Pedigree/papers

Complete noob here, lol. Would someone please explain "pedigree" to me? And how you get a pedigree from a rabbit? And is that the same thing as papers/registration? Like a purebred cat or dog? I am so confused right now....

offherrocker said:

Complete noob here, lol. Would someone please explain "pedigree" to me? And how you get a pedigree from a rabbit? And is that the same thing as papers/registration? Like a purebred cat or dog? I am so confused right now....

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Simply put, a rabbit's pedigree is a statement of its name and/or ear number, variety (color/pattern), date of birth, and a list of its ancestors, usually three generations back (parents, grandparents and great-grandparents). You can call it a pedigree or papers, but registration is something different.

Rabbits are "managed" a bit differently from dogs, cats, goats, or horses. Pedigrees are kept on an honor system, with the breeder being responsible for recording and reporting the information correctly. For a rabbit to be considered purebred, it needs to have a three-generation pedigree with all animals on it being of the same breed.

The usual information included for each ancestor rabbit on the pedigree is 1) name and/or ear number, 2) variety and 3) adult weight. Other information that can appear includes date of birth, major winnings, number of Grand Champion legs, registration number, and Grand Champion number (more on those last three below).

In rabbits, being "registered" is something different from being "pedigreed." The ARBA (American Rabbit Breeders Association) keeps a studbook of standard bred rabbits for the United States and several other countries as well. A "standard bred" rabbit is one that has been bred to conform to the ARBA Standard of Perfection (SOP), which is basically a description of what the ideal rabbit looks like in each breed.

To have a rabbit registered with the ARBA, it is not necessary that any of its progenitors to be registered. Entire litters cannot be registered in the way they are for dogs. Rather, ARBA registration is merit-based, meaning that each rabbit has to be examined by a licensed ARBA registrar to be sure it does not have any disqualifications, and that it meets the minimum standard for the breed. It also needs to have a complete 3-generation pedigree (complete meaning name, variety and weight for every animal on the pedigree), be 6 months old or older, and weigh between the minumum and maximum weights for the breed as per the SOP. If it passes the inspection, the rabbit will be given a registration number that can be added to its pedigree.

Even if your rabbits did not come with pedigrees, you can have pedigreed rabbits within three generations if you keep track of the necessary information. If they came with incomplete pedigrees, keep good records and you'll have them sooner. Note, too, that as long as the ancestors are purebred, the weight and color on ancestors does not have to meet breed standards - e.g. it's okay if one of the bucks is an unrecognized variety, or one of the brood does weighs more or less than the minimum or maximum on the SOP.

Regarding Grand Champion legs and Grand Champion number... A rabbit earns a "leg of Grand Champion" by placing first in a class of at least 5 animals shown by at least three exhibitors at an ARBA-sanctioned show. Once the rabbit earns at least three legs, if it is registered, you can apply for a Grand Champion certificate, which has a G.C. number that can be recorded on the pedigree.

Thank you!

If I choose to show, do they have to have an ear tattoo?

offherrocker said:

Thank you!

If I choose to show, do they have to have an ear tattoo?

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Yes, they need a permanent, legible tattoo, consisting of numbers and/or letters, in their left ear (the right ear is reserved for registration number). But they do not need a pedigree to be shown.

If you're interested in learning more about rabbits and the various ways people raise and use them, you might consider joining the ARBA.

https://arba.net/about-the-arba/join-the-arba/
Membership is not expensive, and you'll get their "Official Guidebook: Raising Better Rabbits and Cavies" and a subscription to the beautiful full-color Domestic Rabbits magazine, which has articles about all aspects of rabbits - breeds, breeding, health, showing, grooming, even recipes.

Alaska Satin said:

Yes, they need a permanent tattoo, consisting of numbers and/or letters, in their left ear (the right ear is reserved for registration number).
But they do not need a pedigree to be shown.

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Ok. Thank you!

Soooo, as far as the left ear, is there a set sequence I have to use, or just make it up as I go?
How do I go about getting them tattooed if I do show? What age do you tattoo them?

offherrocker said:

Ok. Thank you!

Soooo, as far as the left ear, is there a set sequence I have to use, or just make it up as I go?
How do I go about getting them tattooed if I do show? What age do you tattoo them?

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As long as it's not the same as another rabbit you have and it fits (and isn't offensive), it can be whatever you want
Usually there's at least one person at every show who tattoos rabbits

offherrocker said:

Ok. Thank you!

Soooo, as far as the left ear, is there a set sequence I have to use, or just make it up as I go?
How do I go about getting them tattooed if I do show? What age do you tattoo them?

