Unit 7

Breeds Management and

breeding of rabbits
Instructor : Dr. Aashish Acharya
Classification of rabbit breeds

1. Fur Rabbits breeds

2. Meat Rabbit breeds

3. Show Rabbit Breeds

4. Pet Rabbit Breeds

Breed : Angora Fur Breed

Distribution Worldwide ( origin Turkey)

Type English, French, German, Giant, Satin, Chinese, Finnish,

Japanese, Korean, Russian, St. Lucian, Swiss

Use Angora wool production, meat producton,pet animal

Traits

Weight •2.0–5.5 kg (4.4–12.1 lb)

Coat Long, Fine

Wool color White or Colored

Natural or Dyed

Color Albino ("Ruby-eyed White") or Colored

Lifespan 7–12 years

Fur rabbit breeds
1. American Fuzzy lop
2. English Angora
3. French Angora
4. Giant angora
5. Jersey Angora
6. Satin Angora
English Angora
Angoras are bred mainly for
their wool, which is silky and
soft.

At only 14–16 microns in

diameter, it is similar
to cashmere in fineness and
softness to the touch.

A healthy adult Angora's wool

will grow approximately 3
centimetres (1.2 in) per
month.
English Angora Rabbit
• Size:Small/Mini
•Weight: 5-6 lb
•Lifespan: 7-12 years
•Features: Compact.The English Angora’s coat is thick, woolly and silky
in texture
•Best Suited For: Experienced owners, Families with younger/older
children, Singles, Couples
•Temperament: Gentle, docile, curious, calm
•Comparable Breeds: Satin Angora Rabbit, French Angora Rabbit
•.
French Angora

Colour: Chocolate Pearl

Weight: 3.5–4.5 kg (7.7–9.9 lb).

• This breed has a dense undercoat.

• Small ear
• same colors as with English Angora, plus broken.
• The French Angora is one of the large Angora breeds at 7.5 to 10 lbs, with a
commercial body type.
• It differs from the English, Giant and German Angora in that it possesses a clean
(hairless) face and front feet with only minor tufting on the rear legs.
• The color of a French Angora is determined by the color of its head, feet and tail (all
the same color).
• This variety of angora fibre has smooth silky texture. Beginning spinners may find
Angora wool a challenge
 Giant Angora
• Weight: Minimum 5.4 kg
(12 lb)
• Developed for maximum
amount of wool
production

• Has the body structure of a

commercial animal with a
unique coat structure
Meat rabbit breeds
1. American Chinchilla
2. Californian
3. Beveren
4. Flemish Giant
5. Florida white
6. Newzeland white
7. Palomino
8. Satin
9. Silver fox
10.Crème D’ Argents
9.5 pounds (4.3 kg) with a minimum 7.5 pounds (3.4 kg),
American Chinchilla

• Weight: 9–12 lb (4.1–5.4 kg)

• The American Chinchilla or "Heavyweight Chinchilla" is larger

than the Standard Chinchilla

• It has a commercial body type but the same roll back coat.
Standard Chinchillas bred for large size produced this breed.

• Chinchilla Rabbits originated in France

 Florida White

• They have a compact body with firm

flesh, small bones, small heads and
• The Florida White is a
small feet, excellent feed to meat relatively small breed rabbit
conversion and a nearly 65% meat- originally produced for the
to-bone ratio. laboratory or as a smaller
meat rabbit
• The ideal senior weight for the
breed is 5 pounds, with an • It is all white in colour with no
other markings, with albino
acceptable range from 4-6 pounds
red eyes
while the junior weighs 2.25-4.5
pounds
 Florida White

Florida White
 New Zealand
• The New Zealand is a breed of rabbit, which despite the name, is American
in origin. The breed originated in California, possibly from rabbits imported
from New Zealand.
• They average 10–12 lb (4.5–5.4 kg) with the does being slightly larger
than the bucks.

• Fur is of normal length and "flyback,“which means that when brushed

in the wrong direction, it immediately returns to the original position.

• New Zealand rabbits have been used to develop tests and drugs for diseases
like diabetes, diphtheria, tuberculosis, cancer, and heart disease. The effects
of skin creams, cosmetics, special diets, and food additives have also been
tested on New Zealand rabbits.
Silver Fox
• The Silver Fox rabbit is a rare breed of domestic rabbit
• Originated in the United States

• Male:9–11 lb
• Female:10–12 lb

• Well-filled, wide, straight

hindquarters; body width equal to
the depth of the hindquarters.
Show Rabbit Breeds

1. Californian
6.Polish
2. New Zeland 7.Satin
3. Dutch 8.Tan
4. Mini Rex 9.Lilac
5. Palomino 10.Lop
Dutch
• Although the name suggests that the Dutch rabbit is from the
Netherlands, it was actually developed in England.

