Major Breeds of Rabbits

CUHS Agriculture Department

Vet Science

Mrs. Raggio

Rabbits

• Been developed into forty-five recognized breeds. These are divided into five weight categories: Dwarf or Miniature-Himalayan, Small-Dutch, Medium-English Spot, Large-New Zealand, and Giant-Giant Angora

Brittania Petite

• An old English breed that is recognized as the smallest of the standard breeds
• Rabbits are white with red eyes in the US

Netherland Dwarf

• Developed in Holland and has more recognized colors than any other breed
• Rabbits are small, stocky, and compact

Himalayan

• One of the oldest and widest distributions
• Young rabbits are white and slightly tinged with silver-gray, as it matures it becomes snow white with deep black nose, ears, feet, and tail

http://ahra2001.tripod.com/index.html

Dutch

• Originated in Holland and developed in England
• Have unique color markings with colored patches on each side of the head that encircle the eyes and ears
• The rear half is also colored the same as the head

http://www.dutchrabbit.com/

Tan

• Originally black with tan underside
• Tan color found around eyes, nostrils, and toes
• Originated in England

http://www.arba.net/photo.htm

Florida White

• Developed in Florida by crossing Dutch, Polish, and New Zealand Whites
• The breed is short and compact with well-rounded hips and hindquarters

English Spot

• Introduced to US from England
• A unique chair of markings, the size of a pea, run from the base of the ear to the rear flank

Standard Chinchilla

• Under-color is dark slate blue at the base, pearl in the middle and narrow black band with narrow light band on the top

English Angora

• Has a short, compact body and the head, ears, feet, and body are covered with wool

http://narbc.tripod.com/photo_gallery.htm

Belgian Hare

• Originated in Flanders, Belgium
• Has a long, fine body, long, straight and slender legs

Rhinelander

• Has a butterfly marking on the nose, cheek spots, and eye rings
• Rest of the body is white with a herringbone pattern or unbroken stripe running from the the neck down the back to the top of the tail

Rex

• Short hair coat, with guard hairs being the same length as the under fur
• The fur has a very soft, flush feel

Californian

• Cross of a Himalayan and a Chinchilla and crossed with White New Zealand
• White with black colored nose, ears, feet, and tail, and the eyes are red

Cinnamon

• Medium-length rabbit with a well-filled meaty body
• The color is a rust or cinnamon ground color; the fur is ticked with smoke-gray across the back

American

• Ideal body type is described as “mandolin” because the arch of the back has this type of appearance

English Lop

• Oldest domestic rabbit breed known
• Body is medium length with well arched back and low head carriage

New Zealand

• Leading choice for commercial meat production
• White is preferred because the small hairs that remain cannot be seen

Silver Fox

• Developed in Ohio
• Resembles the real Silver Fox with silvered fur and lack of fly-back fur (fur returning to its original position)

Giant Angora

• Developed for maximum amount of wool production
• Has the body structure of a commercial animal with a unique coat structure

French Lop

• Ears are shorter than the English Lop and hang down in a horseshoe shape from the crown approximately 1 ½ inches or more below the muzzle

Flemish Giant

• Originated in Belgium
• This is the largest of all the domestic rabbit breeds

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