Our Bunny Blog

Setting Goals

Well, as 2007 draws to a close, we are thinking about 2008. Today was barn cleaning day and yesterday was "auction". Even with several rabbits going to auction, we still have a barn full! As we evaluate each one, hard decisions must be made.

Cutting back is never easy but it is a necessity. Limited cage space, time and money face everyone. So, in light of that, we are making the tough decisions. Also, this is the time of year to be breeding for our state competition. You want to breed the best and be sure to have the cage space to separate them out when the time comes.

What do we consider in the culling process? TYPE. Yes, although your favorite rabbit maybe a tad long, when cage space is at a premium, Type must be a key consideration. Those that have and reproduce it are keepers. Then comes those that can reproduce it. A Best In Show winner is no good in a breeding program if it can't reproduce that quality of TYPE.

In looking at this, we have several excellent Mini Lop bucks. However, if they are not carrying on this good TYPE we must look at this buck as a possible cull from our barn. It could be that it won't carry on this type or it could be that we just don't have any genetically compatible does.

In looking at does, mothering skills also come into play. Having excellent type but never having a or raising a litter is not going to benefit your rabbitry either. Tough decisions must be made.

Now, as we also raise Mini Rex, FUR is a top consideration also. Great type with no fur quality isn't always a keeper for the Mini Rex. Our focus on blue, opal and tort leaves us needing to maintain color as well. So in evalutating our Mini Rex litter today, we looked at TYPE, FUR and COLOR.

In our Mini Lops, fur and condition have not been a problem. So, in culling these, we do not place much emphasis on this. We do, however, look at color. Although it is only 5 points, if you are raising, showing and paying to feed something you might as well enjoy looking at it also.

Our hardest culling today was the Cinnamons. This is hard because there is no competition in our area and we find that regionally what the judges look for varies slightly. We have strong commercial bodies with a darker coloration. We have found at Nationals, the lighter coloration is winning.

In looking to cull, we are maintaining our commercial bodies but looking for the lighter coloration. As a commercial breed, these bunnies eat a lot and take up more cage space. We are leaning toward cutting back on our Cinnamons to only 2 Trios. This would optimize our breeding stock and cage space.Like with the other breeds, type is the first consideration.

We will review our cutting back selections several times as we will also review breeding records and where we can go with the rabbits we keep. As we all wrap up this season, it is a good time to evaluate your breeding program and your rabbitry in general.