Florida White
The Florida White is said to trace to a combination of small New Zealand, white polish and Dutch animals, with official acceptance as a breed coming in 1967. They were developed to provide smaller animals for laboratory use as well as fryers that were meaty but with a smaller body size than the New Zealand.
Since their relatively recent acceptance the Florida White has won Best in Show at the ARBA convention several times in both youth and open divisions. Because there is but one color, the majority of points goes to type, with condition including firm muscling and fur also needed to excel as a show rabbit.
This is an excellent breed for youth, being relatively small in size and yet large enough to contribute to the freezer in case of injury or as a home raised meat supply. The Florida White has an active breed club working to promote the breed as well as help those new to the breed.
A four class breed for showing, this breed offers classes for the basic junior and senior bucks and does. The ideal Florida White is short bodied, well rounded with plenty of muscle for size in the hindquarters, back and shoulders. The ideal senior weight for the breed is 5 pounds, with an acceptable range from 4-6 pounds. They consume about one half cup of pellets per day (one ounce of feed per pound of rabbit).
As well as being an excellent size for youth, the Florida White is also ideal for those who want a source of meat but don't have a great deal of room for the larger breeds. This is an ideal breed to keep the best to show (or sell for showing) as they adapt to a variety of climates and uses.
For show, meat, pet and fur the Florida White has much to offer in a rabbit that is productive, efficient, competitive and normally good tempered. It is important to get them separated early as they can be fast maturing. A junior show doe underscored this by having an unexpected litter from being separated, apparently, from her siblings a week too late. She did well in the show, all things considered, but it wasn't the ideal situation to be kindling in!
From a pet standpoint the Florida White is a medium sized rabbit that isn't so small you're afraid they'll escape nor so large that they eat (and poop) a great deal. They are very friendly when handled frequently and make excellent mothers.
If you're looking for a 4-H project, self sufficiency or just a breed to compete with that you don't have to cull so many for markings, the Florida White can be the ideal solution. As with any breed, start with quality stock and enjoy your rabbits!
Since their relatively recent acceptance the Florida White has won Best in Show at the ARBA convention several times in both youth and open divisions. Because there is but one color, the majority of points goes to type, with condition including firm muscling and fur also needed to excel as a show rabbit.
This is an excellent breed for youth, being relatively small in size and yet large enough to contribute to the freezer in case of injury or as a home raised meat supply. The Florida White has an active breed club working to promote the breed as well as help those new to the breed.
A four class breed for showing, this breed offers classes for the basic junior and senior bucks and does. The ideal Florida White is short bodied, well rounded with plenty of muscle for size in the hindquarters, back and shoulders. The ideal senior weight for the breed is 5 pounds, with an acceptable range from 4-6 pounds. They consume about one half cup of pellets per day (one ounce of feed per pound of rabbit).
As well as being an excellent size for youth, the Florida White is also ideal for those who want a source of meat but don't have a great deal of room for the larger breeds. This is an ideal breed to keep the best to show (or sell for showing) as they adapt to a variety of climates and uses.
For show, meat, pet and fur the Florida White has much to offer in a rabbit that is productive, efficient, competitive and normally good tempered. It is important to get them separated early as they can be fast maturing. A junior show doe underscored this by having an unexpected litter from being separated, apparently, from her siblings a week too late. She did well in the show, all things considered, but it wasn't the ideal situation to be kindling in!
From a pet standpoint the Florida White is a medium sized rabbit that isn't so small you're afraid they'll escape nor so large that they eat (and poop) a great deal. They are very friendly when handled frequently and make excellent mothers.
If you're looking for a 4-H project, self sufficiency or just a breed to compete with that you don't have to cull so many for markings, the Florida White can be the ideal solution. As with any breed, start with quality stock and enjoy your rabbits!
Mini Rex
The Mini Rex is not just a small version of the Rex, although the fur is the same. Like any of the breeds of purebred rabbits, the Mini Rex must fit a particular body type, coloring and standard. The colors accepted are not all the same as the bigger Rex, with the only thing in common besides the name being that stunning fur.
The Mini Rex comes in several colors including black, blue, castor, chocolate, chinchilla, opal, tortoise, lynx, seal, lilac, red, otter, white, Himalayan, broken, blue eyed white and sable point. There are also several varieties working through official channels to be accepted. The castor, opal, lynx and chinchilla are "ring" colors and when you blow lightly on the fur you should see distinct bands of color. By contrast blowing on the fur of a solid rabbit such as a blue should be a solid blue color all the way down the coat. The broken does not refer to a defective rabbit but rather a broken, or spotted, color pattern.
