Opal x Castor genetics?

[Bridget118]

Hello I am very new to rabbit genetics. I have bred parakeets in the past and got very educated on color genetics. I would like to learn more about what my breeding pair of Rex's kits outcomes may be. The female is opal and the male is castor. Can someone break these genes down for me and discuss the possible kit outcomes

I guess some of my questions are...
Are these colors considered black or brown?
Does castor control the A gene? Does opal control the D
Are they dominant or recessive
What will the kits look like?

 

[Dood]

There are 5 common colour loci in rabbits - A, B, C, D, E. There are 3 loci that add white patterning( En, V, Du) and few others that are more rare or breed specific that

Castor is called chestnut in most other breeds and is one of the most dominant colours with the genotype of A_ B_ C_ D_E_

Opal is the dilute of castor = A_B_ C_ dd E_ (Basically a blue castor)

Crossing the two will produce castors that carry dilute = A_ B_ C_ Dd E_

The blanks are hidden recessives the parents carry and if they both carry recessives on the same locus you can get other colours.

If your castor carries dilute/blue then you can get opals

If both parents carry self you can get blacks, that secretly carry dilute = aa B_ C_Dd E_

Etc...

Some Genetics sites I recommend

http://www.thenaturetrail.com/rabbit-genetics/

http://www.threelittleladiesrabbitry.com/colorgenes.php

 

[Bridget118]

This is great information thank you!