Purpose of Cross Breeding?

[cashmincal]

I personally do not agree with cross-breeding as to me it's pointless (you know how I mean it) and doesn't acheive anything other than more protential unwanted rabbits. I'm not sure whether we need any more breeds as we have plenty as it is, especially since of the older breeds are ending up in care of the RV breed club. I specialise in my Cashmere Lops and do not breed any cross breeds to sale as I don't agree with just breeding cross-breeds, just becauase

 

[Azraelm]

Guys, we'll leave this open for now, but no more personal comments please

 

[cannonwoman]

hmmmm well if it was an accident i wouldnt be so jumpy to conclusions but as long as they had health certificates stating their dental stuff was ok and was signed by a vet i personally wouldnt worry .

But no vet could guarantee a rabbit`s dental health for life:? So to me if that kind of certificate exists it`s worthless, as genetically they could be prone to developing dental issues as they mature.

Su

 

[Jack's-Jane]

I imagine they would frown upon it, but I'm nut sure what they could actually do about it :?

You could join the BRC - you'd then be entitled to attend the AGM......it would be a bit pointless though unless people are going to be realistic, as in campaigning to the BRC to stop all breeding completely is not going to happen. Campaigning to ban cross breeding would be slightly more achieveable.

Well certainly banning cross-breeding is a start

Janex :wave:

 

[Jack's-Jane]

I personally do not agree with cross-breeding as to me it's pointless (you know how I mean it) and doesn't acheive anything other than more protential unwanted rabbits. I'm not sure whether we need any more breeds as we have plenty as it is, especially since of the older breeds are ending up in care of the RV breed club. I specialise in my Cashmere Lops and do not breed any cross breeds to sale as I don't agree with just breeding cross-breeds, just becauase

Although I am against breeding I think that there are some breeders who are more responsible than others. You and WalnutEarth for a start
Its the breeders who produce endless 'crosses' for the already over-crowded Pet trade yet claim to only breed to 'better the species' that really pees me off :roll:
I would imagin those sort of breeders must be a source of great irritation to those of you who are more responsible. I guess that as long as we all try to promote Rabbit Welfare in general we have to find a way to 'educate' those who apparently seem unable to see the damage they are doing

Janex

 

[Miloe's_Mum]

Yes Velveteens do, but they are heavier set than a Plush lop. Currently there are 3 breeds being rexed - the Velveteen Lop (English Lop cross), the Plush Lop (Dwarf Lop cross) and the Mini Plush lop (mini lop cross).

The BRC are trying to stop people tinkering and creating new breeds, they have said that they will not accept any standard proposals for new breeds for at least the next 5 years (I think thats the period anyway!) Unfortunately this doesn't seem to be discouraging people :roll:

As for why sell them to the free ads? Because the people developing these breeds are pretty much 'one man bands' with no other breeders working with them - therefore any stock they don't have room to keep has to go somewhere - and if other breeders don't want them that means they've got to go into the pet market. :roll:

The English Lop is not a cross breed. The English Lop is the first breed of lop - originally bred as genetic mutations by roman monks. All other breeds of lop descend from the English Lop.

Thank you for that - i never knew that about E-lops. I hate how they were bred primarily for their ears - to see who could get the longest.

Fae has had so many injuries with hers, luckily though now she's older and they have become thicker she doesnt tend to cut them as much. She cant walk though without standing on them which means she has a very lopsided walk

English Lops were bred for selfish reasons - as i guess are cross breeds? :?

 

[Raven Rexs]

Thank you for that - i never knew that about E-lops. I hate how they were bred primarily for their ears - to see who could get the longest.

Fae has had so many injuries with hers, luckily though now she's older and they have become thicker she doesnt tend to cut them as much. She cant walk though without standing on them which means she has a very lopsided walk

English Lops were bred for selfish reasons - as i guess are cross breeds? :?

heres some ears

 

[Doncat5]

heres some ears

Beautiful rabbits but I actually find theyre ears a bit 'disturbing'..... for me it highlights all thats wrong with mans selfishness to breed 'pets' that 'he' finds aestethically pleasing, with no regard for health issues, whether it be rabbits, dogs, cats, etc.

I dont understand the cross breeding thing, I certainly dont think we need any new breeds, and I personally think some of those with problems should be allowed to 'die out'.

 

[norrielian]

Beautiful rabbits but I actually find theyre ears a bit 'disturbing'..... for me it highlights all thats wrong with mans selfishness to breed 'pets' that 'he' finds aestethically pleasing, with no regard for health issues, whether it be rabbits, dogs, cats, etc.

I dont understand the cross breeding thing, I certainly dont think we need any new breeds, and I personally think some of those with problems should be allowed to 'die out'.

I'll 2nd that! :wave:

 

[Miloe's_Mum]

I was shocked at first when i saw Fae's ears - but its not her fault, and i just feel sorry for those english lops that are stuck in a hutch, with nothing else to do but trip over their ears and cut them

Miloe bless him spends hours cleaning them for her

 

[Leanne]

Beautiful rabbits but I actually find theyre ears a bit 'disturbing'..... for me it highlights all thats wrong with mans selfishness to breed 'pets' that 'he' finds aestethically pleasing, with no regard for health issues, whether it be rabbits, dogs, cats, etc.