The mini Rex is a relatively new breed, recognized in 1988, that is among the most popular in entries at most shows. They have a maximum weight of 4-1/2 pounds, far below the minimum of the big Rex, making them truly a different breed. Additionally, the Mini Rex has a shorter body type that is slightly more "cobby" than the meat type of the larger breed. The Mini Rex consumes about one half cup of pellets per day (one ounce of feed per pound of rabbit). They weigh about 3- 4.5 pounds. They like to eat, so you must be careful with their feed.
The smaller size means they need less space and breeders can house more small rabbits in the same space. Their small size, beautiful Rex coat and availability make the Mini Rex common as a pet rabbit. Like most small breeds, they are not efficient to use for meat.
The beautiful coat is fairly easy to maintain but difficult to get right. Good nutrition with fiber makes fur and although it's a challenge, when the Rex coat is right they are stunning. They are extremely soft and plush, with the coat being a recessive characteristic. Some colors ride a fine balance between getting TOO soft and losing the texture needed for a great coat.
The Mini Rex is a good breed for youth that need a smaller rabbit to handle safely. They are friendly and curious. As with any breed, start with quality stock and enjoy your rabbits!
The Mini Rex comes in several colors including black, blue, castor, chocolate, chinchilla, opal, tortoise, lynx, seal, lilac, red, otter, white, Himalayan, broken, blue eyed white and sable point. There are also several varieties working through official channels to be accepted. The castor, opal, lynx and chinchilla are "ring" colors and when you blow lightly on the fur you should see distinct bands of color. By contrast blowing on the fur of a solid rabbit such as a blue should be a solid blue color all the way down the coat. The broken does not refer to a defective rabbit but rather a broken, or spotted, color pattern.
The mini Rex is a relatively new breed, recognized in 1988, that is among the most popular in entries at most shows. They have a maximum weight of 4-1/2 pounds, far below the minimum of the big Rex, making them truly a different breed. Additionally, the Mini Rex has a shorter body type that is slightly more "cobby" than the meat type of the larger breed. The Mini Rex consumes about one half cup of pellets per day (one ounce of feed per pound of rabbit). They weigh about 3- 4.5 pounds. They like to eat, so you must be careful with their feed.
The smaller size means they need less space and breeders can house more small rabbits in the same space. Their small size, beautiful Rex coat and availability make the Mini Rex common as a pet rabbit. Like most small breeds, they are not efficient to use for meat.
The beautiful coat is fairly easy to maintain but difficult to get right. Good nutrition with fiber makes fur and although it's a challenge, when the Rex coat is right they are stunning. They are extremely soft and plush, with the coat being a recessive characteristic. Some colors ride a fine balance between getting TOO soft and losing the texture needed for a great coat.
The Mini Rex is a good breed for youth that need a smaller rabbit to handle safely. They are friendly and curious. As with any breed, start with quality stock and enjoy your rabbits!
Mini Satin
The Mini Satin rabbit has the beautiful fur of the full size Satin, but in a much smaller size, weighing in at 3.25 to 4.75 pounds. If you've never felt the fur of a Mini Satin rabbit, think back to the softest stuffed animal that you have ever touched. Give it long ears and a wiggling nose, and you have a Mini Satin rabbit. The Mini Satin became a recognized breed by the American Rabbit Breeders Association, or ARBA, in 2006.
The Mini Satin rabbit is a new and exciting breed that has five ARBA recognized varieties ( chinchilla, opal, red, siamese and white) and sixteen (16) more varieties under development with a “Certificate of Development”. The Mini Satin has great potential and can progress forward in the future as one of the top favorite breeds for the rabbit enthusiast both young and old.
The Mini Satin rabbit has the compact body style of the Florida White and the Mini Rex. It consumes about one half cup of pellets per day (one ounce of feed per each pound of rabbit). They are friendly when handled frequently and make good mothers. As with any breed, start with quality stock and enjoy your rabbits!
The Mini Satin rabbit is a new and exciting breed that has five ARBA recognized varieties ( chinchilla, opal, red, siamese and white) and sixteen (16) more varieties under development with a “Certificate of Development”. The Mini Satin has great potential and can progress forward in the future as one of the top favorite breeds for the rabbit enthusiast both young and old.
The Mini Satin rabbit has the compact body style of the Florida White and the Mini Rex. It consumes about one half cup of pellets per day (one ounce of feed per each pound of rabbit). They are friendly when handled frequently and make good mothers. As with any breed, start with quality stock and enjoy your rabbits!