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The Blanc de Hotot breed was first created by Madame Eugenie Bernhard in France circa 1912. 500 plus select matings of her Geant Papillion Francais (Checkered Giant) resulted in the Blanc de Hotot. She was able to remove all of the Broken Patterned markings except for the eye circles. Occasionally, marked animals will show up in modern day breeding programs. Also, there are the boxer marked animals (1 eye circle) and silver piebalds (resemble a Dutch, but the black "silvers" as the animal matures).
The first Hotots in the United State June 25,1978.They were imported by a gentleman named Bob Whitman from Beaumont, Texas . Bob is well known for his work with rare breed rabbits. For more detailed information on the history of the Blanc de Hotot and other breeds of rabbit, I would suggest reading Bob's book "Domestic Rabbits & Their Histories Breeds of the World". http://www.rarebitsandpieces.com
Interested in raising Blanc de Hotot? Please keep in mind that this breed is globally endangered. The gene pool is VERY small. Blanc de Hotot seem to be extremely sensitive to any changes in their enviornment. Especially shipping of the animals and swithching of feed. The Hotots body type is not at all up to par with the commercial meat breeds such as New Zealand and Californian. It will take years and years of HARD culling to produce an Hotot that will have a show winning body type. Hopefully the introduction of imported Hotot stock will help to improve the Hotots of the United States. The contriversial addition of New Zealand blood to the Hotots has it's pros and cons. It *may* improve the body type, but what is it doing to the fur???
