List of rabbit breeds
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Rabbit breeds are notably different varieties of domestic rabbit created through selective breeding or natural selection.
Breeds
Alaska
The Alaska breed ranges from six to eight pounds in size. The only color currently accepted by the ARBA is black. Alaska rabbits were originally bred for their fur, originating in Germany from Argente and Himalayan rabbits.
Angora
The Angora is one of the oldest types of domestic rabbit, originating in Turkey. They are bred largely for their wool, which may be removed by shearing or plucking (gently pulling loose wool).
There are five individual breeds of Angora rabbit:
- English - Rabbits of this breed are adorned with what are called "furnishings," growths of wool on the tips of the ears and front feet. They are gentle in nature but not recommended for those who don't enjoy grooming their animals.
- French - The French Angora is slightly larger than the English Angora and requires less grooming.
- Satin - This breed is named for the extremely soft texture of its wool. It has no furnishings on face, ears, or feet. It is also easy to groom compared to the English variety.
- Giant - The Giant Angora is larger than other varieties and currently only available in the color white. It has three hair types in its wool: underwool, awn fluff, and awn hair. They are known for their gentle dispositions.
- German - This breed is not recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders' Association and is strictly a commercial wool-producing breed.
Argente
Four types of Argente: Argente Creme, Argente Bleu, Argente de Champagne, Argente Brun.
- Creme-This is the smallest of the Angente breed. The under colour is orange and the top colour creamy white interspersed with long orange hairs
- Bleu-About 6 pounds. An under color of lavender and a top coat of bluish white.
- de Champagne-It is slightly larger than medium sized breeds, weighing around eight pounds. Silvery colour. The under colour is dark slate blue and the top coat is whitish blue shot through with black.
- Brun-Brought into England in the 1920's from France. The Argente Brun is very rarely seen now.
Beveren
Weighing about 8 pounds, the Beveren is one of the oldest and largest of the fur rabbits. It was first bred in Beveren, which is a small town near Antwerp in Belgium. They come in blue, white, black, brown and lilac. There is a rare variety called the Pointed Beveren, which comes in the same colours but has white tipped hairs.
British Giant
Weighs 12.5 pounds and over, the colours are dark steel grey, black, white, blue, brown, grey and opal.
Californian
First brought in the UK from the USA in the 1950's. The colour is all white with black, chocolate, blue or lilac nose, ears feet and tail.
Chinchilla
Originated in France and was first introduced after the First World War. The under colour of the fur should be slate blue at the base, the middle portion pearl grey, merging into white and tipped with black.
Dutch
Small rabbit with colorings consisting of a white stripe below the neck, a white nose and one other color (usually black, brown or grey) on the eyes, ears and below the stripe.
English Spot
Has a white rabbit with colour on the ears and body with chains and spots of blue, black, tortoiseshell, grey or chocolate.
Flemish Giant
One of the largest breeds of rabbit, Flemish giants weigh around twelve pounds. They originated in Flanders.
Fox
Weighing between 5.5 and 7 pounds, exhibited in 1926 followed by blue, chocolate and lila. The fox is one of the most popular of the fur breeds.
Harlequin
Weighing up to 8 pounds was created in France from the Tortoiseshell Dutch, first shown in the UK in the 1880's as a Japanese. Evenly coloured black, golden orange on the head, ears legs and body.
Havana
Weighing up to 6.5 pounds, it is thought that the first Havana appeared in a litter bred from a Dutch doe that was stabled with other breeds. It has a rich chocolate brown pelt and rich, ruby-eyed glow of the eye.
Himalayan
Weighing around 4.5 pounds, The Himalayan has a long, snake-like body and a short, white coat with chocolate, black, blue or lilac point.
Lilac
Weighing up to 7 pounds, first bred in the UK around 1913. It has a dense silky fur evenly coloured throughout in a pinkish dove shade.
Lop
Is one of the oldest breeds of domesticated rabbits. Four types of lops: French Lop, Holland Lop, Dwarf Lop, English Lop.
- French-is thought to have been produced by crossing the English Lop with an unknown breed.
- Holland-the Holland is to be heavily muscled, short coupled, compact and well balanced in length, width, and depth. The shoulders and chest should be broad and well filled, same as the hindquarters. The head being massive in appearance setting high on the shoulders and close to the shoulders showing no neck. With the depth almost equal at the top of the shoulder as over the hindquarters. The legs are to be short, thick, straight, and heavily boned for the size of the animal.
- English-(most popular Lop) Bred in a limited variety of colours, the most popular being sooty fawn. Others are black, fawn and marked varieties of these colours.
