MSD or others about breeding Lionhead crosses

[ckcs]

I've been working on my Lionhead Holland Lop project.
1st gen DM Lionhead & Holland Lop
2nd gen 2 SM Lionlops with Holland Lop bodies
3rd gen 6 Lionlops with Lionhead bodies and 1 Lionlop with Holland body

My question is concerning the DM gene. Statistically I should get 25% DM. I either haven't gotten any or it is showing up differently. My guess is I haven't gotten any but wondering it the gene will show the same way. I breed DM Lionheads and once the babies fur some you get a distinctive V shaped pattern. Do you thing the crosses will show the same way? The doe is due on the 31st for her 3rd litter. I got 5 colors out of the last 6 kits so I'm hoping for a colorful litter this time with a DM doe. I need the DM doe to breed back.

 

[Dood]

Statistically I should get 25% DM.

only if you are breeding two single manes togeather.

Your generation list doesn't quite make sense
DMLH x HL
First Gen = F1 = SM Lionhead x H lops

F1 x F1
Second Gen = F2 = 25% no mane, 50% SM and 25%DM

F2 x F2
= Third Gen = F3

And so on

Line breeding uses letters to represent the parents ie DMLH buck = A and HL doe = B and is more complicated

 

[Bad Habit]

You're looking at it the wrong way. It's not that 25% of the litter should be DM, it's that each kit has a 25% chance of being DM.

 

[ckcs]

I'm not hung up on the probability of the DM gene showing up. I'm trying to figure out if the kits end up DM will they display the typical V shape pattern that DM Lionheads do. I would like to identify the potential candidates to move forward as early as possible.

Here is the colorful previous litter, a fifth color (chocolate)kit was stillborn

 

[Bad Habit]

If they are double maned, why wouldn't they show the typical signs of being double maned?

Those kits are far too old to show the proper signs of being a DM. The bald patches show up about day 3, and someone with lionhead breeding experience can usually see them until 2-3wks.

 

[ckcs]

If they are double maned, why wouldn't they show the typical signs of being double maned?

I'm not sure the DM won't show up. I'm just curious if the gene may behave differently when you are dealing with 2 different breeds of rabbits. My guess is it won't behave differently. Now of course if she has 5-7 babies this time and none show the pattern, I might start to think differently.

 

[Dood]

My double maned lion lops have the naked sides seen in purebred lionheads once they fuzz up.

 

[ckcs]

The doe had 3 babies (makes 10 so far) and none showed the DM markings when they got fuzzy. Very frustrating.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Sorry I missed this thread originally!

From what I have seen, the DM gene behaves the same in crossbreds.

My doe Queen is due in a few days, so I will try to get pics of the kits as they fur out.

 

[Dood]

Just to clarify : the father and mother both have single manes, correct ?

 

[ohiogoatgirl]

Hmm... maybe breed an F2 back to the DM parent, then breed the best of that litter to the others to get the double mane?

 

[ckcs]

Just to clarify : the father and mother both have single manes, correct ?

Yes they are both single mane (brother and sister) their parents were a double mane lionhead and a holland lop

 

[Dood]

Well, rabbits dont always follow the genetics play book :shrug:

Like Ohiogoatgirl suggested, breeding back to your double maned doe will increase the chance of getting double manes from 25% to 50% and might be worth a try.

 

[ckcs]

Sorry I missed this thread originally!

From what I have seen, the DM gene behaves the same in crossbreds.

My doe Queen is due in a few days, so I will try to get pics of the kits as they fur out.

Thank you. It is certainly possible to get 10 kits in a row without a DM. Just odds are against that happening. I figure the odds around 5.6% or almost 1 in 18 chance of having 10 kits in a row without a DM<br /><br />__________ Tue Jan 14, 2014 3:19 pm __________<br /><br />

Well, rabbits dont always follow the genetics play book :shrug:

Like Ohiogoatgirl suggested, breeding back to your double maned doe will increase the chance of getting double manes from 25% to 50% and might be worth a try.

I may end up doing that. I'll give them one more shot then I'm going to reconsider things. I really want a double mane doe to continue so that I can breed her back to the Holland lop. My luck the next litter will be all DM bucks lol