Rex Fur genetics question

[SuburbanHomesteader]

I've got a little doe that is black with rex fur. Both of her parents are (look like) NZ Blacks. Obviously, both of them must carry the recessive rex fur gene as this little gal and three of her litter mates all had rex fur. (Heck, two of them were also REW!) I've mated those two again and am looking forward to what we get this time. (Got the parents from two different breeders in two different states over 200 miles apart.)

My question: Would there be any problems keeping this little doe and breeding her with my other Rex rabbits? I'm expecting her body shape to be a little bigger/different than my other rexes but I'm thinking that's not all that big a deal. Your thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Dood]

My question: Would there be any problems keeping this little doe and breeding her with my other Rex rabbits? I'm expecting her body shape to be a little bigger/different than my other rexes but I'm thinking that's not all that big a deal. Your thoughts?

That would depend on several things ...

Do you show Rex?
Do you sell Rex as breeding stock?

If the answer is no to both questions then go for it.
If you answered yes to either, then I wouldnt. They may have the rex gene but the fur quality may not be as good as a show or breeding worthy rex, and if they seem to have good quality coats, then there is a possibility they are flukes and wont pass it on. The body type will not be consistant either and some kits will likely be meatier like a NZ and some more like a Rex for several generations.

 

[skysthelimit]

There really should not be a difference body type wise between Rex and NZ, after all, Rex is a meat breed. That's the category it belongs in. However, the bigger the Rex, the more the fur quality begins to decline. My bucks and does are 8-10lbs, but the bigger ones don't have the fur quality that the smaller ones do.

Even if body types are the same, the gene pool is not, so if you are selling them as Rex I would not mix them, you might wind up with Rex with prominent guard hairs and coarse coats. Rex have enough inconsistencies to work out within the breed.

 

[Whipple]

I agree, if the parents are nzb then the body type should be the same.

Are the few also Rex? I've always wanted a white Rex blankie.

Also, I have smaller Rex, so no experience, but that is very interesting g about correlation between size and fur quality.

 

[skysthelimit]

Rex is fairly hard to find. When most people say they have Rex, it's because they have a bun with soft fur, but it's not the soft fur that makes it Rex, it's the length of the guard hairs being the same as the length of the undercoat, giving it a velvet like springiness. Without that texture, the coat is not correct.

There are Rex that have harsher coats, coarse feeling, due to prominent guard hairs. I had a nice buck like that, looked like he had touched one of those glass static globes. Then you get ones were the fur is not dense enough, the coat is open and silky, and that's not correct.

The soft short fur is popular on the table, but not really correct, and will give you sore hocks. The courser fur is not really correct either, but will give you better density.

Sometime ago, when people were encouraged to grow rabbits, Rex were highly encouraged, and their fur sought after. Then you know, people want faster and bigger, and that's when they discovered bigger and faster was not better.

I was reading this article on Chinese study of Rex rabbits. Rex are a medium breed, when weight exceeds a certain size, hardiness decreases and fur density decreases and it becomes just another meat rabbit. The time it takes to grow a Rex rabbit, opposed to a NZ, is the time and energy needed to grow that coat.

 

[SuburbanHomesteader]

Thanks - I'm kinda with Dood - the whole thing is just a fluke but it came as such a surprise. I've been trying to read up on and learn more about genetics. All my other Rex rabbits are pedigreed and from reputable breeders. IF I do keep her, it'll be to do some experimental breeding to learn more and all offspring would be destined for the dinner table.

Dood and Sky - you seem quite knowledgeable on all this genetic stuff and colors and things. (Please don't tell me you have PhD's in Animal Husbandry or something like that!) Did you pick it up via experience / experimenting or were there any particular books (that an average person can understand)? I've been reading all I can find on the internet and in the various threads here.

I've raised NZW meat rabbits for many years. Only in the past year or so have I ventured into NZ Blacks and Reds and Standard Rex rabbits. The colors sure seem to make it more complicated!! Thanks to all of you for your suggestions and ideas!

 

[Dood]

Mostly experience, my parents were dog breeders so they taught me some, then I started breeding rodents, and reptiles as a teen and read to learn more. I took several university courses in genetics, my major was Animal Biology, but colour genetics was only a minor aspect of those courses. I have learned more about colour genetics of various species in the last 10 years from cruising the Internet than I ever did in school.

I prefer to know the genotypes rather than the names since they change depending on breed or species and can be very frustrating.

Here are two sites I use a lot...

http://www.nockrabbits.com/coat_colors1.html

http://www.thenaturetrail.com/rabbit-ge ... pes-chart/

 

[skysthelimit]

Actually I was a Biopysch major, and Education. One thing a Pysch/ed major teaches you is research everything, and find best practices. I just love to read, and I become obsessed with anything I do. I have to read every book/website on everything before I start, going over things line by line, then try to make a practical application.
My love for genetics came from dogs. Except in the color world, rabbits are way more fascinating than German Shepherds.

One of the best things to have is a breed mentor, and also being able to talk to the old timers, like the guy who created the Amber Rex color. I drain people dry for info as much as I can, then see how I can apply it to my herd.

My favorite two sites--
http://www.raising-rabbits.com/
http://www.gbfarm.org/rabbit/index.shtml
for Rex http://www.minkhollow.ca/MHF/doku.php?i ... x_standard