Newby. Can I cross Cali NZ doe to a NZW buck?

[LuckyHorse]

I'm just getting started with meat rabbits. I have found a Cali NZ Doe and a NZW buck. Would they be a good mix or should I just stick to one breed. Thank you!!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

A lot of people cross Cals and Nz's because they see faster growth in the litters. However, usually all of the offspring are eaten, not held back for breeding because that "hybrid vigor" is lost in successive generations. These breeders usually maintain two purebred lines for replacement stock.

However, that doesn't mean you wont get nice litters out of the doe- just that they wont have that extra rapid growth.

 

[katiebear]

Mama sheepdog, are you saying that mix breeds should not be used for breeders? All my rabbits are mixed, only meat mutts but I was thinking about keeping some does...is this a bad idea? I am only breeding for meat but I don't want any problems, like having to wait to reach a decent weight.
Should I look to invest in some pure breeds?
Seems like the longer I do this the less I know....

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Not at all, Katiebear. A lot of our members develop their own lines of really stellar meat mutts, simply by selecting for the qualities they want in their herds.

I'm talking about the phenomenon of "hybrid vigor" seen when you take two completely different breeds and cross them. The litters from that pairing *should* show faster growth than a "purebred" litter. However, this isn't always the case- if you have two substandard animals to begin with, you aren't going to affect a miracle in the litter.

Supposedly, that hybrid vigor is lost once you continue breeding the cross, and the litters just grow at a normal rate.

I haven't tried this personally- but a lot of commercial breeders cross NZs to Cals for that superior growth, and since they (hopefully) chart the growth of their litters to determine profitability, I believe that there is some truth to the "hybrid vigor" theory.

 

[mystang89]

I have bred NZW to Cali many times with excellent results. I've even kept a doe and buck from one breeding. That doe I believe, (though I have to check my pedigree) is who has produced most magnificently for the past 3 months.

 

[LuckyHorse]

Great to know! Right now this doe (Cali New Zealand mix) is all I can find. Down the road I plan on getting a full New Zealand doe. The buck I was told is a full New Zealand white and "show quality"(no pedigree), But that's not really important to me. Just want to have a few meat rabbits to eat, maybe sell some kits. Plus I figure my daughter will enjoy them.