Based in Arkansas since the 1950s, Pel-Freez is the largest producer of U.S.-origin rabbit biologicals. The same colony that supplies our rabbit serum, plasma, and complement supplies research-ready live animals, so genetics, husbandry, and health history are consistent from lot to lot and cohort to cohort. The SPF colony is a dedicated NZW-only line kept apart from that conventional production.

Animal welfare, biosecurity, and regulatory compliance are central to our operations. Our practices are independently verified to American Humane Association standards, and we maintain active USDA APHIS licensure in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act.

Our animal welfare commitment
Why are New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits commonly used in research?
NZW rabbits are a well-established laboratory model valued for their consistent size, defined physiology and suitability across a range of regulated research applications. Their widespread use supports the standardization and reproducibility of studies.
What research applications are NZW rabbits suitable for?
NZW rabbits are commonly used in toxicology, pharmacology, ophthalmic research, immunology, antibody production, medical device evaluation and general preclinical studies where defined age- and sex-matched selection is required.
Why does U.S.-origin matter when sourcing research rabbits?
U.S.-origin NZW rabbits support supply-chain traceability, biosecurity and genetic consistency for preclinical research, without import logistics or quarantine delays. Pel-Freez has bred and raised rabbits in Arkansas since the 1950s, giving researchers a reliable domestic source.
Is Pel-Freez USDA licensed and American Humane certified?
Yes. Pel-Freez maintains active USDA APHIS licensure under the Animal Welfare Act, and our animal welfare practices are independently verified to American Humane Association standards, supporting IACUC and regulated research requirements.
Which rabbit strain is used for polyclonal antibody production?
The New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit is the widely used model for polyclonal antibody production and is available live from Pel-Freez for immunology and antibody laboratories. If you would rather we run the immunization, our custom antibody and antiserum service uses the same NZW rabbits.
How do I order live rabbits from Pel-Freez?
Submit the live animal request form with the sex, age or weight range, quantity, need-by date and your IACUC protocol status. Our team confirms availability, proposes a delivery schedule and returns a formal quotation for your approval.
Can Pel-Freez supply rabbits on a recurring schedule?
Yes. Give us the number of animals per delivery and how often you need them, and we plan the cohorts around your study calendar so animals of the right age and sex are reserved ahead of each shipment.
What documentation ships with live animals?
Documentation requirements vary by institution, so the request form asks what your facility and IACUC need, such as health monitoring reports, veterinary health certificates or individual animal records, and we confirm what accompanies the shipment in the quotation.
Are Pel-Freez SPF rabbits New Zealand White, or are any Californian?
All rabbits from our SPF colony are New Zealand White. We do not use Californian crossbred sires in that colony.
Is Pasteurella the only pathogen Pel-Freez can claim is absent?
Yes. Pasteurella multocida is the only organism we currently claim is absent from the SPF colony. We do not publish a broader pathogen-negative panel; additional culture work can be discussed for a specific study.
What documents prove the colony is Pasteurella-free?
We issue quarterly culture reports from random sampling of rabbits in the SPF colony. Request the current report on the live animal request form and we confirm what accompanies the shipment in the quotation.
How do you ship SPF rabbits, and what does shipping cost?
Live animals ship on a coordinated schedule because receiving facilities have unique delivery needs. Animal price and freight are quoted together once we know quantity, age, sex and ship-to. Submit the live animal request form for a quotation.
What age can you ship, and how much lead time do SPF orders need?
SPF rabbits are offered from 10 weeks of age: weaned at 8 weeks, then held two weeks so we can confirm health and quality before shipping. Both sexes are available; weekly kindling lets us plan to a requested sex and age. Lead time is confirmed case by case with the quotation.
Do you publish vital signs or growth curves for SPF rabbits?
No. We do not currently track or publish colony vital-sign or growth-curve datasets. If your protocol needs specific measurements, note that on the request form and we will say what we can provide.
When should I order SPF rabbits instead of conventional NZW?
Order SPF when your protocol needs Pasteurella-negative New Zealand White rabbits and the supporting quarterly culture report. Conventional NZW rabbits from the same Arkansas colony remain available for studies that do not require that health status; choose either grade on the live animal request form.

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Looking for a specific live-animal cohort? We can help.

Conventional or SPF, single delivery or a recurring schedule: tell our team what the study needs and we will find the cohort that fits.

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