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This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia\'s quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (January 2007) |
Rabbit breeds are notably different varieties of domestic rabbit created through selective breeding or natural selection. Breeds recognized by organizations such as the American Rabbit Breeders\' Association (ARBA) may be exhibited and judged in rabbit shows. Breeders attempt to emulate the breed standard by which each breed is judged.
This breed listing is compiled by using the American names provided in the ARBA guide book, Raising Better Rabbits & Cavies. Some non-ARBA accepted commercial or foreign breeds are also listed using their most common name.
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American • Angora • Argente • Beveren • Blue of Sint-Niklaas • Blue of Ham • Blanc de Bouscat • Blanc de Hotot • Brazilian • British Giant • Britannia Petite • Californian • Checkered Giant • Chinchilla • Cinnamon • Dutch • Dwarf Hotot • Enderby Island Rabbit • English Spot • Flemish Giant • Florida White • German Grey • Havana • Himalayan • Jersey Wooly • Lilac • Lionhead • Lops • Mini Rex • Mini Satin • Netherland Dwarf • New Zealand • Polish rabbit • Rex • Rhinelander • Satin • Siberian • Silver • Silver Marten • Silver Fox • Smoke Pearl • Sussex • Swiss Fox • Tan • Thrianta • Thuringer • Vienna |
The American Blue was first standardized in the early 20th century in southern California and first exhibited in 1917. It quickly became one of the Blue varieties, the American White variety was created and standardized at a later date.
A medium size rabbit that comes in different levels of "sable" (sandy) shading.
The Angora is one of the oldest types of domestic rabbit, originating in Ankara, Turkey. They are bred largely for their long wool, which may be removed by shearing or plucking (gently pulling loose wool).
There are many individual breeds of Angora rabbits, four of which are ARBA recognized. Such breeds include, French, German, Giant, English, Satin, Chinese, Swiss, Finnish, to name a few.
English Angoras were derived from commercially-used French Angoras as a show breed. Rabbits of this breed are adorned with "furnishings," growths of wool on the tips of the ears and front feet, along with their thick body wool. They are gentle in nature but not recommended for those who don\'t enjoy grooming their animals.
A French Angora rabbit
This breed has guard hairs on the surface, with wool as an undercoat. Ear tufts are allowed but not preferred by breeders.
Derived from a cross between a Satin and a French Angora, this breed is named for the extremely soft texture of its wool. It has no furnishings on face, ears, or feet, and it is also easy to groom compared to the English variety. Satin Angora\'s wool is said to be stronger for spinning than other varieties of Angora.
There are four types of Argente, two of which are ARBA-recognized. All Argente breeds originated in France.
The Champagne d\'Argente is one of the oldest known rabbit breeds, having existed in the Champagne province of France for over 400 years. At that time known as the French Silver for its silvery coat, it was once prized for its pelt in spite of the fact that it was a common breed. Kits are born pure black and begin turning silver grey at about 3 weeks. By 6 months old they are typically a shade of silver grey. Champagnes are not common in America today, but are increasing in popularity each year.
Because of different standards for the breed \'Silver of Champagne\' in color the breeds of Belgian Silvers and French Silvers separated during the sixties. The pelt of the Belgian rabbit has a darker undertone.
The Beveren is one of the oldest and largest of the fur rabbits. It was first bred in Beveren, a small town near Antwerp in Belgium. Their coats can be blue, white, black, brown and lilac, though not all of these varieties are ARBA-recognized. There is a rare variety called the Pointed Beveren, which comes in the same colors but has white tipped hairs. The blue variety is the original.
The Beveren rabbit is very beautiful, elegant, and rare breed. They are well tempered, clean, and extremely smart if one takes time to work with them. Beverens are full of energy, and also love to explore the outdoors, hopping in the grass or snow depending on the season. They are recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association in 3 different colors, Black, Blue, and White. The coat should be dense and glossy with a gentle rollback fur type. Fur length is rather long having an average of 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches. This large breed has a pronounced mandolin shape with mature bucks at 8 to 11 pounds and does at 10 to 12 pounds, and are certainly a multi-purpose rabbit used for meat and fur. Their litters are large, the young grow fairly fast, and the does are typically docile and make good mothers. The Beveren is also a hardy breed that is easily raised in all wire hutches.
SCHEDULE OF POINTS
GENERAL TYPE: 55 points
Body: 30 points
Head: 10 points
Ears: 5 points
Feet & Legs: 5 points
FUR: 20 points
COLOR: 20 points
CONDITION: 5 points
TOTAL POINTS: 100 points
SHOW CLASSES & WEIGHTS
Senior Bucks - 8 months of age and over, weight 8 to 11 lbs. Ideal weight 10 lbs. Senior Does - 8 months of age and over, weight 9 to 12 lbs. Ideal weight 11 lbs. Intermediate Bucks - 6 to 8 months of age, not over 9-1/2 lbs. Intermediate Does - 6 to 8 months of age, not over 10-1/2 lbs. Junior Bucks - Under 6 months of age, not over 8 lbs. Junior Does - Under 6 months of age, not over 9 lbs. Pre-Jr. Bucks and Does - Under 3 months of age. Not over 5-1/2 lbs. Note: Juniors and intermediates which exceed maximum weight limits may be shown in higher age classifications. No animal may be shown in a lower age classification than its true age.
