I posted in another thread that a pair of twin bucks had shown up with outstanding characteristics as a meat rabbit. Another has just shown up in the latest litter from the same doe. Apparently there is a recessive trait in both the doe and buck that shows up now and again. I'm hoping this one is a doe but it's too young to sex yet. If it turns out to be another buck I'll have to consider that the trait may be sex linked and rethink my whole breeding program but I still want to try to establish the trait. They produce more growth on less feed than any rabbits I've seen so far. Unfortunately spookiness seems to be part of the line. I'll have to try to cull that out. The new kit is also skittery when you try to handle it.
Here are some pics to show what I'm talking about.
This is the cross rex buck that fathered them.

This is thE more skittish buck giving m the wild eye. I call him Grumpy for obvious reasons.

This is Cheeks the other twin buck. He's a little easier to handle. Note the thick cheeks which seem to be characteristics of the line.

Full picture of Cheeks. That's a normal size NZ in the backgound. Note the heavy footpads which make them great for raising on wire.

This is the new kit a 4 1/2 weeks.

Is that a breed or? Would waiting to breed for calmness be best done after establishing a few good lines of the meatier rabbit first? What would you do if the meatier rabbit was linked to more aggressive rabbit?

Exciting news, Hoodat. I hope it's a doe!

They aren't particularly aggresive. They just don't seem to like human contact. Since I breed for meat that trait of more meat for less feed would take priority even if it means putting up with some spookiness. If I can get the line established I can start breeding to the friendlier ones.
At less than four weeks that kit is already almost twice the size of its liter mates.

What have you crossed to get this cool mega rabbit?

Do you have photos? I'm very intrigued! Are they just bigger, or are they much more muscled? Maybe a double-muscling gene...?

Just dumb luck. What I know of genetics would make a very short post. I'm just guessing that a couple of fortunate recessives got together to produce them since they are completely unlike either parent. The buck is a cross Rex and the doe a cross NZ. I bought both as meat mutts hoping the chunkiness of the Rex would combine well with the size and easy breeding of the NZ. I may be letting my enthusiasm run away with me but I really think they're something worth establishing. I posted a picture once but it was a poor one. I'll see if I can get some better ones. My avatar is the mama when she was younger.

__________ Tue Feb 07, 2012 10:47 am __________

OOPS. That last picture of the 4 1/2 week old kit should have been this one. That's the mama doe with it.

Cool!! Hope it's a doe!!