Breeding Holland lops!!!!

[Jaydaw_95]

Hello,
I am starting a rabbitry soon and I am going to breed holland lops.
I have done a lot of research and I know all the important things about breeding holland lops. I was just wondering if anyone would like to share their experiences of breeding them!
Thanks
:bunnydance:

 

[TinysMom]

Hi - welcome to the forum - I've moved your post to the rabbitry area where breeders tend to hang out and share stuff...

 

[Blaze_Amita]

If you were closer to me, I'd offer you a deal with my broken tort holland lop doe. I'm just phasing Holland Lops out I can't stand the competitveness of the breeders around me when we show.
I've bred them for 4 years and just remember to start the does younger- around 6 months and watch their ears!
Bucks:
Blaze constantly gets little pus pockets behind his ears. Gab and Speedle are so easy, I groom them down monthly when they get their teeth, Privets and nails checked/done(unless we're getting ready to show then the brushing is much more consistant)
Does:
Skye(solid black doe) gets a wonderful nickname because she bits young(male or female) or older female judges
All of my holland Litters have been tiny the biggest was 6, the smallest was 1(the broken tort doe too) Skye averages 3 in a litter. Autumn jsut lacks substance in her ears so I have to cross her to Speedle or Blaze to get the thickness in ears that I need.
THe biggest thing is remembering that one judge may think your animal is great, another might see something they don't like, so after showing Autmn with good sucess in NY/VT/Conn/Mass I moved to KY and down here she didn't show well, find a breeder in your area to find out what looks you are looking for besides the base standard.
Also, something I never learned, Learn to type! If you can body type out an animal you are doing good. I've finally learned to body type out my dutch and I know I've got a lot of dutch with very nice type. Let the judges help you, most of them are very helpful if you catch them at the end of the breed.
I think that covers a little.

 

[wabbitmom12]

We haven't bred Hollands, but I will say that they have been some of our sweetest bunnies. I would also echo Blaze_Amita: what judges look for in Hollands (and any other breed, for that matter) can vary somewhat from judge to judge and region to region.

We had a chestnut buck that won best 4 class in a show one week, in a show with about 500 rabbits, including over 50 Hollands.The judge went on and on about how good his head and ear carriage were, and he was such a good type, etc, etc.....and a week later the next judge barely even looked at him. I think heplaced 6th out of 12. That's rabbit showing for you!

 

[Blaze_Amita]

Wabbitmom, That can also happen at a double show too. I had Autumn take best broken senior doe in show a and show b she was 5th out of 7 . . . it's just sooo weird.

 

[wabbitmom12]

Blaze_Amita wrote:

Wabbitmom, That can also happen at a double show too. I had Autumn take best broken senior doe in show a and show b she was 5th out of 7 . . . it's just sooo weird.

yep...and it's one reason why we started concentrating on Flemish Giants and making them our specialty. We had very "typey" Flemmies, very good stock...and the judges pretty consistently judged them very high. I think it's easier to breed the desirable qualities into your Flemmies (size, balance, bone mass, and body shape), then it is to breed the desirables into some of the other breeds where ear placement is a huge deal, or a coat pattern, slope of the shoulder, etc. Some of those are so subjective!

One other suggestion Jaydaw_95: You've done a lot of research on Holland breeding. If you are planning to show (and I assume that you will), be sure to get the ARBA standards of perfection book, and make it your bible! Learn your breed's specifications inside and out. Go to some shows and watch the judges - see how they judge. Try to guess ahead as to what they will say about the animal and their strong and weak qualities. And, CERTAINLY, start with the best stock that you can.

 

[Jaydaw_95]

Thanks you so much! So do I get that book off of the ARBA website?

 

[wabbitmom12]

Yes, the ARBA Standards book is available, to order, on the website. I think it will cost about $15, plus shipping charges. Chockful of info on all of the sanctioned breeds.

 

[Blaze_Amita]

http://www.arba.net/publications.htm

THere ya go!! I have an old copy, because I'm still waiting for V-Lops to pass and get a standard put into the book to get a new one, other than that for me, I have dutch, Holland Lops and Mini rex.
Also, just thought of it looking at that page, Having either a program, like Evans Software, to keep track of pedigrees and it also prints them. I keep a hand write-out booklet and a TON of clear pages in a three ring binder.
Once you get your arba membership you get the one book(Raising Better Rabbits and Cavies) if anyone needs one, lemme know! I've got two of them(don't ask how-I'm not sure)
http://www.fortune3.com/ARBA2007/Products-Publications.html
That's the link for the shopping. Other neat things online. I might go for the study guide, sounds like it would be useful in learning how to type better . . .

 

[Jaydaw_95]

Thanks you So much you guys are such a BIG help!!!!

 

[DeniseJP]

I had the same luck with a double show...one judge loved Juno and the other gave her the "gate"... the one judge who loved Juno also was the same judge that one of my broken senior bucks decided to spray during a show...

Hollands are a challenging breed but there is nothing like success on the table...

Best of luck -

Denise