Breeding Angora Fur Into Meat Rabbits

[RustyPocket]

Hello everybunny.

I konw the title is a little messed up, but here's what I wanted to say: I have been wanting an Angora rabbit for quite some time, but seems like there is no Angora breeders in my country whatsoever. Going abroad to pick up a rabbit is a big no, since I would have to beg my parents to take me there and the paperwork would cost like a dozen of rabbits.

So I came up with an interesting idea; there are no medium/large size Angora rabbits, but there is a variety of longhaired dwarves; both lop eared and uprights. Would it be possible to get one of those and do selective breeding in order to introduce Angora (longhair) gene into my meat rabbits' gene pool. I know it sounds coo coo (at least to my family), but my plan is to get a longhaired (dwarf) buck, pair him with one of the does that have longer/fluffier/softer fur (we occassioanlly have one or two every now and then), then breed the Angora carrying baby doe back to her father (or brother) and possibly get babies that carry two Angora genes, but lacks the dwarfing gene. Could it do the work? Is it even possible?

I am sort of inspired by this text I found online while I was researching German Lops, it is about how in Australia they managed to breed German Lops "from scratch", using only Mini Lops and Giant Chinchillas. (http://www.bunniebeauties.com/creation- ... n-lop.html)

I am not that good in genetics besides the A-E, so any help is welcome. Thanks in advance, Marko.

 

[Zass]

It is very possible. I think I might have just acquired an "angora" that is actually just a meat rabbit who inherited two copies of the recessive wool gene.
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Here is someone's talking about the wool gene in lops, I thought reading it over it might help you:
http://www.thenaturetrail.com/rabbit-ge ... -lop-wool/

I remember that you mentioned that you do not keep any rabbits on wire. An angora would be a lot more work than an ordinary rabbit to keep sanitary, as their coats will often pick up bedding material, and they mat easily when wet.

Not saying it's a bad idea, just be ready for a bit of problem solving and a bit more work than a usual rabbit.

An angora you create yourself will probably have less wool density than a purebred. There are advantages to that, because they will molt, making wool harvesting easier, and the coat will be somewhat easier to care for.

 

[RustyPocket]

Thank you Zass. I really appreciate someone not thinking I fantasise and the link you provided me. Also, your "fake" Angora is gorgeous. Hopefully one of those is in my rabbitry by next spring.

 

[Zass]

Molting is controlled by different genes. I'm not to familiar with it myself, but I do know that some breeds molt and some do not.

I'm pretty sure it's the dominant trait, so I suspect that you'll see it in cross-bred angoras. ( this has reached the point of pure speculation for me :lol: sorry about that)

Another member on here crossed a meat rabbit into her angoras to improve type and hardiness, I believe, and was pleased with the results. silver-fox-angora-cross-f2-t21242.html

 

[Dood]

Wool (denoted " l " for Long hair) is a considered a simple recessive so two copies "should" create angora like fur BUT there are a multitude of modifiers that control fur density, where the fur grows, amount of guard hairs, etc... that combine with the long hair gene to make the French, English, German and Giant Angoras, and little Jersy wooly unique so your first litter of fur balls might be kinda scruffy looking.

In my experience it is easier to increase a rabbits size if you breed a small male to a large female so I'd recommend you get the biggest long haired buck you can find for you does.

 

[RustyPocket]

In my experience it is easier to increase a rabbits size if you breed a small male to a large female so I'd recommend you get the biggest long haired buck you can find for you does.

This. I found one breeder of "fancy bunnies" (basically all types of rabbits being dwarves) that is only 35 minutes away by a car and seems like she's willing to sell bigger rabbits for less, since they are not "good" mini micro tiny dwarves. Here's the list of the ads of rabbits she currently offeres, thoes any of them look good for a starter of the mini "project Angora"?

http://www.njuskalo.hr/korisnik/marilyn88

 

[Dood]

They all look the same to me :shrug:

Is there a particular colour you want to get from your does?

 

[RustyPocket]

No, not in particular. I mean, it would be ok if i can keep it in the nonextension group, but on the other hand why go play safe when there's the chance to get playful and excited about every next litter...

 

[Zass]

I liked this one: http://www.njuskalo.hr/glodavci/cupavi- ... s-12393617

The adds mention lionheads and mixes, and not any true angora types.

Dood, do you know what the difference is genetically?

 

[Dood]

The Maned "M_" gene is a completey different locus and is dominant - one copy gives single manes and 2 gives the fluffier and showable double manes.

If they are lionheads then the babies are deceptively furry and can mimic Woolies/angoras but with each shed they loose the long fur and if single maned they only keep the fur on the top of their head or as a ring around their neck and on their thighs/skirt area if they are double maned.

If you want to stick with non-extension there were 2 torts available that should produce fawns in the first generation if bred to your doe named "Fawn"

 

[RustyPocket]

So, I get it that it would be the easiest job if I start with doublemaned. Also, how the dwarfing gene works? Is it dominant? <br /><br /> __________ Sun Aug 24, 2014 3:08 pm __________ <br /><br />

I liked this one: http://www.njuskalo.hr/glodavci/cupavi- ... s-12393617

The adds mention lionheads and mixes, and not any true angora types.

Dood, do you know what the difference is genetically?

Just heard back from the breeder. The buck is still avaliable, he's 2 mo only kit of the litter, so he's quite big. Also, he is from angora-lionhead mixed parents, so hopefully he carries both. Now all I have to do is taking my parents into taking me pick him up.

 

[Dood]

The Dwarf gene is incompletely recessive - one copy creates the showable "true" dwarfs and two copies is lethal to the fetus or kits soon after birth.

Therfore you can count on some rabbits to be born who did not get a dwarf gene (these are called false dwarfs) and they are usually bigger than their true dwarf littermates, but not always.