honeybunny
Wise Old Thumper
no they are one of the oldest established breeds
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Purpose of Cross Breeding?
- Thread starter honeybunny
- Start date
no they are one of the oldest established breeds
honeybunny
Wise Old Thumper
so how about someone crossing a lop and a nethie???
just asking for trouble... ?
just asking for trouble... ?
Raven Rexs
Mama Doe
Raven Rexs
Mama Doe
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 that much if they were going as pets both are really dopey breeds so i would think they would make nice ones.
All domestic rabbits surely are the result of a breeding program which would have involved lots of different sorts of cross breeding until in the last century or so you started to get "Breed standards", so in that respect English lop is a cross breed.
If you ignore the ethics of should you/shouldn't you breed/sell to pet shops argument then surely the reasons for cross breeding are:
(1) To remove weaknesses from the current line
(2) To creat new breeds
I'm not sure about the second reason but am all in favour of the first. My first buns was a pet shop bun, he's a lop but definately does not have the lop face, he's much more like an uppy eared. If this reduces the risk of dental problems, isn't this a good thing?
If you ignore the ethics of should you/shouldn't you breed/sell to pet shops argument then surely the reasons for cross breeding are:
(1) To remove weaknesses from the current line
(2) To creat new breeds
I'm not sure about the second reason but am all in favour of the first. My first buns was a pet shop bun, he's a lop but definately does not have the lop face, he's much more like an uppy eared. If this reduces the risk of dental problems, isn't this a good thing?
Raven Rexs
Mama Doe
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
I think it highly irresponsible to cross two breeds who are known to have potential problems.
And again I ask why breed crosses for the Pet trade if your argument for breeding is to better the breed :? Why not just concentrate on 'bettering' your chosen *already established* breed rather than adding to the Pet trade.
Janex
The only reason I see for cross breeding is for looks and whether it will sell. Its like the latest craze in the labrapoodles, I now see they are crossing cocker spaniels with poodles to get the cockapoodle:roll:
Interestingly enough, I can see why many novice people think it is easy to breed to make money as the books I have read that are on the shelves for anyone to buy just say having a good healthy buck and doe on Bob's your uncle. Non of them go into detail about genetic's, lineage or mating mother and son, father and daughter etc etc that I have learnt on here
Shame that looks are so important to so many when it's whats inside that matters and health being the most important factor of all in all species
Interestingly enough, I can see why many novice people think it is easy to breed to make money as the books I have read that are on the shelves for anyone to buy just say having a good healthy buck and doe on Bob's your uncle. Non of them go into detail about genetic's, lineage or mating mother and son, father and daughter etc etc that I have learnt on here
Shame that looks are so important to so many when it's whats inside that matters and health being the most important factor of all in all species
Willow_Warren
Mama Doe
With so many lovely breeds out there I don't see the need to purposely develop another breed! I suppose all breeds at some point must have "developed" in one way or another - I honeslty don't know much about rabbit breeds and the history of it as it's something that I'm not very interested!
Going back to you first post, doens't matter what situation I'm in (work, social or otherwise), it really me off when people say one thing and do a another, knowing too well that they didn't mean what they said in the first place! There may be extenuating circumstances but it rarely calms me down... opps.. raw nerve perhaps!?
Hannah
Going back to you first post, doens't matter what situation I'm in (work, social or otherwise), it really
me off when people say one thing and do a another, knowing too well that they didn't mean what they said in the first place! There may be extenuating circumstances but it rarely calms me down... opps.. raw nerve perhaps!?Hannah
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
The only reason I see for cross breeding is for looks and whether it will sell. Its like the latest craze in the labrapoodles, I now see they are crossing cocker spaniels with poodles to get the cockapoodle:roll:
Interestingly enough, I can see why many novice people think it is easy to breed to make money as the books I have read that are on the shelves for anyone to buy just say having a good healthy buck and doe on Bob's your uncle. Non of them go into detail about genetic's, lineage or mating mother and son, father and daughter etc etc that I have learnt on here
Shame that looks are so important to so many when it's whats inside that matters and health being the most important factor of all in all species
The Labradoodles have already been found to have a predisposition to early onset arthritis
I know of one who has just had a hip replacement and she is only 2 Janex
Raven Rexs
Mama Doe
they got Jackadoodles aswell.
Bavarian Bunny
Wise Old Thumper
If cross breeding improved the health of the rabbits, then it would make sense. But most of it is just done for their looks.
I wouldn't mind if some of the current breeds disappeared, as they were bred for their looks and now have to suffer for it with health problems. I don't like the fact that certain breeds become fashionable like some piece of clothing or a type of shoes.
I wouldn't mind if some of the current breeds disappeared, as they were bred for their looks and now have to suffer for it with health problems. I don't like the fact that certain breeds become fashionable like some piece of clothing or a type of shoes.
Willow_Warren
Mama Doe
Well put IMHO, and an angle I hadn't thought of!
I keep typing things and deleting them in case I upset someone or someone gets the wrong idea of what I'm trying to say *confused*.
Hannah
WalnutEarth626
Alpha Buck
I know the velveteen lops have a problem with sore hocks.
Very true..and all just for provide some breeder with a fun new 'toy'
(Posted at the same time as Jane :lol: )
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.
My issue is that breeding is not licenced or monitored. Breeding, in its entirity is to increase population, and we do not need to increase the rabbit population. If the current situation was put under control and there were no longer homeless rabbits then I can see that doing research into genetic problems and cross breeding to correct health issues would be beneficial. Sadly I don't see this situation arising in the near future so I think its wrong. I can see what people are saying about correcting issues now - but why breed a litter of 4 'perfect' bunnies, I'd rather spend my time looking after one - even it was a but funny looking and needed extra care.
Raven Rexs
Mama Doe
Deelove
Wise Old Thumper
I think the people selling on preloved and free ads have done the crossings out of curiosity or because they think the result will be cute. I'm sure we've all had moments where we've though, that dutch would look really cute if it had nethie ears and so on, but the reality is it doesn't work like that. I think purposeful cross breeding is very irresponsible
IMO any breeder seeking to improve a breed would not sell on gen1 stock. It is highly unlikely that a first gen cross has the desired results and I think the creating of new breeds should be left to very experienced breeders who have an extensive knowledge of genetics.
The only time I can see cross breeding is good is when it's trying to solve problems. Like with GSD's I believe they are crossing back to the belgium shephard to try and improve the hock problems.
IMO any breeder seeking to improve a breed would not sell on gen1 stock. It is highly unlikely that a first gen cross has the desired results and I think the creating of new breeds should be left to very experienced breeders who have an extensive knowledge of genetics.
The only time I can see cross breeding is good is when it's trying to solve problems. Like with GSD's I believe they are crossing back to the belgium shephard to try and improve the hock problems.
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Does the BRC have a view on breeders claiming to 'specialise' in a particular breed but also 'creating' various crosses to supply the Pet Trade?
Perhaps I should join the BRC !! :shock: :lol:
Janex :wave:
WalnutEarth626
Alpha Buck
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.
