Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Is it true that Outcrossing-ie mating a completely unrelated Buck and Doe is a 'complete non-starter as a form of systematic breeding- only to be used when all else has failed' ??
If so why ??
If so why ??
Not sure I only really know about cattle breeding and with cattle you avoid in breeding where possible.
I would think this is the same with rabbits :?
Outcrossing is typically avoided as it brings a total unknown element into your line - two lines can just not mix and thats actually where you are MORE likely to get things like bad teeth or undesirable traits as you never know the full background of your outcross and how it will gel with your own line.
Linebreeding allows you to breed consistently, predict the outcomes and once you know your line you can breed things like long coated genes or bad teeth etc out.
Line breeding requires more extensive knowledge of the history of your animals and any outcrosses must be carefully considering as a single mating can change years of work.
I bred German Lops for 13 years. In 2003 I bought in an outcross, and while he improved numerous traits in my line he also ruined my butterfly markings that I had spent 6 years setting in through line breeding because the owner he came from didn't focus on markings. From bringing him in it took me until 2010 to breed a well marked butterfly again - 7 years to repair the damage by bringing in an unknown entity.
I know markings as an example may not sit well with many of you but the same issue could occur with anything, bad hocks, long fur, bad teeth.....so in one way I was lucky with the issue I got and the benefits of bringing him in far outweighed it.
Thank you
So with line breeding do you, by 'you' I mean the Breeder, use just one 'Stud Buck' and mate him up with one of his Sister's to start with. Or to his mother ? Every line must start from an outcrossing surely :?
I think when breeders have their own line (that they trust and know well), they try to stick close to it and outcross as little as possible to avoid bringing in any strange problems or defects. Personally I think it's much better to breed lightly related rabbits that have a very good history and no health problems, than two random unrelated rabbits that could carry anything
I think I agree with this
I dont (yet) know enough about Rabbit Genetics to comment re the Line Breeding. But surely continued breeding into one line from one line will eventually lead to problems :?
I get that Outcrossing to an 'unknown' could be catastrophic, but if the previous history of the Outcrosss is known for several previous generations would that not actually strengthen your line ?
I am reading about Genetics in John Hodgkiss's book about Rexes. I have been told that he knew his stuff re genetics ???????????????????????
I dont (yet) know enough about Rabbit Genetics to comment re the Line Breeding. But surely continued breeding into one line from one line will eventually lead to problems :?
I get that Outcrossing to an 'unknown' could be catastrophic, but if the previous history of the Outcrosss is known for several previous generations would that not actually strengthen your line ?
I am reading about Genetics in John Hodgkiss's book about Rexes. I have been told that he knew his stuff re genetics ???????????????????????
Thank you
So with line breeding do you, by 'you' I mean the Breeder, use just one 'Stud Buck' and mate him up with one of his Sister's to start with. Or to his mother ? Every line must start from an outcrossing surely :?
I dont (yet) know enough about Rabbit Genetics to comment re the Line Breeding. But surely continued breeding into one line from one line will eventually lead to problems :?
I get that Outcrossing to an 'unknown' could be catastrophic, but if the previous history of the Outcrosss is known for several previous generations would that not actually strengthen your line ?
I am reading about Genetics in John Hodgkiss's book about Rexes. I have been told that he knew his stuff re genetics ???????????????????????
Outcrossing is typically avoided as it brings a total unknown element into your line - two lines can just not mix and thats actually where you are MORE likely to get things like bad teeth or undesirable traits as you never know the full background of your outcross and how it will gel with your own line.
Linebreeding allows you to breed consistently, predict the outcomes and once you know your line you can breed things like long coated genes or bad teeth etc out.
Line breeding requires more extensive knowledge of the history of your animals and any outcrosses must be carefully considering as a single mating can change years of work.
I bred German Lops for 13 years. In 2003 I bought in an outcross, and while he improved numerous traits in my line he also ruined my butterfly markings that I had spent 6 years setting in through line breeding because the owner he came from didn't focus on markings. From bringing him in it took me until 2010 to breed a well marked butterfly again - 7 years to repair the damage by bringing in an unknown entity.
I know markings as an example may not sit well with many of you but the same issue could occur with anything, bad hocks, long fur, bad teeth.....so in one way I was lucky with the issue I got and the benefits of bringing him in far outweighed it.