Kits and color genetics

[naturestee]

So now I'm curious about what genes are all in my foster babies. So far I'm pretty sure the breed list includes Dutch, lop of some sort (mini?), and Polish. Who knows what else is in there. Mom is a black 3-4 lb dwarf mix who looks like what 4H kids here call Polish- slender face, long ears, and all black.

It's too early to tell all of the colors, as the fur is just coming in on the kits. But there is definitely one black Dutch, one marten of some sort, and an agouti (possible dads are agouti). I'll hold off on guessing the other three yet. So... are the marten and Dutch color patterns related? Is it unusual to see them in the same litter or no? And what small breeds would have that color pattern?

I should get pictures of the other 5 adults that came in with the mom and we'll all play Guess the Breed Mixes!

 

[pamnock]

Marten color and Dutch marking are different loci, so could actually appear on the same rabbit (a marten dutch). It's unusual to see Dutch and marten in the same litter only because they are generally not mixed together.

The Dutch marking gene can come from Dwarf Hotots as well as the Dutch breed. Small breed Martens would be most common in Netherland Dwarfs.

If all the bucks were together with the doe, any number of them could be fathers to the rabbits. Only DNA testing can reveal the real truth.

The agoutibucks can carry the tan pattern gene (martens).



Pam