So you say you want a show quality dwarf, look at the statistical probability of producing a show quality dwarf, and how long it will take me to produce one.
What I used to come up with these statistics is the % of any certain gene showing up in any particular breeding. A BUD (Big Ugly Doe) or BUB (for Big Ugly Buck) is a netherland dwarf with 2 "normal size" genes, a nice, typey show quality dwarf has 1 "normal size" gene and 1 "dwarf" gene. A peanut is a netherland dwarf that gets 2 "dwarf" genes, and is born deformed and unable to survive. The ND guidebook has a good chapter on genetics. Then assuming that each doe under 2#2oz. will produce 2 live bunnies per litter, does 2#2oz. to 2#6oz. will produce 3 live bunnies per litter, and does over 2#6oz will produce 4 live bunnies per litter.
Taking into account that all does under 2 years old, get shown (except for BUDs). That means that they will get in 2 litters per year (1 litter in January and 1 litter in July). If you can work it in between shows. BUDs will produce 5 litters per year, and each rabbit regardless of genes has a theoretical reproductive life span of 4.5 years.
Ironically, I have always avoided BUDs like the plague. But if you figure a really nice BUD (bred to a small buck that carries the dwarf gene)will produce for 4.5 years for a total of 90 total bunnies. Out of these 90, 1/2 (45) will be BUB's or BUD's and 1/2 (45) will be nice typey dwarfs. A really nice typey dwarf doe (one that has 1 "normal gene", and 1 "dwarf gene") bred to a small typey buck will produce 6 bunnies in the first 2 years (2 at 6 months, and 4 bunnies the next year), and 30 bunnies in the next 3 years. 18 of these will be nice, typey bunnies, This is a HUGE difference! Assuming that with the smaller dwarf does, you produce 25% BUDs, or BUBs, 50% show quality, and 25% peanuts. The BUD's will produce 50% BUDs/BUBs, and 50% show quality rabbits. A BUD will produce 45 potential show quality bunnies, a "show doe" will potentially produce 18. Not even taking into account the problem with too large kits and too small does, and all the other problems that go along with the typey does. It is pretty well accepted that the small does will lose the first litter, and a few do not even survive past that first litter. It almost makes sense to buy for your initial breeding stock, several high quality BUDs with strong shoulders, a big head, great depth, and full, round backends. I would also pick out the tiniest, dwarfiest buck to breed to the BUDs. f you breed a BUD to a BUB you will get 0 show quality bunnies, over 5 years you will still get 0 show quality bunnies. As there is no dwarf gene in either rabbit, you won't get any small bunnies.
This also assumes that no bunnies will die, and no litters will be missed.
