micaela_2014
New member
Hello. I have a litter of 5 Tans. They're roughly 10 weeks old. I'm very new to Tans and I need advice on how to pick the best out of my litter. All advice is helpful! :?
Thanks!
Micaela
Thanks!
Micaela
How to select show quality Tans
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A&BRabbitry
Well-known member
I would suggest using the standards of perfection as an outline, of course it will identify major faults within the breed and outline ideal type. It's always nice when you are first getting started to go to a few shows and listen to the judging closesly on each tan, taking note to visually identify the faults and good qualities the judge points out.
micaela_2014
New member
Thank you! I've studied the standards for Tans already, but I've never really seen them, you know what im saying? I can picture what a good tan should look like, but im not sure im picturing it right. And at the time, I dont have the money or available time to go to any shows in my area :\
A&BRabbitry
Well-known member
Well I'll tell you from first hand experience you won't always get it right, especially at first. After a few years of getting to know your breed and seeing other rabbits that are considered to have "perfect" type or "ideal" type you will get a feel for it. I have to admit though the tans are one of the more difficult rabbits in my opinion; but then again I only show rabbits you pose.
lonelyfarmgirl
Well-known member
You cannot, repeat CAN NOT judge those tans now. They are way too young. Typically, even though I show juniors, I do not make any tan judgement at all until 3-4 months old, and then I still keep most of them until they are 6-7 months old, sometimes even a year.
It depends on your bloodline. In tans, it varies widely. Example. Nearly everything I've had from Jodi Hartmans line has been outstanding as a junior, then got long in the shoulder and went to crap as a senior. The Mark Beckett buck I have was outstanding from the day he hit junior prime.
The Morgan Shutz stuff I have I never saw as juniors, but seem to hold senior prime well into maturity and beyond.
The Joe Kim lines, which is primarily what I have are sloooooowwww developers. I never judge early. So many times, I've kept back a junior for some reason, and shown and they place last and last and last, until they are grown. I have buck that placed last or second last all the summer he was a junior. They when he was right at a year, reserve in show.
I have another buck, that was actually my friends, and he was a yuck junior. For some reason, my friend held him back, put him in a cage and forgot. He started showing him at a year. Now I own that buck. He has 20 something legs and 6 or 8 best in shows.
I also wanted to add that the Joe Kim lines tend to have ultra wide butts and you have to cull for that and breed to something to counter that particular characteristic.
So in conclusion, way too young, and it depends on your lines. Tans are a hard breed to learn.
You said you weren't certain what one should look like. Look at my website for examples.
It depends on your bloodline. In tans, it varies widely. Example. Nearly everything I've had from Jodi Hartmans line has been outstanding as a junior, then got long in the shoulder and went to crap as a senior. The Mark Beckett buck I have was outstanding from the day he hit junior prime.
The Morgan Shutz stuff I have I never saw as juniors, but seem to hold senior prime well into maturity and beyond.
The Joe Kim lines, which is primarily what I have are sloooooowwww developers. I never judge early. So many times, I've kept back a junior for some reason, and shown and they place last and last and last, until they are grown. I have buck that placed last or second last all the summer he was a junior. They when he was right at a year, reserve in show.
I have another buck, that was actually my friends, and he was a yuck junior. For some reason, my friend held him back, put him in a cage and forgot. He started showing him at a year. Now I own that buck. He has 20 something legs and 6 or 8 best in shows.
I also wanted to add that the Joe Kim lines tend to have ultra wide butts and you have to cull for that and breed to something to counter that particular characteristic.
So in conclusion, way too young, and it depends on your lines. Tans are a hard breed to learn.
You said you weren't certain what one should look like. Look at my website for examples.
Lonelyfarmgirl- great website, love the shaggy coats on the Highland Cattle!
I am new to rabbits and showing so no real advice about the Tans and when to pick except that I would suggest going to some shows, maybe finding someone experienced in tans and having them help you pick or show you, hands on why this rabbit is better than that one.
__________ Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:27 am __________
Just saw you said you can't make it to any shows right now. Well, maybe take multiple pictures of each rabbit and post it and see what peoples opinions are as to which is better?
Are there any other breeders near you that could help you out with picking? I would also double check your lines because loneyfarmgirl gave some great info on various lines and how they develop and that should give you an idea of when to pick, if you have those lines.
__________ Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:27 am __________
I am new to rabbits and showing so no real advice about the Tans and when to pick except that I would suggest going to some shows, maybe finding someone experienced in tans and having them help you pick or show you, hands on why this rabbit is better than that one.
__________ Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:27 am __________
Just saw you said you can't make it to any shows right now. Well, maybe take multiple pictures of each rabbit and post it and see what peoples opinions are as to which is better?
Are there any other breeders near you that could help you out with picking? I would also double check your lines because loneyfarmgirl gave some great info on various lines and how they develop and that should give you an idea of when to pick, if you have those lines.
__________ Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:27 am __________
Lastfling
Well-known member
I second what lonelyfarmgirl said. Very few will you be able to judge at that young an age. I've noticed that the rufus factor in mine takes a while to come in, and one that you thought was lacking, all of a sudden intensifies.