GENERAL TYPE
BODY - Points 30: The body type is to be of mandolin shape. Body is to be medium length, with broad, meaty back and a deep, firm loin. Shoulders are to be strong and firm, with a well-sprung rib cage, tapering slightly from broader, smooth hips. The body should present a definite arch when viewed from the side. The topline is to be a smooth curve, starting at the back of the shoulder, rising to a high point over the middle of the back, and curving over the hips to complete the arch. Faults - Extremely long or short body length; flat, lacking arched outline.
HEAD - Points 10: The head is to be full from top to bottom, with a well-filled face and jaws. Head is to present a distinct curvature between the eyes and nose with a medium broad muzzle. Size of the head is to conform to the body more massive in bucks than in does. A medium dewlap is permissible on does.
Faults - Narrow pinched head; lack of curvature in profile; excessive dewlap.
EARS - 10 points: ears are to be well furred and carried in a "V" shaped manner. Ideal length is to be 5 or more inches in seniors and intermediates.
Faults - Thin ears; very heavy ears; weak earbase.
Disqualification from Competition: Ear length less than 4-3/4" on seniors or intermediates.
FEET & LEGS - 5 points: Front feet and legs are to be straight, strong and of medium bone. Hind feet and legs are to be straight, powerful, and well furred. Legs are to be medium bone, in proportion to size of body. In whites, toenails are to be white or flesh colored. In blacks and blues, toenails should be dark.
Disqualification from Competition: Non-matching toenails on the same foot or corresponding foot.
FUR - 20 points: (Rollback) The coat is to be very dense and glossy. The guard hairs should be plentiful and of fine diameter, but strong enough to fall or roll gently back into position when stroked from tail to head. Density and texture share equal importance. Ideal fur length is between 1-1/4 and 1-1/2 inches. (Recommended for showing in breed fur.)
Faults - Soft; woolly; fur; harsh, heavy fur.
Disqualification from Competition: Fur under 1 inch or over 2 inches in length.
COLOR - Points 20:
BLACK - Color is to be deep, glossy, jet black, carried well down into a blue undercolor. Eyes - dark brown.
Faults - Stray white hairs; rust; hutch stain; lack of even color.
Disqualification from Competition: Any other color eyes; white spot(s).
BLUE - Color is to be a clean shade of light lavender blue, carried well down into the base, free from silvering. Eyes - blue-gray, with ruby cast to pupil permissible
Faults - Stray white hairs; rust; hutch stain; lack of even color; any other shade of blue than described.
Disqualification from Competition: Any other color eyes; white spot(s).
WHITE - Color is to be pure white, with no ivory cast. Eyes - to be a brilliant blue.
Faults - Hutch stain.
Disqualification from Competition: Any other color eyes.
CONDITION - Points 5: Per ARBA description.
Faults - Soft and flabby flesh.
Both with the Van Beveren the oldest of the fur rabbits. It was bred in the Flemish city of Sint-Niklaas as a unique mutation in the peltcolor. This breed is only recognized in the blue variety and has become rare since the end of the pelt-industry in Flanders.
Unique variety in the list of Belgian blue-fur rabbits. It was bred in Ham-sur-Heure, a small village in Wallonia, Belgium. This rabbit became very popular in Europe during the first decades of the 20th century, but it became extinct during the sixties. A Belgian breeder succeeded in recreating the rabbit by using offsprings, an it was reaccepted in 1977.
This breed of rabbit originated in France and is quite rare in England. The breed is quite big; bucks are generally around 12 pounds and does about 14 pounds. The fur is quite silky and dense and is most commonly white.
The Hotot was developed in Hotot-en-Auge, France by Eugenie Bernhard, the second woman to be credited with creating a new breed of rabbit. The Blanc de Hotot is a large rabbit with a frosty white coat and black rings around dark eyes. The white coat was incorporated in the breeds development as an important meat and fur quality trait. Bucks weigh 8-10 pounds and the does weigh 9-11 pounds. The breed is endangered globally.
This breed is common to the Brazilian farmers and small markets in the mountains and backcountry. They are called a “Rustico” (pronounced “Hus’tico”. It means “rustic”). Hardy, solid, calm. Small population in Arizona USA since 1980. This breed is not recognized by ARBA. This is a breed of Oryctolagus cuniculus and is different from the Brazilian/Forest rabbit (Sylvilagus brasiliensis).
