Input please on the best choices for breeding a fiber fluffle

[ingers]

Hmm, possums are cute. But they are terrible for New Zealand. (See that link I posted if you're curious.) Not welcome creatures there at all. I think opossums are cute too, in their way. Some people keep them as pets.

But the original reason this came up is that "Opossum" is the name for rabbits that are rrll -- long-haired and expressing full rex.

 

[MsTemeraire]

But anyway, since Jersey Woolies are originally derived from French Angora & Netherland Dwarf, you have a good start toward your French Angora dreams with a Jersey Wooly involved.

I'm not sure of the provenance of Jersey Woolies found in Australia and New Zealand - they may not have any American JW in their ancestry, as importation is only allowed from certain countries (when it is allowed, which is rarely). Australia is only allowed to import from the UK, and we have no Jersey Woolies in the UK. It might be a case of 're-creation' of a breed using what they have.

 

[Naelin]

the original reason this came up is that "Opossum" is the name for rabbits that are rrll -- long-haired and expressing full rex.

I've been trying fruitlessly to find a picture of that variety, but all that comes up with that search are astrex rabbits. Are astrex opossum rabbits? They don't look very long-haired at all...

 

[MsTemeraire]

I've been trying fruitlessly to find a picture of that variety, but all that comes up with that search are astrex rabbits. Are astrex opossum rabbits? They don't look very long-haired at all...

I believe this is the only photograph that exists, it's often reproduced in books and online. The Opossum Rex was also silvered.

The British Rabbit Council still has a breed standard for Opossum Rex, as follows:

 

[Naelin]

I believe this is the only photograph that exists, it's often reproduced in books and online. The Opossum Rex was also silvered.

That's so weird for a coat that you should be able to produce in 2 generations. It kind of makes me want to try it though I have no use for it lol
The weird thing for the standard is... if you need to cross the rex with a long-haired breed to get your opossum kits, wouldn't they be unable to compete due to them not being pure rex?

 

[MsTemeraire]

The weird thing for the standard is... if you need to cross the rex with a long-haired breed to get your opossum kits, wouldn't they be unable to compete due to them not being pure rex?

They can compete under BRC rules, yes. They are judged on phenotype, not genotype.

Also, it would be more than 2 generations in order to introduce the silvering, which neither the longhaired or the rex parent would have.

 

[Naelin]

They can compete under BRC rules, yes. They are judged on phenotype, not genotype.

Also, it would be more than 2 generations in order to introduce the silvering, which neither the longhaired or the rex parent would have.

Ohh, two great points. So in order to be registered under the BRC, the registered rabbit doesn't need to come from a pure pedigree? (I know very little about these organisations but I've read ARBA only accepts pure and pedigreed animals, so I kind of assumed it would be more or less the same)

 

[MsTemeraire]

Ohh, two great points. So in order to be registered under the BRC, the registered rabbit doesn't need to come from a pure pedigree?

That's correct, there is no requirement for pedigrees with the BRC (although many breeders keep ancestry records anyway), and the only registration is when a rabbit achieves an award such as a BRC Diploma, Champion, Grand Champion or a breed club championship.

 

[manselej]

I'm not sure of the provenance of Jersey Woolies found in Australia and New Zealand - they may not have any American JW in their ancestry, as importation is only allowed from certain countries (when it is allowed, which is rarely). Australia is only allowed to import from the UK, and we have no Jersey Woolies in the UK. It might be a case of 're-creation' of a breed using what they have.

Yes you're right they probably have no 'jersey' in them, but surely if you breed the same crossbreed it counts the same? Plenty of Netherland dwarfs here and I think maybe still French Angora in Australia. We're only allowed to import rabbits from Australia. Either way, the Jersey Woolies here have the French look to them that I want.

 

[MsTemeraire]

Yes you're right they probably have no 'jersey' in them, but surely if you breed the same crossbreed it counts the same? Plenty of Netherland dwarfs here and I think maybe still French Angora in Australia. We're only allowed to import rabbits from Australia. Either way, the Jersey Woolies here have the French look to them that I want.

I don't know if there are any true French Angora in Australia. They aren't a recognised breed in the UK so it's not so likely any were imported.

 

[manselej]

I don't know if there are any true French Angora in Australia. They aren't a recognised breed in the UK so it's not so likely any were imported.

Import restrictions won't always have been as they currently are, though. Looks like some French Angora were imported into Australia in 2001 for the wool industry.

 

[MsTemeraire]

Import restrictions won't always have been as they currently are, though. Looks like some French Angora were imported into Australia in 2001 for the wool industry.

Oh okay, though I'm not sure where from as Australia can only import from rabies-free countries (when they were permitted to import at all). That regulation was in force in 2001.