What lines did you start with...?

I purchased Evans Rabbit Register Deluxe Edition last night, and was able to install it that night within an hour. As I entered in pedigrees of my current woolies, I was pleasantly surprised at the number of times certain rabbits appeared in all of my pedigrees.

I have to admit, I like certain wooly lines better than others. Who doesn’t have their favorite lines? Wooligans, Caudills, White Oaks, Erbs; I enjoy going onto their websites and drooling over their beautiful rabbits. While some are nationally competitive lines (Brian Caudill won Best Display at convention), this doesn’t mean I ignore more local lines. One of my favorite breeders is Kristen Drum of Keep’s Rabbitry.

Not only are her woolies drop dead gorgeous, they came from the lines I love, and she breeds for the type of wooly that I consider to be what the Standard of Perfection calls for. She has been competitive nationally, placing rabbits in the top 5 at both the 2008 ARBA convention and last years nationals. Kristen Drum is still working on establishing herself as one of the “big dogs” in the breed, but she is well on her way!

Sure you are supposed to judge a rabbit on what they look like, not their pedigree. But if you want to be competitive, you want to not only start with the best quality you can afford, you want to start with lines that mesh well together and only get rabbits from a couple of breeders. Completely outcrossing won’t results in winners consistently, and that is what you are wanting to breed for, a consistent look and quality.

I have had the opportunity to purchase many wonderful animals from a breeder who is drastically cutting down, rabbits that might not have been available were, and I was able to purchase those who I felt would benefit my herd the most. For my herd, this was a great choice because her stock is from similar lines to my current stock! I am able to take the work of an already established breeder and put it to use in my own breeding program.

Though I may only be working on my first generation of my own line, I am comforted by the fact I will be able to quickly see what parts I am lacking. I can take leaps rather than steps when it comes to improving my herd because I did start with stock that will cross well together and won't be completely outcrossing.

Until next time,

Kelsey Nelson

KN Rabbitry