This giant breed is not ARBA-accepted, as it is uncommon in the United States and exists predominantly in the UK. It appears in a number of different varieties: dark steel grey, black, white, blue, brown, grey and opal.
Known as "Polish" in Britain, this breed was renamed in the United States as there already existed an ARBA-recognized Polish rabbit in the U.S. at the time of the Britannia\'s import to the States. The Britannia Petite is thought to have been derived from small wild rabbits and is known for sometimes having a wild temperament; because of this they are often found unsuitable for pets. However, when handled properly these rabbits can be calm.
The Californian was first bred from crosses between Chinchilla, Himalayan, and New Zealand rabbits in the 1920s, with the intent of creating a better commercial meat rabbit. It was first brought to the UK from the United States in the 1950s. The colour of the points on the ears, feet, and tail can be black, chocolate, blue or lilac.
American Black Checkered Giant Buck
The Checkered Giant, a large, very active, Black or Blue spotted rabbit, were first recognized as a breed in Germany. Among its ancestors were the Flemish Giant and purportedly a breed known as the Checkered Lop, a spotted lop. Other spotted breeds or white breeds may have been used. The breed was imported to America in 1910 and has since been developed into a type distinct from European Checkered Giants.
There are three breeds of Chinchilla rabbit recognized by the ARBA.
The American Chinchilla or "Heavyweight Chinchilla" is larger than the Standard Chinchilla but otherwise identical. Standard Chinchillas bred for large size produced this breed. Chinchilla Rabbits originated in France and were bred to standard by M. J. Dybowski. They were introduced to the United States in 1919.
Bred to be a meat rabbit, the American Chinchilla Rabbit is a stocky, hardy pet. American Chinchilla Rabbits do not require regular grooming. Adult American Chinchilla Rabbits weigh different for each sex. Males (Bucks)- 9-11#, and Females (Does) 10-12#. These stocky rabbits have a slight curve to their medium length bodies, beginning at the nape of their necks and following through to the rump. They carry their ears straight erect. In show, type is judged to be more important than color. American Chinchilla Rabbits are a six-class breed in show. (Any rabbit that matures over 9 pounds is a 6-class breed, maturation weights under 9# are 4-class breeds.) The American Chinchilla Rabbit was bred from large Standard Chinchilla Rabbits in order to produce a meatier rabbit. They were originally called Heavyweight Chinchilla Rabbits.
American Chinchilla Rabbits will be disqualified in show for having a body type that resembles a Flemish Giant Rabbit. Junior and intermediate American Chinchilla Rabbits may be shown in age classifications higher than their own if they are overweight. Bucks and does under six months and nine pounds are considered juniors. Intermediate American Chinchilla Rabbits are bucks and does six to eight months of age. Bucks weigh less than eleven pounds and does less than twelve. Senior bucks and does are over eight months of age and bucks weigh between nine and 11 pounds. Doe American Chinchilla Rabbits weigh between ten and 12 pounds.
American Chinchilla Rabbits are good breeders, with an average litter of 7-10 babies.
This breed originated in France and was first introduced after the First World War. The coat color is distinctive: the undercolour of the fur should be slate blue at the base, the middle portion pearl grey, merging into white and tipped with black--much like the chinchilla, the fur-producing rodent after which this breed is named.
The Giant Chinchilla is a result of crosses between Chinchilla breeds and Flemish Giants; it originates in the United States. This breed is used primarily as a commercial meat rabbit. Other chinchillas include the Standard and the American Chinchillas.
The Giant Chinchilla Rabbit Association is the National Specialty Club chartered by ARBA sponsoring the American Giant Chinchilla Rabbit.
Originating in Montana in the 1960s, this breed was accepted by the ARBA in 1972. It is a meat rabbit noted for its rust or "cinnamon" color complimented by grey ticking on the tips of the fur.
This old breed was first bred in the Netherlands and brought to England in 1864; it is still very popular today. The markings consist of a white wedge down the face (the blaze), round colored circles around the eyes and extending to the whisker bed (the cheek marking), white on the ends of the hind feet (the stops),a thin white line between the ears (the hairline), a wedge-shaped white marking on the back of the neck (the neck marking), the contrast line dividing the colored section of the body from the white portion (the top part is called the saddle, and the line extending under the belly is called the undercut)Dutch rabbits are judged with the markings accounting for 50% of the total score, and the body type, fur, color and condition making up the other half. As the markings are a pure genetic trait, Dutch patterns can also appear in other breeds of rabbit. Dutch rabbits do well in the sport of rabbit hopping. They also make excellent pet and show rabbits.
see: Dutch rabbit
As the name implies, the Dwarf Hotot should be small and compact, a stocky, docile little rabbit much like the Netherland Dwarf. The head itself is round, with a broad skull. There should be no visible neck. Eyes are round, bold and bright. Ears should be short, well furred, and of good substance. Ears should balance with the head and body. The body should be uniformly wide from shoulders to hips, with well rounded hindquarters. The topline should have very slight gradual curve from the ear base to the highest point over the hips, and fall in a smooth curve to the base of the tail. Maximum weight for the Dwarf Hotot is 3 lbs., ideal weight 2 1/2. Their fur should be soft, dense, fine with good luster. Fur is to roll back gently back into position when stroked. Color is to be uniform and of pure white over the entire body, except for eye bands. Eyes to be dark brown. Eyebands are to be narrow, well defined bands of black colored fur forming a complete outline of the eye. Color to be as intense and dark as possible. Ideal eyeband width is to be equal to the thickness of two pennies.