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Like @RabbitsOfTheCreek said, you can choose any code you like, or even put the rabbit's name in its ear. I'm not fond of that myself because after a while, some of the judges start to recognize the tattoo, and it seems like that might make it harder for the judge to make an impartial decision.

You can tattoo at any age you like; I just wait until their ears are big enough to do it easily. There are two methods: clamp and tattoo pen. The clamp is old-style; most people use the pens now. They're pretty easy to use after a little practice. If you get someone else to do it the first few times, you'll probably be able to do it yourself after a while. Tell them you're just starting; most rabbits folks are pretty friendly and willing to help newcomers. Some people practice on a banana.

Again, as @RabbitsOfTheCreek points out, there's usually at least one person at every show that can tattoo for you. All ARBA-sanctioned shows are required to have a licensed registrar on site, and some of them will not just register rabbits, they'll do tattoos for you. Be prepared to pay a small fee for it. If you want your rabbits registered, they'll do that too, but remember to bring the rabbits' complete pedigrees and an ARBA membership card (you have to be an ARBA member to register your rabbits.) It's also best to plan ahead of time what you want the tattoo to be, so your entry form matches the rabbit.

I dont currently have a pedigree for any of my rabbits...do I have to start with pedigreed rabbits? My tri rex buck has a pedigree if she can find it. My castor doe does not.

Tattoo age depends on adult size somewhat, dwarf minimum age is 12 weeks. Standard/big size 8-10 weeks. At least that is the minimum the breed organisation here keeps to.

You don't have to start with pedigreed rabbits, but if they come from one breeder knowing how they may be related is very usefull, what colors the animal may carry is usefull and knowing they are pure bred is usefull, esp. when breeding specific coats, like rex, angora and so on. But pedigree or not you need to trust the breeder/seller is telling you the truth.

offherrocker said:

I dont currently have a pedigree for any of my rabbits...do I have to start with pedigreed rabbits? My tri rex buck has a pedigree if she can find it. My castor doe does not.

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No, you can start from scratch if you need to. Collect all the information you can and go from there. Definitely try to get your buck's pedigree. It would be helpful if you can at least get the information about your doe's parents, too - that way you've got a two-generation pedigree for the bunnies you produce.

But even if you just record your own rabbits' information, your first bunnies will have a one-generation pedigree.

tambayo said:

Tattoo age depends on adult size somewhat, dwarf minimum age is 12 weeks. Standard/big size 8-10 weeks. At least that is the minimum the breed organisation here keeps to.

You don't have to start with pedigreed rabbits, but if they come from one breeder knowing how they may be related is very usefull, what colors the animal may carry is usefull and knowing they are pure bred is usefull, esp. when breeding specific coats, like rex, angora and so on. But pedigree or not you need to trust the breeder/seller is telling you the truth.

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We often tattoo our Polish at 7-8 weeks, because we like to have them marked by the time we send them to new homes. We just use short numbers. We use a tattoo pen, though; I don't think it would work using a clamp in those tiny ears!

offherrocker said:

I dont currently have a pedigree for any of my rabbits...do I have to start with pedigreed rabbits? My tri rex buck has a pedigree if she can find it. My castor doe does not.

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My first purebred pair was the same. My tri buck pedigreed and my castor doe not. I did get my doe's D&S information. Because they are a fantastic pairing, I sell all the kits that I don't keep. The kits are partial pedigreed and their offspring can be full.
I tattoo my kits at about 7.5 weeks so they are ready for their new home at 8 weeks. I use my rabbitry initials followed by a number. The tattoo pens are easy to use. There are some great youtube videos on how to use them and secure your rabbit while doing so.

I have found a lot of breeders that don't keep good records for their pedigrees. Missing weights, names, etc.... I now request to see a copy of the rabbits pedigree before considering purchase.
I keep a hard copy of all my pedigrees, save them on my computer and they are on Global Pedigree.

Alaska Satin said:

The usual information included for each ancestor rabbit on the pedigree is 1) name and/or ear number, 2) variety and 3) adult weight. Other information that can appear includes date of birth, major winnings, number of Grand Champion legs, registration number, and Grand Champion number (more on those last three below).

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If a pedigree does not have some of the ancestor's weight's, would it not be accepted? I have previously received some without weights.

Buknee said:

If a pedigree does not have some of the ancestor's weight's, would it not be accepted? I have previously received some without weights.

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The only problem you would have is if you tried to register the rabbit. The application would be rejected if the attached pedigree did not have a weight on every animal. It would still be valid for all other uses.

If you think you may want to register your rabbits or their progeny, it would be worth the time to try to contact the breeder to see if you could get weights for them. If any of the rabbits that appear on the pedigree happen to be registered, you can write the ARBA asking for that information, since they and all of their ancestors will have recorded weights.

