Alien in Litter

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I wonder if the Max factor is also present in rabbits in Europe? I have a litter of ND due (tonight hopefully) So it's not just the peanuts to worry about....
 
Sabine wrote:
I wonder if the Max factor is also present in rabbits in Europe? I have a litter of ND due (tonight hopefully) So it's not just the peanuts to worry about....

The gene came to the US through a German import Netherland Dwarf. It is also in stock in Britain, although UK judge Phil Batey states that breeders cull heavily for stock known to carry Max Factor.

The "hippo" gene is yet another undesirable gene that Netherland Dwarf breeders have to contend with.
 
Oh no, I definitely have never heard of the "hippo" gene. How does that present itself?
 
Yes, everything was as humane as possible.

The four are still alive, and the runt is still looking okay. Lotsa fun currently. I'll have a baby post up in a while when things get less hectic. My month old niece is over right now, and I'm going to end up on baby sitting dude while they go get dinner.

I'll also probably have 20 minute old pictures, and twelve hour old pictures. X3
 
I hadn't heard of it before but Polly, who's in the UK, has mentioned her nethies having Max Factor before.
 
Oh the pictures, especially the Hippo picture of day 4 made me tear up... Very informational post though. Thank you for sharing Pam.
 
Yes I have had max factors before. Have got to laugh pam. Phil doesn't half get about lol!! His thoughts are any lines carrying max factor should be removed from breeding completely. He doesn't agree that the normal litter mates are any better than any other litter. Obviously if you do keep and breed on rabbits who had max factor litter mates that the problem will only get worse.

Although some would survive a lot will go blind because they appear to have no eyelids or the eyelid isn't fully formed. If left the eye scabs over and presses on the eyeball causing pain and blindness. The only thing to do is humanely cull imo. Horrid but less cruel in the long run
 
I have the max factor in my herd
Image0154.jpg

Does that mean I shouldn't bread with them?
 
According to phil no you shouldn't but it's easy for him to say and not so easy in practice to be honest as a lot of rabbits carry it. There seems to be different theories on whether it can be bred out or not. As it is the majority of breeders follow more what pamnock mentioned which is you get the best rabbits out of litters carrying max factors. I have a couple of rabbits in my shed that must carry this gene as I have had litters with them in. In fact I kept a buck off a max factor litter for showing and he has just fathered a litter with no max factor in it. I also have a doe her first litter was dead no max factor tho her 2nd litter was 4 max factors!! I am going to remate her and see but if it happened again I will stop breeding her.
 
Well, at least this will mean that the remaining two babies are of good quality? They are probably better off not being bred back to their parents though?
 
polly wrote:
Although some would survive a lot will go blind because they appear to have no eyelids or the eyelid isn't fully formed. If left the eye scabs over and presses on the eyeball causing pain and blindness. The only thing to do is humanely cull imo. Horrid but less cruel in the long run
Until you hold a Max Factor in your hands because it is in your herd....its easy to say "I couldn't cull it...I wouldn't cull it."

I'm one who only culls for deformities that will affect the quality of life of the rabbit and the first time I faced it - was with Max Factor kits. (Art euthanized them - I'm not sure how nor do I want to discuss it).

Even their mom knew something was wrong with them and would not acknowledge them or go near them.

However, there is something about seeing those kits....knowing they'll probably be blind - unable to move correctly, etc - that makes you suddenly become "able" to cull.

The first kits we ever euthanized were Max Factors and I do believe in doing that with these kits.

It isn't that they aren't special in their own way - but frequently - mama will refuse to nurse them anyway as she knows something is wrong.
 
I guess i was lucky that my first Max factor was born dead as I haven't really put much thought into culling. I don't think I'd be able to do it although I believe they should be put down humanely. David will surely help me out there but I think I should start looking into humane ways of culling. i know it's not discussed here but where would I find information apart from google?
 
Thanks for the link. I had a look at it but it seems by culling they mean finding pet homes for the bunnies that are not desired for breeding. Unless I didn't look at the right part.
 
There was two links from that website.. I found another one that they use CO Cambers whatever that is.. But I searched at yahoo though...
 
I must take another look. Not sure if I go as far as building a CO chamber. As humane as it may be it gives me the creeps. I'll check it out. Thanks.
 

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