Two different German breeders created this breed almost simultaneously in the 1970s. In the early 1980s, the breed first entered the United States. These small rabbits are sweet and affectionate. They tend to be curious with playful personalities, and most are eager for attention.
After the ARBA National Convention in FT. Worth Texas, 2006 The Chocolate Variety became a fully recognized variety.
More information can be achieved by contacting the American Dwarf Hotot Rabbit Club.
The Enderby Island Rabbit, or Enderby Rabbit, is a rare breed derived from a small population of rabbits of uncertain origin isolated on a subantarctic island in New Zealand\'s Auckland Islands group for 130 years. It is silver-grey in colour, with a dark slate-blue undercoat, and dark, sometimes black, ears, nose and tail. A small proportion may be cream or beige in colour, due to a recessive gene. The original population on Enderby Island was exterminated in the 1990s, but not before 49 individuals were rescued by the Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand, which has subsequently bred them successfully.
The English Spot is an old breed suspected to have origins similar to that of the Checkered Giant, including Flemish Giants and some kind of spotted wild rabbit. English Spots have been bred in England since the 1880s, and the first English Spots imported to America were from England. This breed is mostly white, with a buttefly mark on the nose, colored ears, and eyecircles that usually have a little "fling" on the side but rarely have a perfect circle, and chains of colored spots along its sides including a herringbone stripe down it\'s back.It is also recognized in the show ring if it has symmetrical spots on each side. When litters are born they are 25% charlies,25% selfs and 50% marked. Charlies are spots with incomplete markings and selfs are one solid color but almost never pure white alsays lilac,black or any recognised colors. Marked is an English spot with complete markings. Breeders have to carefully breed the colors that won\'t make an unrecognised color.
The English Spot is a very active breed because of its high arch and needs at least 2 hours of running time each day. On the show table they are supposed to run on the table to demonstrate their full-arch type (this is true for all full-arch breeds except the Britannia Petite). English Spots make good pets because they are generally quite docile, but like most rabbits, they do have a few ‘mad March hare moments’! They will happily tolerate other pets included Guinea Pigs and familiarize themselves with domestic cats and dogs.
More recently, breeders in the UK have been able to cross the English Spot with smaller rabbit breeds. It has been quite a slow process, although the latest families of offspring are showing muted-grey markings of the English Spot including the spine stripe, eye patches, and nose patch. Currently, this ‘scaled down’ version of the Scottish Spot is not recognized by professional bodies, but is recognized amongst some breeders as the \'Mini English\'. The Netherland Dwarf, however can be shown in the UK in any recognized colour for any breed so there are a few dedicated breeders who can be seen with English marked Netherland Dwarves.
Typically impressive in size, about 14 lb (6 kg)., and of a dirty iron grey color with sandy or white bars on the legs and long ears with bent tips. It is not uncommon to find 20 pound and more Flemish Giants.
Today Flemish Giants are a popular breed to show and own as pets.
Flemish Giants also have a unique, laid back and very docile personality. They are often said to be more like dogs than rabbits.
Flemish Giants are also one of the oldest recognized domestic breeds in existence. Flemish Giants can be found all over the United States.
This breed was originally created in Florida in the 1960s as a small meat rabbit and white laboratory rabbit. It is generally thought that Polish, Dutch, and New Zealand White rabbits were combined to create the Florida White.
Harlequin refers to a color type, not a breed of rabbit, therefore it can be any size. With the right genetic makeup, any size rabbit can be classified a Harlequin if it has the right colors and patterns. Although the most common coloration of Harlequin found in the general USA is a split pattern of black vs. orangey-brown on the back (sometimes referred to as Harley-Jap, short for Japanese), there can also be Mapgies, which are usually a black and white split. And there can be brown and white split (some times called a Chocolate Mapgie) coloration.
Dutch breed influences on Harlequins are called Dutch Harlequins.
The "perfect" Harlequin rabbit would have four points of split coloration. The four points are (1) ears, (2) face, (3) front feet, and (4) back feet. To achieve a true Harlequin, the following color pattern would have to exist (or vice versa): Left Ear - Dark Right Ear - Light Left side of Face - Light Right side of Face - Dark Front Left Paw - Dark Front Right Paw - Light Back Left Paw - Light Back Right Paw - Dark
First bred in Germany by veteren breeder Karl Szmolinsky. The breed made world-wide news in 2006 when 23 lb (10 kg) "Robert" won a prize as Germany’s largest rabbit. As a result, the North Korean Government has begun a breeding program to use these very large rabbits to feed the population. It is reported however, that the rabbits sent by Szmolinsky were eaten at a birthday banquet for Kim Jong-il.
