Understanding the Dwarf Gene
Holland Lops are a dwarf breed. That being said, not all Holland Lops have the dwarf gene. Those that do not are known as "false dwarfs", or "normals". True dwarfs have 1 dwarf gene. Often, normals will have longer back feet, a longer head, and a bigger body (usually over 4lbs, but not always). Their body is just overall longer than a true dwarf.
True dwarfs are smaller, have rounder bodies and heads, and make better show bunnies.
True dwarfs are smaller, have rounder bodies and heads, and make better show bunnies.
Dragonfly's Gracie, the orange doe above, is a normal, and so is Blue Storm's Sir Lancelot, my buck. If I were to breed the pair of them, they would only have normals, or false dwarfs.
If Holly's Cinnamon to Sir Lancelot were to have a litter, with one false dwarf and one true dwarf, their babies would most likely be 50% true dwarfs and 50% false dwarfs.
If you breed two true dwarf rabbits together, you will get (generally), 50% true dwarf, 25% false dwarf, and 25% peanuts.
What are peanuts?
Peanuts are babies that inherit two dwarf genes. They lack the proper gene to grow, so they wither away within a few days. They basically become TOO dwarfy. They will always die.
This is why I like to breed false to true. You get the same amount of true dwarfs, on average, which is 50%. And that way, you have a higher percentage of all the babies in the litter surviving; you have a higher chance of no fatalities.
I'm planning on showing my little show does, like Cinnamon, once she comes off her litter, and one of Cinnamon's daughters that I plan to keep. Sure, I don't have a buck that I can show, maybe he can't win any legs (awards), but I'd rather have that than 25% of babies that will die per litter.
Wouldn't you?
If you breed two true dwarf rabbits together, you will get (generally), 50% true dwarf, 25% false dwarf, and 25% peanuts.
What are peanuts?
Peanuts are babies that inherit two dwarf genes. They lack the proper gene to grow, so they wither away within a few days. They basically become TOO dwarfy. They will always die.
This is why I like to breed false to true. You get the same amount of true dwarfs, on average, which is 50%. And that way, you have a higher percentage of all the babies in the litter surviving; you have a higher chance of no fatalities.
I'm planning on showing my little show does, like Cinnamon, once she comes off her litter, and one of Cinnamon's daughters that I plan to keep. Sure, I don't have a buck that I can show, maybe he can't win any legs (awards), but I'd rather have that than 25% of babies that will die per litter.
Wouldn't you?