• Junior bucks and does are those under 6 months of age with a
minimum weight of 1.75 lbs (0,793 kg).
• Seniors are 6 months of age and over, weighing between 3.5 (1,58 kg)
and 5.5 lbs (2,48 kg), with 4.5 (2,04 kg) being the ideal weight

• Dutch are to have a compact, well-rounded body; rounded head;

short, stocky, well-furred ears; and short, glossy "flyback" fur
 Rex
• Rex rabbits are known for their well-proportioned physique, luxurious
coat, and overall charming appearance.
• Senior Bucks (3 – 4.25&lbs, ideal 4lbs over the age of 6 months), Senior
Does (3.25 – 4.5lbs, ideal 4.25lbs over the age of 6 months), Junior
Bucks (2 – 3.25lbs under 6 months) and Junior Does (2 – 3.75lbs under
6 months. The does (females) are bigger than the bucks (males).

• The Mini Rex Rabbit has a compact body type. Their backs are
rounded, with well-developed shoulders, hindquarters, and
midsection.
• Because of its quiet, calm nature, these bunnies are also wonderful
choices for couples, singles or retirees looking for a little bundle of
joy.
 Polish
• Polish rabbit likely originated in England, not Poland

• Polish rabbits are small, with short ears that touch each other all the
• white with either red eyes or blue eyes.
way from the base to the tip.

• This breed has a short head with full cheeks and bold eyes.

• weight at 6-months-or-older Polish rabbit in the US is 2½ to 3½

pounds, with the ideal weight being 2½ pounds.

• The Polish rabbit is often confused with the Netherland Dwarf,

although the Polish is a little larger and its head is not rounded.
 VS

Netherland dwarf Polish

Satin
Satin rabbits weigh anywhere from
8.5-11 lbs once they are fully grown
and have a commercial body type.

The Satin Rabbit has a gradual taper

from the widest point at the
hindquarters and slightly narrower at
the shoulders. .

 It has deep shoulders, backs and loins and have full, rounded
hindquarters.

 Satin rabbits also have bright eyes and erect, full ears
Pet Rabbit breeds
1. Belgian Hare 7.Mini Satin
2. Cinnamon 8.Nethherland Dwarf
9.Rex
3. Dutch
10.Tan
4. English Spot 11.Thrianta
5. Flemish Giant 12.Lops
6. Lionhead 13.Minirex
 Belgian Hare
• Belgian Hare were created in Belgium in the early 18th century,
• Through the crossbreeding of early domestic rabbits with the wild
European rabbit.

• Averaging 6–9 pounds (2.7–4.1 kg), the Belgian Hare is known for
its slender and wiry frame and its long and powerful legs.

• The fore feet of a Belgian Hare are usually long and fine-boned and
perfectly straight, while their hind feet are long, fine, and flat.

• Should be provided with a enclosure to enable them to move freely.

For an outdoor rabbit the ideal home is a shed or indoors with a
waterproof roof.
 Belgian Hare should not be handled
by children mainly due to their large
size and speed that may cause injury.

Belgian Hares should have a cage with at

least a 3 by 2 metres floor and a height
of 1 metres.
Flemish Giant
The Flemish Giant rabbit is a very large breed of domestic rabbit normally considered to
be the largest breed of the species.

The breed is also known for being docile and patient in being handled, resulting in
the large animals commonly being kept as pet

Flemish Giant Rabbits weigh 6.8 kilograms (15 lb) on average, though the biggest ones can
weigh up to 10 kilograms (22 lb), and the longest one on record (in fact, holding the record
for the longest rabbit in the world of any kind), measured about 1.3 metres (4 ft 3 in) long

Flemish Giant can take up to 1.5 years to reach their maximum weight
The body of a Flemish Giant Rabbit is long and powerful, with relatively broad hindquarters.
The fur of the Flemish Giant is known to be glossy and dense.

Rabbits over 5.4 kilograms (12 lb) must have at least 0.46 square metres (5.0 sq ft) of
floor space.
 Himalayans
• Himalayans are raised in cold climates, they can exhibit black coloration of their coats,
making them a phenocopy of the black rabbit.

• origin is unknown they have been traced to Asia and the Middle East.

• The Himalayan rabbit is a rare medium-sized breed of rabbit easily mistaken for
the Californian rabbit

• Adult Himalayans weigh 2 .5 to 4 .5 pounds (1 to 2 kg) with an ideal weight of 3 .5

pounds. They are the only cylindrical rabbit breed.

• This breed's main purpose is for show, but also reared as pet rabbit. Also, they are the
only rabbit breed that commonly has an extra set of nipples
 Mini Rex
• Mini Rex is a breed of domestic rabbit that was created in 1984 in
USA

• Mini Rex have a well-rounded back, with well-developed and filled

shoulders, midsection and hindquarter

• Senior Bucks (3 – 4.25&lbs, ideal 4lbs over the age of 6 months),

Senior Does (3.25 – 4.5lbs, ideal 4.25lbs over the age of 6 months),
Junior Bucks (2 – 3.25lbs under 6 months) and Junior Does (2 –
3.75lbs under 6 months).

ie. They weigh from 3.5 to 4 pounds when fully grown.