In the Netherlands in 1898, the first Chocolate Havana appeared in a litter from a Dutch doe that was housed with other breeds. They gained recognition throughout Europe in the early 1900s, and they were accepted by the ARBA in 1916. In 1965, Blues were recognized, and the Black variety was recognized in 1980.
The Himalayan is an old breed long-known in Asian countries in the region of the Himalayan Mountains. It is more widely distributed throughout the world than any other rabbit breed, and has been known by more names, such as the Chinese, Russian, Egyptian, and the Black Nose. They are known for their gentle temperament, and make great pets for children and are also a good choice for a first-time rabbit owner - or anyone who wants a rabbit that is content to sit in their lap sometimes. Like a Himalayan cat, the Himalayan rabbit is white with dark points on the nose, ears, tail and feet. The original variety had Black points, but later breeders created the Blue, Chocolate, and Lilac varieties. They are born all white, but their markings come in as they age. They are delicately built and always have pink eyes.
The Himalayan is the only breed classified as cylindrical - long bodied like a cylinder or tube. When shown, the judge judges this breed posed in a "stretched out" position.
A Jersey Wooly
Jersey Woolies weigh about 3 pounds. They have a bold head and short, well furred ears. They need brushing often with an ideal length of wool being 3". Jersey Woolys have gentle temperaments and make suitable pets. They come in Agoutie, AOV, Broken, Self, Shaded, and Tan Patteren groups.
Weighing up to 7 pounds, first bred in the UK around 1913. It has a dense silky fur evenly coloured throughout in a pinkish dove shade, and of course lilac to lavender color. This is a very fading and slightly rare breed.
Is one of the newest breed of domesticated rabbits. It has particularly long hair surrounding the face, reminiscent of the mane of a male lion, hence the name. Other characteristic traits of the lionhead include a rounded head and small size, usually between 2.5 and 3.5 pounds. It also tends to have slightly shorter ears than most breeds.
The Lionhead rabbit originated in Belgium. It is reported to have been produced by breeders trying to breed a long coated dwarf rabbit by crossing a miniature Swiss Fox and a Belgian dwarf. The Lionhead seemed to have been more popular than the long coated dwarf, and so breeders carried on this trend in breeding them intentionally, and so came what we know today as the Lionhead rabbit.
The breed has been recognized by the British Rabbit Council, however as of yet it is not a fully recognized breed in the ARBA.
Among the oldest breeds of domesticated rabbits, lops are known for their distinctive floppy ears. There are five types of American Rabbit Breeders accepted lop varieties as well as a few other breeds being created. The ARBA recognized lop breeds are the French Lop, English Lop, Mini Lop, American Fuzzy Lop and the Holland Lop. In the UK the Dwarf Lop is the equivalent of the US Mini Lop, and the US Holland Lop is called a Miniature Lop in the UK. Here in the US two of the proposed new breeds that are under development are the Velveteen Lop which is similar to an English Lop with a rex rabbits plush fur, and the Plush Lop which is similar to a Mini Lop with plush Rex rabbit fur.
Within the UK, Miniature Lops are very much the same as Holland Lops. The ideal weight for showing a mini lop is 3lb 6oz. Then there is the Dwarf Lop, these are around 5lb 4oz. Followed by the German Lop which is around 8lb, then finally the French Lop which is 10lb+.
The smallest of these is the Holland Lopin the US otherwise known as the Miniature Lop in the UK weighing around 3 lb (1.4 kg) and being a close relative of the Netherland Dwarf. The next largest is the Mini Lop in the US which has a weight range of 4 1/2 to 6 1/2 pounds, followed by the English, German, Meissener and French Lop breeds. The Meissener is a very rare breed available in only a couple of colours and is hardly ever seen at shows. They weigh around 3 and 1/2 and live to be approximately eight years.
A Castor Mini Rex
ARBA Varieties: Black, Blue, Blue Eyed White, Broken Group, Castor, Chinchilla, Chocolate, Himalayan, Lilac, Lynx, Opal, Red, Sable Point, Seal, Tortoise, White, Otter (blue, black, chocolate)
ARBA Schedule of Points --- Body - 35 Head - 5 Ears - 5 Fur - 35 Color - 15 Condition - 5 Total - 100
Showroom Classes & Weights --- Senior Bucks, 6 months & over, 3 to 4 1/4 lbs - Senior Does, 6 months & over, 3 1/4 to 4 1/2 lbs - Junior Bucks & Does, under 6 months, 2 to 3 3/4 lbs
A smaller version of the Satin. Over 6 Months weight can vary from 3 to 4.25 lbs and under 6 months they can reach a maximum of 4 lb. They were recognized as a breed in the ARBA standard in 2006 at the ARBA convention in Forth Worth, Texas. They were developed by J. Leo Collins. The only variety currently accepted is White.
