Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Line Check
I'm definitely making progress with developing my own line. This Convention was my second national show where I showed and placed rabbits that were not only my own breedings, but were also out of my own rabbits.
At my first Convention, I placed a rabbit produced by Debbie Vigue. He remains the best rabbit to have ever lived in my barn. At my second national show, HLRSC Nationals in Ohio, I placed a doe with a "The Nature Trail's" dam and an "outlander" sire. In Indianapolis, I placed three rabbits in the top ten that were my own breeding, but none of their parents were also "The Nature Trail's" rabbits. They were first generation outcrosses. I did place some other rabbits that were mine for two generations, though, just not in the top ten.
I started turning a corner at Nationals earlier this year. Most of the rabbits I placed had at least one The Nature Trail's parent: Sakata, Lord, and Panache are out of May and LaForge, both "The Nature Trail's" rabbits. Leo and Java are out of Boris and Saynora's Katee, so they have one "The Nature Trail's" parent. Only Hilary and Jo-Jo were first generation "The Nature Trail's" rabbits. Camelot's Merlin placed 12th. And Quincy, out of two "The Nature Trail's" rabbits, was 17th.
This year in Fort Worth, May was a first generation, and Millicent and Panache were second generation "The Nature Trail's" rabbits that placed in the top ten. Zeppo, my 12th place broken junior buck has "The Nature Trail's" rabbits for both parents, both maternal grandparents, and his maternal great grandmother! All but two of the other rabbits I showed at Convention have two "The Nature Trail's" parents.
Of course, national level shows are just once benchmark of my progress. What is the current composition of my herd?
I am looking forward to having rabbits with all "The Nature Trail's" in the pedigree. I'm still two generations away from making this a reality. But I should start using some of the second generation bucks and does for breeding in the coming year. Perhaps 2008 will be the year that I can complete a pedigree with just my rabbits. I'm anxious to see that happen.
I know that out crossing will be part of my future down the road, perhaps in a year or two. Then I will start all over getting the new set of genes incorporated into my herd and gene pool. It's a never-ending process.
But for now, my line check says that I am making progress in developing my own line, working with the gene pool I have, and still producing successful rabbits. I suppose I can proceed full steam ahead!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 8:17 AM
At my first Convention, I placed a rabbit produced by Debbie Vigue. He remains the best rabbit to have ever lived in my barn. At my second national show, HLRSC Nationals in Ohio, I placed a doe with a "The Nature Trail's" dam and an "outlander" sire. In Indianapolis, I placed three rabbits in the top ten that were my own breeding, but none of their parents were also "The Nature Trail's" rabbits. They were first generation outcrosses. I did place some other rabbits that were mine for two generations, though, just not in the top ten.
I started turning a corner at Nationals earlier this year. Most of the rabbits I placed had at least one The Nature Trail's parent: Sakata, Lord, and Panache are out of May and LaForge, both "The Nature Trail's" rabbits. Leo and Java are out of Boris and Saynora's Katee, so they have one "The Nature Trail's" parent. Only Hilary and Jo-Jo were first generation "The Nature Trail's" rabbits. Camelot's Merlin placed 12th. And Quincy, out of two "The Nature Trail's" rabbits, was 17th.
This year in Fort Worth, May was a first generation, and Millicent and Panache were second generation "The Nature Trail's" rabbits that placed in the top ten. Zeppo, my 12th place broken junior buck has "The Nature Trail's" rabbits for both parents, both maternal grandparents, and his maternal great grandmother! All but two of the other rabbits I showed at Convention have two "The Nature Trail's" parents.
Of course, national level shows are just once benchmark of my progress. What is the current composition of my herd?
- 1 non-The Nature Trail's Rabbit, GC Camelot's Merlin
- 10 first generation rabbits (neither parent is The Nature Trail's)
- 9 with one "The Nature Trail's" parent
- 17 have both "The Nature Trail's parents, 6 of which go back even further to The Nature Trail's grandparents.
Wow, my herd is very small right now with just 37 official members. I do have 20 pre-juniors almost ready to start evaluating. When I evaluate them, some will be admitted to the herd proper, some will be held for a later decision, some will be sold (please don't email me about these yet), and others will be petted out. Nineteen of these have two "The Nature Trail's" parents. One was sired by Merlin.
Since I now only have "The Nature Trail's" rabbits in my barn, with my one Camelot's Merlin exception, all of my juniors for Nationals will likely be my bunnies out of my bunnies. Merlin is getting a bit of a rest from breeding right now. I have some other fellows that I want to give a spin around the block.I am looking forward to having rabbits with all "The Nature Trail's" in the pedigree. I'm still two generations away from making this a reality. But I should start using some of the second generation bucks and does for breeding in the coming year. Perhaps 2008 will be the year that I can complete a pedigree with just my rabbits. I'm anxious to see that happen.
I know that out crossing will be part of my future down the road, perhaps in a year or two. Then I will start all over getting the new set of genes incorporated into my herd and gene pool. It's a never-ending process.
But for now, my line check says that I am making progress in developing my own line, working with the gene pool I have, and still producing successful rabbits. I suppose I can proceed full steam ahead!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
¶ 8:17 AM
