New Zealand buck of Quality?

[equineunity]

Recently picked up this New Zealand white junior buck he is around 8 pounds biggest of the litter.
Is he of good weight for a junior? :?: he is 7 months

Good about being picked up a bit shy but not aggressive. He doesn't have a scruff...is this normal for New Zealands? :?:

Does he show the correct conformation? How would you rate him? :?:
1-5 1 being poor 5 being excellent

I will be breeding him and picking up a doe for him soon.

thanks for the help! :!:

 

[Zass]

A top view and rear view would be helpful. I'm not very good at determining type yet, but those are usually asked for

 

[ladysown]

he hasn't filled out yet, rabbits don't tend to have a "scruff" unless they've repeatedly been scruffed.
He's not posed quite right. Looks like he'll do the job for you though.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

By "scruff" do you mean the flap of fur under the chin? That is called a "dewlap." Usually only does get that. As far as type, well, it depends on what your purpose is for breeding. If this is meant to be a show rabbit, which I suspect it isn't, I would say that it has poor quality fur, low shoulders, "peaks" too early, bit hollow in the loin, with prominent hipbones and a chopped rear end. That being said, he isn't full grown yet and some of that could even out when he hits full growth at 12mos or so. This looks to me like a rabbit from a "production" NZW line, meant for meat growing and not showing. In which case, he looks about right....

 

[equineunity]

OneAcrefarm
Yes, he is from a meat line and no not going to be showing. Not talking about a dewlap. I mean the "scruff" where you can pick them up behind the neck he does not really have one, his skin is tight against his body. I have had other rabbits before they always had a "scruff" so not sure if it is due to the breed or a fault. The rabbits I had were roll back types.

Thank you for the other info on type! What do you mean by "peaks too early"?
I did notice his loin does not look filled out. His fur is not the best for sure thin around neck area.
Had more practice on posing him so maybe he will look a bit different. Let me know!

So I will be looking for a doe with very full fur, better loin, shoulder anything else I should look for in a doe for type to bring out the best of the two?

Thanks for the help it has been a while since I have had rabbits!

 

[OneAcreFarm]

OneAcrefarm
Yes, he is from a meat line and no not going to be showing. Not talking about a dewlap. I mean the "scruff" where you can pick them up behind the neck he does not really have one, his skin is tight against his body. I have had other rabbits before they always had a "scruff" so not sure if it is due to the breed or a fault. The rabbits I had were roll back types.

Rabbits don't have a 'scruff', per se. Scruff just refers to the skin on the back of the neck/shoulders. They aren't meant to have a lot of loose skin there. And they should not be picked up this way, unless you put your other hand under their hindquarters to support the weight.

Thank you for the other info on type! What do you mean by "peaks too early"?

This means that his back reaches it's highest point too early. It should peak in line with his hipbones.

I did notice his loin does not look filled out. His fur is not the best for sure thin around neck area.
Had more practice on posing him so maybe he will look a bit different. Let me know!

So I will be looking for a doe with very full fur, better loin, shoulder anything else I should look for in a doe for type to bring out the best of the two?

Thanks for the help it has been a while since I have had rabbits!

If you are breeding for meat, then fur is the last thing you should be concerned about. What you want is a doe that has good shoulders, wide/deep loin and solid hindquarters. Here is a pic of what a quality NZW that meets the SOP should look like when posed. (not my pic, borrowed from Google, link to location below.)

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j110/ ... tning1.jpg

From the top, you want to see this:

http://lotzabunnies.weebly.com/uploads/ ... 135670.jpg

Slight taper from shoulder to hip, nice round hindquarters.

 

[equineunity]

Updated pics

hard to get a pic with one hand while holding him. I set him up and quickly took pic so much better then the other day!

Hope this helps he was so calm this time!

Just love his personality!

I do not pick him up by the skin he does not have any loose skin... so I pick him up from under and carry like football. Just was not sure since I would pick up my old rabbits by the skin behind neck/shoulder and would place my hands under them it would only be for a few seconds.

I'm not completely new to this :lol:

Thanks for the help!

 

[equineunity]

Updated pics

hard to get a pic with one hand while holding him. I set him up and quickly took pic so much better then the other day!

Hope this helps he was so calm this time!

Just love his personality!

I do not pick him up by the skin he does not have any loose skin... so I pick him up from under and carry like football. Just was not sure since I would pick up my old rabbits by the skin behind neck/shoulder and would place my hands under them it would only be for a few seconds.

I'm not completely new to this :lol:

Thanks for the help!

 

[OneAcreFarm]

That does look better, his back feet are just a touch too far forward though. His rise looks better and he may fill out the hollowness in his loin/hip area as he grows. He does have low/weak shoulders, so look for a doe with nice wide shoulders to breed him to.

 

[equineunity]

Oneacrefarm

Thank you for the pics! That really does help!

Yeah, I can see a big difference in his back!

Thanks! idk why I couldn't find pics like that lol

 

[Peach]

Yea don't worry much about him not having a "scruff" that's good if he has firm flesh! You want them to be muscle and minimal fatty tissue. I'd watch him for being "hippy", but let him develop for a few more months

 

[RothsRabbits]

Rate him a 2.5 He lacks balance, bad arch, choppy in the back, forequarter is narrow, just not meaty enough. Now thats from the first pics.

Seconds pics 3- 3.5, did you find him on CL or similar? If you feed him real good 16% pellets for a month he should come around to a 4 or better maybe.

Like above, he'll get the job done, but find a good doe you may have to spend some and it may be hard to find in your area there. But soon you will be over run.