Mini Rexes are very smart. They can do things other rabbits can\'t. If you call them, if they\'ve been trained enough, they\'ll come to you. They are very good show rabbits as well.[citation needed]
Introduced into the UK in 1950, this breed is one of the smallest and is widely considered one of the meanest. It is bred in a wide range of colours and patterns usually derived from larger rabbits - everything from albino whites through to jet blacks and agoutis (native coloured). Does (females) have a more placid, parental nature than the bucks (males) which can be grumpy and somewhat aggressive - so much so that they can become dominant over much larger rabbits! But all Netherland Dwarf\'s can become very tame towards their owners and are now considered a very suitable pet which is relatively easy to handle. It is the breed of rabbit most commonly kept as a pet nowadays.
Although a very small rabbit, Netherland Dwarf\'s do benefit greatly from daily use of a good sized outdoor run or grazing ark. Some individuals exercise an incredible ‘vertical leap’ behavior when playing and would appreciate a run height the same as that of larger rabbit breeds and an equal ‘perimeter size’ to scamper round.
Those considering Netherland Dwarf should first consider the ethical and moral issues involved in breeding these dwarf rabbits. When two "true dwarfs" (both buck and doe) are bred, the genetic pattern which makes them "true dwarfs" (Dwdw) ensures that a percentage of their offspring will inherent the lethal genetic combination DwDw. These offspring, euphemistically called "peanuts" by rabbit breeders, are destined to struggle with life for up to three weeks, and then to die. The condition is 100% fatal. If two true dwarfs are bred the result will be 25% fatal 25% false, and 50% true. "False Dwarfs" may still be purebred, but have longer bodies, which throws off their balance. Their ears are normally longer, and they have narrower heads. False dwarfs do not make good show rabbits, but does may be used for breeding, and are better for breeding because they are larger, and able to carry more babies.
It is possible to breed a “true dwarf” (Dwdw) buck to a doe not carrying the Dw trait. This eliminates the lethal DwDw combination but this breeding method results in a large number of “non-dwarf” offspring. These “non-dwarfs”, being highly undesirable from an economic standpoint, are often killed for being unsellable.
New Zealand rabbits are available in three ARBA-recognized colors: white, red, and black. Although there are efforts with certificates of development on a blue and broken variety. The Red has bright golden red fur with a slightly harsher fat. One of the larger breed of rabbit, it can weight anywhere from 9 lb. to 12 lb (5 kg). New Zealands are a breed that can be used for meat, pelts, show, and laboratory uses. Adult New Zealands can be more aggressive than other breeds.
SCHEDULE OF POINTS
GENERAL TYPE: 60 points
Hindquarters: 20 points
Midsection: 18 points
Shoulders: 17 points
Head & Ears: 5 points
Feet & Legs: 0 points
FUR: 15 points
COLOR: 15 points
CONDITION: 10 points
TOTAL POINTS: 100 points
SHOW CLASSES & WEIGHTS
Senior Bucks - 8 months of age and over, weight 9 to 11 lbs. Ideal weight 10 lbs. Senior Does - 8 months of age and over, weight 10 to 12 lbs. Ideal weight 11 lbs. Intermediate Bucks - 6 to 8 months of age, not over 10 lbs. Intermediate Does - 6 to 8 months of age, not over 11 lbs. Junior Bucks - Under 6 months of age, not over 9 lbs. Junior Does - Under 6 months of age, not over 10 lbs. Pre-Jr. Bucks and Does - Under 3 months of age. Not over 4-1/2 lbs. Note: Juniors and intermediates which exceed maximum weight limits may be shown in higher age classifications. No animal may be shown in a lower age classification than its true age.
GENERAL TYPE
BODY: The body type should create an impression of balance and uniformity in the mind. The animal must exemplify meat producing qualities. It is to have well rounded hips, well filled loin, and ribs carrying forward to combine with shoulders that balance with the rest of the body. The shoulders should blend smoothly into the midsection, and the midsection should blend smoothly into the hindquarters. The body should be of medium length, with good depth. The top body line should rise in a gradual curve from the base of the ears to the center of the hips, and then fall in a smooth curve downward to the base of the tail. When viewed from the above, the sides should taper slightly from hindquarters toward the shoulders. A small dewlap is permitted on does.
HINDQUARTERS - Points 20: The hindquarters are to be broad, smooth, well filled with firm flesh, and with the lower sides of tyhe hips well developed. Depth should equal width, consistent with a well rounded top.
MIDSECTION - Points 18: The midsection is to be broad, firm, meaty, and carry as much flesh as possible on both sides of the spine. The side appearance should be of good depth and conform with the width of body. The belly should be firm and free from potty appearance.