I certainly dont think we need any new breeds, and I personally think some of those with problems should be allowed to 'die out'.

I totally agree with all of what you have said.

 

[abbymarysmokey]

I was shocked at first when i saw Fae's ears - but its not her fault, and i just feel sorry for those english lops that are stuck in a hutch, with nothing else to do but trip over their ears and cut them

Miloe bless him spends hours cleaning them for her

I'm sure someone on here said that breeders of English Lops tie the ears up to stop them getting damaged. Can't remember who said it.

 

[Deelove]

I was shocked at first when i saw Fae's ears - but its not her fault, and i just feel sorry for those english lops that are stuck in a hutch, with nothing else to do but trip over their ears and cut them

Miloe bless him spends hours cleaning them for her

Aww! I guess lops in general are quite unnatural. Faline spends ages grooming molly's ears so they are upright. :lol:

 

[Lokiodi]

I dont have a problem with crossbreeding. All my crosses have been very successful. cross breeding is a useful tool for maintaining vigour, especially in breeds which have suffered from low numbers in the past. Otherwise you face losing the breed altogether. Also, rabbits being in captivity in the first instance, and having so many breeds to choose from, is all about humans mucking about. so if you keep rabbits and maybe have a penchant for a particular breed, you can't say anything about crossing and 'messing with nature', you are part of that problem!!

I have a problem with irresponsible breeding - i.e: just breeding for the money and not considering what happens to babies that can't find homes. Any I can't find homes for stay with me - and I dont profit from my crossbreeds, i give them away and have never made a penny out of rabbits. They just make children 9and some adults happy because they are friendly, healthy, longlived pets.

as for breeds dying out, it happens. If nobody wants them, whats the point in the breed existing? a breed only exists for as long as its wanted. one day, it may come back into fashion and via crossbreeding, be brought back for people who would enjoy it. Theres a finite number of rabbit homes out there and stopping crossbreeding will not make people love an endangered breed.

 

[Pipstrel]

I don't agree with breeding in general as I feel that we have enough rabbits, cats dogs etc without adding to a population. However the only time I would agree with breeding is if for example the population decreased to such a level that it was necessary and even then I would want people to breed animals to get rid of genetic problems rather than adding to them. Also as for keeping certain breeds alive I hate this in some instances and think the breeds should be allowed to die out. An example is a friend of mine who bought a british bulldog puppy last year, the poor lad can harly breath and snuffles constantly, can you imagine being born having to gasp for breath all your life? And yet he intends to breed his dog as he has good lines. I don't understand this at all and cannot comprehend bringing something into the world knowing that it will suffer from something all its life, there's no getting through to him tho

 

[Jack's-Jane]

But no vet could guarantee a rabbit`s dental health for life:? So to me if that kind of certificate exists it`s worthless, as genetically they could be prone to developing dental issues as they mature.

Su

I agree

Janex

 

[ZakuraRabbit]

Most breeds were crossbred one way or another in the past.
Dwarf lops come from french lop and nethies.
German lops from french and lop dwarf (I don't really get why they did that though... In Norway you can find pet shop "lop dwarves" the size of Germans already:roll
Rex fur originated in crossbred rabbits too I think.

I don't agree with crossbreeding rabbits with no goal whatsoever, but if there is a genuine reason for it then I think its okay, as long as you make sure to find good homes for all the kits, not only the ones that are "good" (though that goes for purebred breeding too)
Pure minirexes for once doesn't exist in Norway, so breeders are working on it by mixing small rexes with dwarf rabbits, (mostly nethies without the dwarf gene that gives them the small ears and "nethie"-look)

Occasionally even purebred breeding can cause troubles.
I've heard of Netherland dwarves who've been having troubles cleaning themselves because of their body-type.

English lops I believe (not quite sure) were bred from French lops, only the ones with the longest ears were bred, giving them the ears they have today (frankly I prefer the Frenchies, those ears got to lead to some troubles:shock

 

[Miloe's_Mum]

I'm sure someone on here said that breeders of English Lops tie the ears up to stop them getting damaged. Can't remember who said it.

My vet said the same - they are tied with ribbons to stop damage but i cant imagine that being very comfy for the bun! :roll:

Fae hates her ears being touched as they are very sensitive

 

[BinkyBun]

I don't agree with cross-breeding unless it is to help with health problems. I wish that breeding was stopped and that only registered sanctuaries and rescues had the right to breed then maybe more rescues would get a chance of a happy life and the over-population and cruelty cases would go down.

I really do feel for the English Lops in those photos. Those ears are far too long. They are still gorgeous bunnies but that can't be very comfy for them.

It reminds me of a shocking documentary I saw years ago about a trend that started in the USA. People paying for their dogs to have plastic surgery!:shock: Cutting ears to make them smaller, perkier (when the breed is naturally long eared. Removing some layers of folds on the dogs face. Opening the eyes. Cutting the tails. None of this was done for medical or health reasons to help the dog in any way. It was because the owners openly admitted they wanted the "perfect dog". Its just sick.

 

[Raven Rexs]

im not sure on tieing them up as the ear would crease and thats not wat u want when showing them at all