Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Big Bunnies, Little Bunnies
One of my goals earlier was to reduce the size of my bunnies. I've succeeded - apparently too well. I just registered a new senior at 2.06. That's no typo - he's not even 2 1/2 lbs. He's so cute and has everything in the right place and proportion. But I'm guessing he'll never compete again! He does have one BOB.
There is some hope for him because I apparently have several sets of slow-developing genes in my barn. I got Boris out to weigh him. Boris was 2.14 when he was 6 months, 2 days old. He's now 4.02. Now let me say first, that he needs to lose a few ounces. He's not rolly polly, but he's a bit overstuffed. But even so, he's legitimately gained about a pound since he technically became a senior. I can only hope the same will be true for Mr. 2.06!
May was 3.00 when I had her and her sisters (also 3.00) registered. She topped out at 4.02 when she was being free fed with her litters. But she's settled in around 3.10 to 3.12 without babies to eat with. Her sister Hilary, though, has stayed quite small. Other does, such as Markie, have also stayed quite petite. Some have gotten bigger, like Roxie, but it's just fat and she's not really a larger bunny per se.
When I first got started, I had large, long rabbits. Cindy Pail told me that when I started line breeding, my bunnies would shorten up. Once again, she was right about that. I've also read that line breeding causes smaller bunnies and out crossing produces bigger ones. I see nothing in my barn that can argue with that.
I must state that I do not like the current set of affairs where the contest is the bunny that can get closest to 4.00 without going over. I heard that our BOB winner at Convention is 4.00 on a good day (and over on a bad). There were two 4.00 broken JUNIOR does in the top ten. Several top lops are 4.00's, I do believe. Many people have heard me say that Rio is not my favorite rabbit in my herd. The reason is that he's big and this is supposed to be a dwarf breed. (Don't get me wrong, I love him, and he's not going to be for sale - I just wish he were 3.08).
I want a smaller rabbit that has a large appearance for his/her size. I think we need a readjustment in attitude among judges and breeders alike to get away from absolute mass to relative mass. Dropping the 3.00 ideal seemed to be a reasonable thing to do in light of which rabbits were winning all of the time. But perhaps we should have set the goal to train judges better instead.
But, I have to deal with reality as it is. I still will breed for rabbits that I like and fit the standard as I understand it. But I have to guard against my herd shrinking into oblivion! My little 2.06 has nice bone (believe it or not), but I know that his only hope is that he is a late bloomer and still has quite a bit of growing to do before he quits.
My other concern, especially in light of breeding only grand champions these days, is that my smaller does will produce fewer and fewer offspring over time. I could be headed down a dead-end alley.
Luckily for me, I'm data and information driven. I will be keeping an eye on my production rates, you can be sure. I do know that I can outcross or keep false dwarf does at any point that the current plan doesn't work. I've got my eyes open for certain. If a 2.06 senior isn't an eye-opener, I don't know what is.
The most wonderful and most horrible part of our hobby is its complexity. We'll never be bored, that's certain. But we can often become overwhelmed or frustrated. Keeping the size just right is but one of the many challenges a Holland breeder must constantly face. And I hope I'm on top of it.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 11:11 AM
There is some hope for him because I apparently have several sets of slow-developing genes in my barn. I got Boris out to weigh him. Boris was 2.14 when he was 6 months, 2 days old. He's now 4.02. Now let me say first, that he needs to lose a few ounces. He's not rolly polly, but he's a bit overstuffed. But even so, he's legitimately gained about a pound since he technically became a senior. I can only hope the same will be true for Mr. 2.06!
May was 3.00 when I had her and her sisters (also 3.00) registered. She topped out at 4.02 when she was being free fed with her litters. But she's settled in around 3.10 to 3.12 without babies to eat with. Her sister Hilary, though, has stayed quite small. Other does, such as Markie, have also stayed quite petite. Some have gotten bigger, like Roxie, but it's just fat and she's not really a larger bunny per se.
When I first got started, I had large, long rabbits. Cindy Pail told me that when I started line breeding, my bunnies would shorten up. Once again, she was right about that. I've also read that line breeding causes smaller bunnies and out crossing produces bigger ones. I see nothing in my barn that can argue with that.
I must state that I do not like the current set of affairs where the contest is the bunny that can get closest to 4.00 without going over. I heard that our BOB winner at Convention is 4.00 on a good day (and over on a bad). There were two 4.00 broken JUNIOR does in the top ten. Several top lops are 4.00's, I do believe. Many people have heard me say that Rio is not my favorite rabbit in my herd. The reason is that he's big and this is supposed to be a dwarf breed. (Don't get me wrong, I love him, and he's not going to be for sale - I just wish he were 3.08).
I want a smaller rabbit that has a large appearance for his/her size. I think we need a readjustment in attitude among judges and breeders alike to get away from absolute mass to relative mass. Dropping the 3.00 ideal seemed to be a reasonable thing to do in light of which rabbits were winning all of the time. But perhaps we should have set the goal to train judges better instead.
But, I have to deal with reality as it is. I still will breed for rabbits that I like and fit the standard as I understand it. But I have to guard against my herd shrinking into oblivion! My little 2.06 has nice bone (believe it or not), but I know that his only hope is that he is a late bloomer and still has quite a bit of growing to do before he quits.
My other concern, especially in light of breeding only grand champions these days, is that my smaller does will produce fewer and fewer offspring over time. I could be headed down a dead-end alley.
Luckily for me, I'm data and information driven. I will be keeping an eye on my production rates, you can be sure. I do know that I can outcross or keep false dwarf does at any point that the current plan doesn't work. I've got my eyes open for certain. If a 2.06 senior isn't an eye-opener, I don't know what is.
The most wonderful and most horrible part of our hobby is its complexity. We'll never be bored, that's certain. But we can often become overwhelmed or frustrated. Keeping the size just right is but one of the many challenges a Holland breeder must constantly face. And I hope I'm on top of it.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 11:11 AM