SHOULDERS - Points 17: The shoulders are to be well developed, with good depth and width.
Faults - Narrow, flat or low shoulders; swayback or mandolin type; long, narrow body or extremely short coupled body; chopped or hindquarters; hips undercut; protuding hips; rough spine; loose, flabby skin, excessively fat over shoulders.
HEAD & EARS - Points 5: The head is to be full, with well filled face and jaws, presenting a slight curvature between the eyes and nose. The size of the head should balance and conform with the body and be more massive in bucks than does. It should be set closely on the shoulders, with the neck as short as possible. Ears are to be medium thick, well shaped, in proportion to head and body, and with well rounded tips. They should be well set on the head, with a good heavy ear base, and carried erect. Faults - Long, narrow head; extreeme curvature between eyes and nose; pinched muzzle; long, thin, or pointed ears; spread ear carriage.
FEET & LEGS - 0 points: Bone is to be straight, medium heavy, and medium length. Hind legs and feet are to be full, firm, and stout. All toenails on Red and Black varieties are to be uniform and as dark as possible. Disqualification from Competition: Extremely small bone.
FUR - 15 points: (Flyback) To Conform to the ARBA Commerical Normal Fur Standard.
COLOR - Points 15: BLACK - Color is to be uniform, jet black throughout. Under color is to be a dark slate blue. Eyes - dark brown. Faults - Stray white hairs; brownish cast. Disqualification from Competition: Patch(es) of excessive white hair; very conspicuous stray white hairs; excessive brownish cast; white shadow bars on front or hind feet.
RED - Color is to be a bright reddish sorrel, but not so dark as to reach a mahogany red. Color shall carry as deep down the hair shaft as possible. The belly color may be somewhat lighter in shade, approaching a deep creamy cast, but must not be pure white. White on the underside of the tail, or on front and rear feet pads is permitted. Eyes - Brown. Faults - Light or dark ticking, when sufficient to produce a frosty or smudgy effect; white hairs in pelt; large, white eye circles. Disqualification from Competition: A general or marked departure from the standard color , to the extent of being mahogany red or a pale yellowish shade. Extremely heavy ear lacing. White shadow bars on front or hind feet.
WHITE - Color is to be pure white.. Eyes - Pink. Faults - Dirt or Hutch stain.
CONDITION - Points 10: Per ARBA definition. with special emphasis on firmness of flesh.
The body of a Palomino is to be of medium length with firm flesh, well developed shoulders, and well filled and rounded hindquarters. The top line should have a gradual arc smoothly rising upward from the neck reaching it’s high point at the loin hip and sloping downward towards the tail.
The surface color is to have as little variation as possible. The Golden variety is to be a bright golden shade over a cream to white undercolor. The Lynx variety has a medium pearl grey surface color blending to an orange beige intermediate color over a cream to white undercolor.
The palomino rabbit has a brown eye. There are two varieties; golden and lynx. The average weight for a full grown rabbit is 9 lbs. Palominos\' have a good temperment and are very lovable. Coat should be coarse and full. Are very good show rabbits.
First bred in Holland. A small rabbit of about 3 pounds. The red-eyed white (known as REW) is the most common, but they are recognized in the black, blue, chocolate, and BEW (blue-eyed white) varieties. They can also be of the broken variety. The English Polish rabbit has only recently been introduced into the USA, it has a separate classification and is called the Britannia Petite. Varieties: Black, Blue, Broken, Chocolate, BEW, and REW Showroom Classification: 4 Class Breed, Senior Weights Ideal Bucks and Does 2-1 1/2 lb
General Description:
The body is to be small, compact, and close coupled with well rounded hips that are wider than the shoulders. The body top line should rise gradually from the nape of neck to its highest point at the center of the hips and then fall in a smooth curve to the base of the tail. The fur is short, fine, and dense with a flyback coat. The head is medium full and short, with full cheeks. When viewed from the side, there should be a slight curve in the skull from the base of the ears toward the nose, with a slight roundness between the eyes.
The Rex breed is distinguished by its lovely velvet fur. A medium size rabbit, also a commercial, they can be between 7-10 1/2 pounds. Rex fur is a recessive genetic mutation that results in shortened guard hairs, the length of the down coat, which stick out from the body creating a plush velvet coat. The resulting coat is short and very dense, and is what would be called undercoat on a normal furred rabbit. They are full of personality and make lovely pets. They come in 16 different recognized varieties, as follows:
Amber, Black, Blue, Broken, Californian, Castor, Chinchilla, Chocolate, Lilac, Lynx, Opal, Black Otter, REd, Sable, Seal, and White.
Weighing 7-10 pounds, the body is to be well arched carried off the table, avoiding any tendency toward heaviness in the shoulder or hindquarters. Rhinelanders should exhibit length that gives a graceful appearance, width of a well rounded body, and a smooth top line blending into a rounded hindquarter. They should also display an appearance of alertness and springiness. The unique quality of the Rhinelander is based on three things: Type being first, Coloration and Markings being next with equal values.
