| ~ WHATEVER WORKS BEST FOR YOU ~ Outcrossing Many people believe that breeding a buck and doe that are unrelated can improve the next generation, but this is not always the case. The focus when trying to establish a show line should be on the characteristics and traits you are trying to enhance, rather then trying to add new bloodlines. Whatever trait your doe or buck lacks, should be taken into consideration when choosing a mate. If you are breeding to improve type, you don't want to double up on faults. A misconception is that breeding two grand champions will produce another grand champion. Although this is true most of the time, it is not always the case. In-Breeding When selecting a breeding pair, some people choose parents that are closely related, such as brother to sister or mother to son. There are several advantages to doing this, but it also involves some risks. Every rabbit hides recessive genes, some of which can be health problems or disqualifications. When breeding so closely, it is more likely that these unwanted traits will show up in offspring. You can, however, use these breedings to your advantage by tightening up on the desirable characteristics within the breeding pair. Just to be on the safe side, it's good practice to skip a generation of these breedings to avoid weakening the bloodline. The most important factor to consider if you do choose to in-breed, is whether you will be intensifying positive or negative characteristics or traits in the offspring. I have seen some gorgeous Hollands who were a result of in-breeding, but I have also seen some that were really gruesome! Line Breeding This is another approach to take when choosing breeding pairs. It involves picking parents that are more distantly related withing their pedigrees. An example would be taking a doe back to her grandsire or picking a pair with a common grandparent so you double up on a good trait. Choosing mates with several of the same rabbits back in the 2nd and 3rd generations is another example. This approach helps to keep more distance from those hidden recessive genes that are undesirable, while still pulling on the desirable traits from rabbits within the pedigree. |
| Holland Lop Breeding |
| Written by Debbie O'Connor |
| ENTER HOME INTRO BUNNY LANGUAGE TEMPERAMENTS LITTERS CAGES LINKS HOLLANDS BLUE EYED WHITE SPORTS POINTED WHITE RED EYED WHITE CHOCOLATE OTTER MARTEN |
|
| Which ever approach you use, always look for the positive traits you want to strengthen, and avoid breedings that would enhance the negative traits. Most breeders use a combination of all three listed, carefully pulling on traits they want through line breeding and in-breeding, and then will outcross to pull in any missing traits needed to improve the line and to keep the bloodline strong. |