Breeding to Improve the Breed

[Nela]

I've been wondering about this for a reeeeally long time and I hope no one takes offense as I am sincerely only wanting to understand it...

I have seen a lot of talk about how to pick good bunnies to breed etc etc in order to improve the breed. Aside from the real obvious things, physical things to be specific, I'm not quite sure I understand the why.

Since I can't explain it very coherently I'll give an example...

See I have seen the proper lionhead physique, as well as the netherland dwarf... However, to be honest, most of the time I don't find them as cute? I mean shapewise? I guess I don't see the esthetic side of it. I'm not trying to encourage disregarding genetics by any means, merely trying to understand why the standard you are aiming for was set as the standard.

Am I making any sense? :expressionless

 

[mistyjr]

I kinda understand.. I dont know if these falls threw for your thread.. lol

my aunt wanted me to get into the same rabbits as she does.. the dutch's, mini rex, and the standard rex. But I dont want an compantion with her. I find that Dutch's are just blah. They are plain color and I like the cute and soft rabbits. I love lionheads the best. i love the fur on their heads. But she didnt want me to get into them. So I just went whatever she wants me too do..

 

[bunnybunbunb]

"I find that Dutch's are just blah. They are plain color and I like the cute and soft rabbits."

I beg to differ. Have you saw the Harlequin Dutch? *dies*

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

So are you asking why we breed to the standard? And why the standard is as such?

I can't really answer other than to say that we breed to the standard because that is what is desired in the perfect example of that breed of rabbit. And as for why the standard is such - you'd probably have to ask someone who works for ARBA about that one. Or maybe even Pam Nock will have the answer.

Emily

 

[Nela]

Yeah it's more along those lines Emily. I mean lionheads for example... I don't find them as appealing to the eyes when they are rated higher for some reason. I'm kind of wondering why that is. Samething with holland lops, I prefer roundish heads over the true standard. I'm not sure if it's the crowns or manes or what but I have seen 'pet' quality that's more appealing. I understand that there must be obvious benefits if proper breeders are going through the trouble of picking high quality pets.

I guessI am wondering where the standards come from? Like when they talk about shape, and hinds, and crowns. Also wondering if esthetics affect physical health? (like in other pets when they say flat faces affect breathing)

 

[elrohwen]

Nela, I don't really know about the "fancy" or "pet" breeds, like mini rex, hollands, lionheads, etc, but for most of the bigger breeds the standards were set for what rabbits produced the most meat, were the healthiest, best able to raise large litters, etc. It's a practical thing and you could predict these good qualities based on a set appearance.

For the smaller breeds, I don't know. Maybe it's arbitrary based on whomever started the breed and the standard that was set at that time.

I think of it like cats, rather than like dog breeds. Dogs were bred to serve a purpose - best hunter, best puller, whatever, so the breed standards make sense in a practical way. However, there are many different breeds of cats, but for the most part they don't serve a "purpose" the same way that different dog breeds do. They just have different personalities and looks that people like. I imagine it is the same way for a lot of rabbit breeds.

 

[mistyjr]

bunnybunbunb wrote:

"I find that Dutch's are just blah. They are plain color and I like the cute and soft rabbits."

I beg to differ. Have you saw the Harlequin Dutch? *dies*

Sorry....lol.... I really like the Tri or Tort Dutch's. But I heard that I would have to buy a whole new breeding stock.. My aunt haves the Harl Dutch's they are pretty!

 

[TinysMom]

Nela wrote:

I guessI am wondering where the standards come from? Like when they talk about shape, and hinds, and crowns. Also wondering if esthetics affect physical health? (like in other pets when they say flat faces affect breathing)

When a person files a "COD" (Certificate of Development) with ARBA to start a new breed - they submit a "standard of perfection" based upon their interpretation of what they believe that breed should look like. It includes a number of things (and I'm too brain dead right now to think of them) - but what ears should be like - how the head should be shaped - the ideal weight, etc. etc. etc.

The ARBA standards committee then looks over the standard - works with the person to make any changes or clarification that they feel are necessary - and then when both parties are in agreement - it becomes "accepted" as the "working standard".

The breeder then has X years to work on the breed before presenting it before the committee at the ARBA National convention.

The rabbits are judged (a male sr & jr, and a female sr & jr) and then whether they pass or not - the standards committee and the COD holder "tweak" the standard as they feel is needed.

The rabbits must pass three presentations within five years and there's more to that (like how many times they can fail in a row).

Once they pass the three presentations - they are considered a new breed.

 

[OakRidgeRabbits]

Nela wrote:

Samething with holland lops, I prefer roundish heads over the true standard.

This is beside the point, but I'm kind of wondering what you mean by this. The "true standard" calls for a rounded face/muzzle.

Anyway, onto the original question.

Meat breeds, as mentioned, were originally bred to have the best output. They're bred for the quickest maturity and largest meat output possible, and a certain type and size developed along with that.

The "fancy breeds" developed as just that, fancy breeds. They were developed because someone, somewhere down the line, did a couple crosses which eventually turned into a breed that was consistently different than the ones before it. Certain traits that are judged, such as firm flesh condition and good fur quality are health related. But other characteristics such as shorter ears are really only a cosmetic concern since most rabbits don't really serve a purpose other than to be cute companions.

Breeding to a standard is just a way to keep the breed producing consistent quality, which includes not only show type but also health. If you really wanted to, you could argue it down to having no purpose I guess, but it's the same with any domestic animal these days. Just like dog breeds, some rabbit breeds have purposes (meat, wool, etc.) And some breeds are purely companion animals.

 

[Nela]

Ah Ah ok makes a little more sense I think now. Thank you for explaining Peg. I'm not very familiar with the terms to be honest Julie so it's a bit hard for me to explain what I am questioning but hmm the head shape on the holland seems slightly different to me when it's closer to standard. I don't have an issue, was just curious as to what the purpose for breeding to the standard was other than ensuring that negative health traits weren't passed on Laura, you brought up a good point about the meat rabbits, I hadn't considered those.

 

[TinysMom]

I was just thinking about the fact that without a standard - how would the judges know how to judge the rabbit?

So the standard hopefully gives everyone a word picture of what the judge is looking for.

 

[Nela]

Well for sure hehe, basically was wondering what the standards were based on, as in, if they were based onone mainoriginal breed, etc. Meh, I can't seem to explain myself lol