Please explain the dwarf gene

[Cottie]

I've been reading up on it, and from the info I can find my situation seems impossible.

We have Skipper, Minnow and Mrs Howell (all from the same litter). Skipper sired both litters (he was tasty, by the way).

They were sold as mutts. California, Rex and possible some FG. Mrs Howell has a body type similar to a checkered giant. Minnow and Skipper have/had commercial body types. Skipper had a VERY good dress-out weight.

Minnow had 5, her first litter. Doting mother. I had to cull one because it had issues. Gut instinct was it was a peanut. It had all the signs, except it lingered for 2 weeks before I put it down.

Mrs Howell had 5, second litter, lost 2. All 3 are nice and big, right around 1 pound at 24 days, except the one broken black doe is a little smaller. But NOT as small as Minnow's!

Minnow's babies are all quite small - 1/2 the size or less of Mrs Howell's and only 4 days younger. They have square heads and very small ears.

The only thing I can assume is there is a dwarf gene hiding in their genetics somewhere - perhaps both Minnow and Skipper each had 1, and Mrs Howell got none.

Or there's something else going on. Any ideas?

 

[Dood]

It is completely possible that they have a hidden dwarf gene.

When i had a colony and my true dwarf netherland buck bred a NZ, 4 of the 6 kits were definitely dwarf as they were significantly smaller than the other two but they made it to 6 pounds and their ears were a bit stubby looking compared to their siblings.

Not much is known how the dwarf gene affects the large breeds since it not something most breed for, but in my experience with this one litter the many genes that contribute to make a rabbit large seem to over rule the single dwarf gene other than in subtle differences like a slightly pudgy face or short ears.

 

[Cottie]

Should I even attempt to breed it out or just end the line? I'm not overly attached to Minnow, but she is a doting mother and I'm considering breeding her to a NZW to see what I get. If the kits seem unaffected, then breed those doe's to the buck I'm keeping from Mrs Howell's litter. Their litter sizes are small, but I'm OK with small litters from good moms.

I'm more than a little concerned about the possibility of a "hidden" dwarf.

 

[Dood]

I would keep breeding her until you have a replacement doe - either her biggest fastest growing daughters or new stock.

Out crossing her to a NZ from a different breeder is a good idea. Any kits will either get none or one dwarf gene and those affected will likely be smaller. Keep the best females, breed them back to their father in 5 months and if they are better moms than Minnow, cull her.


Because meat breeders usually keep back the biggest, they weed out the dwarf gene - it's just another trait you select against. In my colony I kept back the cutest, friendliest or colours I liked but I was just a kid with no goal except to have bunnies.

 

[Cottie]

Obviously, the smaller one is not going to help my herd much. I don't even know what to do with these guys. :shock: It's just so marked it has to be genetic.

I'll keep breeding and see what I end up with.