- Dwarf-A newer breed that originated by crossing the French lop with a Dwarf.
Netherland Dwarf
Introduced into the UK in 1950. It is bred in a wide variety of colours and patterns. See also Netherland dwarf rabbit.
New Zealand
Classified as New Zealand Red: bright golden red with a slightly harsher coat than the other colours. New Zealand White was first bred in the USA for commercial purposes. Netherland Dwarf rabbits have distinctivly small ears and short dense fur. Nowadays it is bred for showing and is a consistent winner.
Palomino
Weighing 9-10 pounds. The body is to be of medium length with firm flesh, well developed shoulders, and well filled and rounded hindquarters. The top line should have a gradual arc smoothly rising upward from the neck reaching it’s high point at the loin hip and sloping downward towards the tail. The surface color is to have as little variation as possible. The Golden variety is to be a bright golden shade over a cream to white undercolor. The Lynx variety has a medium pearl gray surface color blending to an orange beige intermediate color over a cream to white undercolor.
Polish
First bred in Holland. The red-eyed white is the most common. The English Polish rabbit has only recently been introduced into the USA, it has a separate classification and is called the Britannia Petite.
Rex
Weighing around 6-8 pounds, all the Rex varieties are of the same type, a graceful rabbit gently sloping up to well rounded hindquarters.
- Mini Rex - weighing around 4 1/2 pounds. Short and rather close coupled, it is moderately well filled with flesh. The ideal length of fur is 5/8 inch, and is to have a lustrous appearance, good body, and a plush-like effect which offers a distinct springy resistance to the touch. This breed is also referred to as a "Velveteen" rabbit.
Rhinelander
Weighing 6-8 pounds, the body is to be well arched carried off the table, avoiding any tendency toward heaviness in the shoulder or hindquarters. Rhinelanders should exhibit length that gives a graceful appearance, width of a well rounded body, and a smooth top line blending into a rounded hindquarter. They should also display an appearance of alertness and springiness. The unique quality of the Rhinelander is based on three things: Type being first, Coloration and Markings being next with equal values.
Sable
Weighing 5-7 pounds,Marten Sable (with a white underside) and Siamese Sable are the only colors available. Starting at the head with a dark shade of the color, it gradually becomes lighter over the rest of the body.
Satin
Weighing 6-8 pounds, the Satin comes in over 20 colors, all of which have a velvety coat.
- Satin Angora-weighing around 8.5 pounds. The Satin Angora is similar to the French Angora, but with silky, shiny wool.
Siberian
Weighing between 5-7 pounds, the Siberian Rabbit was first bred in the UK around 1930 although its ancestry is unclear. It is a very graceful rabbit with an attractive coat, coloured black, blue, brown or lilac.
Silver
Weighing around 4-5 pounds, with silver specks of fur spot this rabbit's body. The colors of this rabbit are black (Silver Gray), blue (Silver Blue), fawn (Silver Fawn), and brown (Silver Brown.) All of which include silver hairs.
Silver Fox
Weighing 5-7 pounds, four color varieties are available in this breed: black, blue, lilac, and chocolate. Longer white hairs should be ticked across the body.
Smoke Pearl
The Smoke pearl was created in Scotland in 1926, it was originally known as Smoke Beige, the name was changed in 1932. The colour is light pearl grey and beige. The Siamese version has smoke on the saddle shading to pearl grey beige on the flank, chest and belly. The Marten version has white ticking, eye circles and belly.
Sussex
The Sussex, a recent introduction is becoming increasingly popular. It is named after the county of origin, It comes in two colours, gold and cream.
Swiss Fox
Weiging about 5.5-7 pounds. The Swiss Fox rabbits have 2 inch fur and come in many colors.
Tan
Weighing about 4.5 pounds, tan rabbits make a good pet. The undersides of this rabbit, which include the tail, stomach, chin, and ears, are colored in tan fur. The rest of the rabbit is colored in black, blue, brown, or lilac.
Thuringer
Weighing around 9 pounds,this thickset rabbit was first bred in Germany from Himalayans and Argentes. Its coat is yellow ochre or buff with bluish black guards hairs.
Vienna
Weighing 8-12 pounds, the Vienna is an old Austrian breed which has recently been introduced into the UK. They come in two colours the Vienna Blue which has a dark, slate blue top colour with a lighter under colour and the Vienna White which has a silky white coat.
References
- The Official Guide Book Raising Better Rabbits and Cavies, from the American Rabbit Breeders' Association, Inc.
- Giveusahome.co.uk Breed Listing (http://www.giveusahome.co.uk/small/breeds/rabbit.htm)