Holland Lop Blue Tort VC Doe, who is her ideal mate?

[atucker]

Not sure I will, just exploring my options. Shows sound fun!

Mom is a Tri-color Doe, Dad is a Blue Tort VM Buck...

Should she be breed with another VC/VM? BEW? or Non-Carrier?

I know how the trait breeds out and works, I am just wondering from experience of others, what would be the best move?

She won't be of age until April.

 

[azurbanclucker]

Depends on what you're planning to do with the litter. Pet? Show?, Pedigree? VM is usually bad for show bunz unless they're BEW, but obvs blue eyed vienna marked rabbits go like hotcakes as pets.

Since she's VC If you breed her to a BEW You're more than likely getting 50% BEW along with an assortment of torts/martens/solids (like 2 dozen potential options) that will all be VC and likely have a bunch VM (I think if I remember the genome right. VV and VC means everyone's at least VC)

What other options do you have?

 

[atucker]

Depends on what you're planning to do with the litter. Pet? Show?, Pedigree? VM is usually bad for show bunz unless they're BEW, but obvs blue eyed vienna marked rabbits go like hotcakes as pets.

Since she's VC If you breed her to a BEW You're more than likely getting 50% BEW along with an assortment of torts/martens/solids (like 2 dozen potential options) that will all be VC and likely have a bunch VM (I think if I remember the genome right. VV and VC means everyone's at least VC)

What other options do you have?

So I was considering a BEW as that would be better for pet sales. But if I am looking to target 4h or shows then they shoud be non-carriers right? Problem is if her mate is non-carrier, it will be hard to tell which off springs are non and which are vc.
So I guess my question is if I got her a BEW would that make me a bad options for 4h/show?

 

[azurbanclucker]

So I was considering a BEW as that would be better for pet sales. But if I am looking to target 4h or shows then they shoud be non-carriers right? Problem is if her mate is non-carrier, it will be hard to tell which off springs are non and which are vc.
So I guess my question is if I got her a BEW would that make me a bad options for 4h/show?

If you're breeding for show and want to NOT go BEW (which actually are showable), breed her to someone else. What are your options? Keep in mind that regardless of who you breed her to, She's VC. Some place down her line you're very likely going to get VM kits. When I was breeding I had distinct pools for my Vienna buns and my non, and very rarely did I cross them and only if someone specifically asked for specific parentage. Even then, it was always with the agreement that they were VC even if not showing, and they accepted that risk.

If it were me, I'd be shooting for BEW and get a line going. But I'm also biased and like my rabbits with blue eyes

Couple other things. Do her ears droop? Both photos look like she's got upright ears. And what color are her eyes? Are they grey or blue? A blue tort can have grey eyes but if they're blue, she's VM and not VC.

Honestly, if her ears aren't floppy-loppy maybe she's not a show line candidate. That'll get a bun knocked down pretty fast too.

 

[atucker]

So BEWs are showable! That is good to know. All of the online information I can find is all really old. I also adore the blue eyes. She is only 2 months right now, but you are right I shouldn't assume they will droop. One was dropped most of yesterday. I saw the perfect BEW for her, he was a month old and already had drooped ears and got really excited for when she was old enough, but then learned they shared the same mom.

Her eyes are a shade of gray. I think I will just keep my eyes open for the ideal BEW for her. I have some time anyways. Thank you so much for the advice!!

 

[azurbanclucker]

Yes, BEW are showable in ARBA and 4H. Bloodlines that don't branch are pretty common in rabbits, but CAN lead to genetic problems down the road. it's called line breeding and it's done to emphazise or protect traits in rabbit lines. breeding pairs who share a doe (mom) but have differnt bucks (dad) isn't uncommon actually. Ideal? probably not but as long as it's not a constantly nested cycle it's not terrible.

 

[atucker]

oh interesting! Thank you so much for all your help with this!