Effects

[OneAcreFarm]

Whereas in rabbits, I'm guessing it takes a lot of generations before the genetic variability isn't viable. Does anyone know just how many generations it takes (for rabbits) before the variability isn't viable?

One of the Yahoo groups had an individual who stated he had done Brother/Sister for 30 generations... and by selecting for vigor and health had good strong rabbits.
IIRC... he Did state around 10-15 generations there were a few issues... but again by selecting for specific traits they kept going and improved.

Wow. I need to do some more research. The first time I saw was 8, then I think ladysown said 17 and now 30! This is very good news for me, because Rex are in short supply here. At some point I was going to have to start doubling up, because I can't keep enough bucks to avoid some type of inbreeding. Of course I will cull hard...

Most laboratory rabbits are inbred for many many generations to get rabbits that are practically copies of each other. With careful culling, it does not have to cause issues.

 

[WildWolf]

So, I think that the answer would be as many generations as you like, as long as you are carefully choosing the rabbits with the right traits.

 

[Random Rabbit]

Please accept my profound apologies !! I completely mis-spoke on the 30 generation thing .

My curiosity got the better of me and i went back to the group where i 'thought' i had read that factoid. Checking the archives i discovered that the poster said 5 generations of Brother / Sister breeding . That certainly is a far cry from the 30 i vaguely remembered. I really should have checked my references Before i posted.

The poster did have a very good point that i would like to quote.....

" The ONLY way any kind of Genetic Cancers, Blindness etc can come out is if it is ALREADY In those lines and stands just as much chance from an outcross! Actually More of a Chance from an Outcross because you would be working with UNFAMILIAR GENE POOL! and there is You Magic Looking Glass because if you know your gene Pool you should know What You could get or else you WILL Find out what is there! "

In the future i will try to remember to check First... then post. ancake:

 

[skysthelimit]

This is still a very fascinating thread. It gives much to think about.

 

[WildWolf]

So is there a limit on how many times you can inbreed?

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Theoretically no.

 

[3mina]

So, I think that the answer would be as many generations as you like, as long as you are carefully choosing the rabbits with the right traits.

That's probably accurate

 

[WildWolf]

haha, I think we need some more opinions... yes or no?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I would say no. However, there is a risk that with very limited genetic diversity that some disease may come along and wipe out your entire herd, solely because they would be so similar that they would react to the pathogen in the same way. This is of great concern in the turkey industry because there are only a couple of commercial lines being raised.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I think that you can, selectively of course, and as MSD said, don't make this your entire herd....

 

[-HRanchito]

Well, at some point, you may find that all your rabbits have a problem with their toplines, or their ears are the wrong length, or something that wasn't a big deal when you got started. But breeding a rabbit with a bad topline to it's sister, who also has a bad topline, won't produce rabbits with good toplines -- especially if they are already linebred for several generations. You could breed those rabbits until you're old and grey, but unless you get a lucky mutation, genes that don't exist in the line won't suddenly appear. The expedient thing to do is to find a rabbit with a good topline and breed it in!

 

[Random Rabbit]

Well, at some point, you may find that all your rabbits have a problem with their toplines, or their ears are the wrong length, or something that wasn't a big deal when you got started. But breeding a rabbit with a bad topline to it's sister, who also has a bad topline, won't produce rabbits with good toplines -- especially if they are already linebred for several generations. You could breed those rabbits until you're old and grey, but unless you get a lucky mutation, genes that don't exist in the line won't suddenly appear. The expedient thing to do is to find a rabbit with a good topline and breed it in!

Better yet... if one can locate a rabbit that is slightly related And has the proper topline ( or what ever is needed)...Then at least one is only adding a Partial deck of cards ( genes) to the genetic shuffle .

 

[WildWolf]

Thanks, that helps a lot!!!

 

[6riversfarms]

Let me put it this way: when I worked in a pet store, I categorically refused to touch any hamsters...they don't always bite but they do so often enough to concern, and when they do it HURTS.

I'll take a questionably-tempered Rottweiler over a hamster. :x

I lol'd so hard I now have to clean coffee from my monitor.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Let me put it this way: when I worked in a pet store, I categorically refused to touch any hamsters...they don't always bite but they do so often enough to concern, and when they do it HURTS.

I'll take a questionably-tempered Rottweiler over a hamster. :x

I lol'd so hard I now have to clean coffee from my monitor.

...you are most welcome. I'd take a bow if I could.

 

[WildWolf]

Another Question:
So, if you were just going to have a small rabbitry- maybe 4-5 does- then is it possible to have two different lines? Would you have to have different bucks, or can you decide lines based on does?

 

[-HRanchito]

nope. You don't need different bucks. You just follow the line breeding chart, only with 5 does instead of two. I wouldn't worry too much about keeping your lines distinct, unless there are different breeds involved. Get started following the chart, but don't follow it too rigorously at the expense of locking in good traits. Pretty soon, you'll probably get a feel for what you like and want to keep, and who you'd like to breed to whom.

 

[WildWolf]

Thank you HRanchito!

 

[Dreamerz]

This ended up being one very interesting thread. When I first noticed it I didn't follow it thinking it would all be about meat rabbits, something that i'm not really interested in. Tonight I decided what the heck, lets give it a go & I was impressed with all the great info..

Oh I can't even count how many hamsters I have seen having a flying lesson after biting someone back when I was in school (vet. tech.) & working at a lab. Flying lesson because a reflex of many people is to shake their hand automaticly when they get a sudden pain in it (a bite).

 

[WildWolf]

Yeah, we got a little off topic from what my original post was about...