Weighing 8-11 pounds, the Satin is reccognized in 11 varieties by the ARBA. A genetic mutation found first in a litter of Havanas, the Satin fur is distinguished by a glass clear sheath to their guard hairs giving them a very high sheen. They are a commercial type rabbit, with one of the best meat to bone ratios. Excellent mothers, easy breeders and good growth rate makes them a very good choice for backyard meat production. They have beautiful colors with fur that can be worked into many beautiful items. They are the most popular of the commercial type rabbits exhibited in America today, and good quality stock can be found almost everywhere.
Weighing between 5-7 pounds, the Siberian Rabbit was first bred in the UK around 1930 although its ancestry is unclear. It is a very graceful rabbit with an attractive coat, coloured black, blue, brown or lilac.
Weighing around 4-7 pounds. The silver is known for the even Silver Ticking throughout the body. Colors come in black, brown, and fawn. There are only 200 rabbits registered in ARBA. They are one of the most rare species of rabbits in the US.
Weighing 6-9 1/2 pounds, four color varieties are available in this breed: black, blue, sable, and chocolate.
Longer white hairs should be ticked across each side of the body. There is also white in the form of a triangle at the nape of the neck, white inside the nostrils and ears, white circles around the eyes, white on the belly and inside of the legs, and white under the tail.
This is the breed. There is also a variety (color) called Silver Marten that is found in a few different breeds. They are, however, a separate breed, and they should not be crossed together.
Weighing 9-12 pounds, two color varieties are available in this breed: black and blue, black being the only one recognized by the ARBA\'s Standard of Perfection. The Silver Fox\'s fur is more coarse than the fur of other rabbits, one and half to two inched long, and when stroked from tail to head, the fur stands up. This is referred to as "no flyback" fur. The guard hairs are white. This combined with the length and coarseness of the fur resembles the fur of the Arctic Silver Fox for which the Silver Fox rabbit is named. The Silver Fox Rabbit is listed as "Critical" by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, meaning there are less than 200 registered breeding adult Silver Fox rabbits in the United States and a global population of fewer than 2,000.
The Smoke pearl was created in Scotland in 1926, it was originally known as Smoke Beige, the name was changed in 1932. The colour is light pearl grey and beige. The Siamese version has smoke on the saddle shading to pearl grey beige on the flank, chest and belly. The Marten version has white ticking, eye circles and belly.
The Sussex, a recent introduction is becoming increasingly popular. It is named after the county of origin, It comes in two colours, gold and cream.
Weighing about 5.5-7 pounds, The Swiss Fox rabbits have 2 inch fur and come in many colors.
Weighing about 4-6 pounds, tan rabbits make a good show animal. The undersides of this rabbit, which include the tail, stomach, chin, and ears, are colored in "tan" fur (almost more of a bright orange). The rest of the rabbit is colored in black, blue, brown, or lilac. They are a full-arched breed and are to run on the table during judging at shows. They are very energetic rabbits.
Weight: 4-6 pounds
ARBA accepts: all purebreeds
The Thrianta is a beautiful orange breed of rabbit. It originated in the Netherlands and was produced by Mr Andrea. Thrianta rabbits are sometimes cross bred with the Sachsengold (which was developed in Germany by a breeder called Mr Bennack). The Sachsengold was very similar to the Thrianta, but the colour is not nearly as intense, have a longer body type, and snipper heads. This cross breeding was intended to deepen the Sachsengold\'s colour. The Sachsengold was mistakenly thought to be renamed the Thrianta in 1979 how ever this is untrue. One of the first importers to the USA of these rabbits was Judith Oldenburg, of Iowa. She selected some of the finest stock that could be had at the time, which contained no Sachsengold blood. Almost all of the best stock in America can be traced back to her imported rabbits. They have beautiful fur and are very friendly and curious. An ideal pet for responsible children. Great show rabbits!
Weighing around 9 pounds, this thickset rabbit was first bred in Germany from Himalayans and Argentes. Its coat is yellow ochre or buff with bluish black guards hairs. it has darker hairs on its face and boots. this breed is usually only available from specialist breeders. they can come in a range of colours, although most commonly are yellow.
Weighing 8-12 pounds, the Vienna is an old Austrian breed which has recently been introduced into the UK. They come in two colours the Vienna Blue which has a dark, slate blue top colour with a lighter under colour and the Vienna White which has a silky white coat. They also have very soft fur.
The European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a species of rabbit native to southern Europe. It has been widely introduced elsewhere often with devastating effects on local biodiversity. However, its decline there (caused by the diseases myxomatosis and rabbit calicivirus as well as over-hunting and habitat loss) has caused the decline of its highly dependent predators, the Iberian Lynx and the Spanish Imperial Eagle.
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