Weights are very often forgotten; that's why I make such a big deal about it when people ask about pedigrees!

I would be very grateful if someone could answer my question!
I would like to sell one of my pedigreed does. I plan to have her bred by a pedigreed buck before she leaves. Can I provide some type of pedigree or pedigree information for the new owner so that these kits that will be born at her rabbitry will be pedigreed? Must the kits be born before they can be pedigreed? Can you "pedigree" a litter?
Thank you in advance for your assistance!
God bless you!

Therese said:

I would be very grateful if someone could answer my question!
I would like to sell one of my pedigreed does. I plan to have her bred by a pedigreed buck before she leaves. Can I provide some type of pedigree or pedigree information for the new owner so that these kits that will be born at her rabbitry will be pedigreed? Must the kits be born before they can be pedigreed? Can you "pedigree" a litter?
Thank you in advance for your assistance!
God bless you!

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I don't know about online ones, but my paper ones have a side on the back where you can put the Buck's pedigree on
You could also make an extra pedigree for the Buck

RabbitsOfTheCreek said:

I don't know about online ones, but my paper ones have a side on the back where you can put the Buck's pedigree on
You could also make an extra pedigree for the Buck

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Ah! So if I send the pedigree for the doe, I can fill in the back of that paper to provide the information for the kits she is carrying?

Therese said:

Ah! So if I send the pedigree for the doe, I can fill in the back of that paper to provide the information for the kits she is carrying?

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yes

RabbitsOfTheCreek said:

yes

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Thank you so much! There is so much to learn.
God bless you!

Therese said:

I would be very grateful if someone could answer my question!
I would like to sell one of my pedigreed does. I plan to have her bred by a pedigreed buck before she leaves. Can I provide some type of pedigree or pedigree information for the new owner so that these kits that will be born at her rabbitry will be pedigreed? Must the kits be born before they can be pedigreed? Can you "pedigree" a litter?
Thank you in advance for your assistance!
God bless you!

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A pedigree is simply a record of the a rabbit's ancestry. Every rabbit has ancestors, so every rabbit has a pedigree - it's just that some people write it down and others don't. Anyone who knows the rabbit's ancestry can create a pedigree for a rabbit. It's a pretty informal thing.

A pedigree is something you keep track of, but you don't really "pedigree" a rabbit (or litter) like you would "register" the rabbit with the ARBA.

Registration is a guarantee that a rabbit is purebred, and is of high enough quality that it is a good representative of its breed.

A pedigree says absolutely nothing about the quality of the individual. A pedigree doesn't even guarantee that the rabbit is purebred; even crossbreed rabbits can come with pedigrees if the breeder keeps track of that information. This is frequently done for at least two reasons: simply out of interest; and sometimes breeders cross a rabbit from another breed into their purebred lines to add some characteristic - for example, a new color - to the breed. If any rabbit is from a different breed, it needs to be indicated on the pedigree.

So yes, as @RabbitsOfTheCreek suggests, you just give the bunny's buyer a copy of both sire and dam's pedigree, and the buyer has the information needed to write out the pedigree himself/herself. Just be sure that there are adult weights for every rabbit n the pedigree - that's something that's frequently forgotten. It's important to include that information in case someone eventually want to register their rabbit.

Alaska Satin said:

A pedigree is simply a record of the a rabbit's ancestry. Every rabbit has ancestors, so every rabbit has a pedigree - it's just that some people write it down and others don't. Anyone who knows the rabbit's ancestry can create a pedigree for a rabbit. It's a pretty informal thing.

A pedigree is something you keep track of, but you don't really "pedigree" a rabbit (or litter) like you would "register" the rabbit with the ARBA.

Registration is a guarantee that a rabbit is purebred, and is of high enough quality that it is a good representative of its breed.

A pedigree says absolutely nothing about the quality of the individual. A pedigree doesn't even guarantee that the rabbit is purebred; even crossbreed rabbits can come with pedigrees if the breeder keeps track of that information. This is frequently done for at least two reasons: simply out of interest; and sometimes breeders cross a rabbit from another breed into their purebred lines to add some characteristic - for example, a new color - to the breed. If any rabbit is from a different breed, it needs to be indicated on the pedigree.

So yes, as @RabbitsOfTheCreek suggests, you just give the bunny's buyer a copy of both sire and dam's pedigree, and the buyer has the information needed to write out the pedigree himself/herself. Just be sure that there are adult weights for every rabbit n the pedigree - that's something that's frequently forgotten. It's important to include that information in case someone eventually want to register their rabbit.

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Thank you so much for your help!
God bless you!