21/07/2019
From Briony Smith, ARBA JUDGE
SHOW QUALITY
What it is: A rabbit that is a good representation of its breed/variety and can reasonably be expected to show well when in prime condition, i.e. middle of the class or better
What it is not: Anything without a DQ
You do not know if a rabbit is show quality at birth or two weeks. You may be able to see a bit of potential, especially in a marked breed, but at this point it’s much more about getting through developmental hurdles such as staying in the nestbox and successfully transitioning to solid food. You might be able to see some clues at 6-8 weeks, but knowing a rabbit’s true show potential is tough before they get out of the gangly stage. Leave the babies in the nestbox and don’t even think about selling them until they are at least 8 weeks old.
BROOD QUALITY
What it is: A rabbit with some good traits to contribute toward improving a herd, breed or variety but that doesn’t have great show potential for some reason
What it isn’t: Anything with a reproductive system that can reasonably be expected to function
Brood quality animals contribute something and have a good reason for not being show quality. They may be “big uglies,” a rabbit of a dwarf breed that does not carry the dwarfing gene and will be overweight or have long ears but has good type, fur, and color to contribute. (A BUD Netherland Dwarf) They may be marked rabbits that have a marking DQ or fault noticeable enough to place them down on a show table. (A Dutch with a split stop) They may be an unrecognized variety that someone is working on or that contributes to producing a recognized variety. (A Harlequin Mini Rex) They may be a rabbit with a DQ that isn’t hereditary and is the result of an injury (A Californian whose mother nipped a toe off at birth) Or they may even be rabbits that were successful on the show table but are past their prime. They are good rabbits. They are NOT rabbits that have no DQs but consistently place at the bottom of the class even at their best. Those are...
PET/CULL
What it is: A rabbit that is not a good representative of its breed, has serious hereditary faults, or should not be bred for any other reasons.
What it isn’t: Anything can be a cull. A pet shouldn’t have a bad attitude or be suffering in any way.
Too often, when trying to educate people about the difference in the three, they start in with “but I’m not a big name breeder...” Unsurprisingly, I have something to say about that, too.
1) I have never heard someone say this and then become a “big name” breeder. No one is born knowing how to breed great show rabbits. Everyone was new and had to work at it. Before they were “big name,” breeders, they put in a lot of work carefully studying their breed, learning and purchasing from trusted sources, and constantly evaluating, culling, and setting goals to improve. It isn’t rocket science but it does involve an amount of dedication that not everyone wants to devote. And that’s fine, for some people this hobby is an outlet for ambition and drive, for others it is a reprieve from it and all are welcome. But don’t resent success or expect it without putting in a significant amount of work and a little money. Plan carefully so that you’re not dependent upon selling your first litters to keep feeding your starter stock.
2) That said, if you are helping someone start out, you ARE a “big name.” If they know nothing about rabbits and are just beginning, they see you as an expert, a pro, and the face of the hobby, so act like it! Learn good information so you can teach it to them. Carefully evaluate and cull your stock so you can provide them with actual show or brood quality stock to begin with. People get discouraged quickly when they feel that they have been misled. If you are just in the beginning stages of learning and breeding, you should probably approach brand-new breeders as a potential learning buddy rather than a potential mentor. Maybe you’ll be really lucky and find someone who wants to be a trading partner or go in half on a top-quality herd buck. Friendships are the best part of this hobby, but, like anywhere else, they begin with openness and honesty.
