Smut

[fuzzy9]

Can someone please explain exactly what this is, and if I'm merely raising rabbits for meat purposes, would this really matter to me? I'm looking to purchase a bred doe who has developed smut on her neck recently.

Thanks bunches!

 

[ladysown]

smut is colouring where you don't want it to be.

on an orange rabbit...it's a darker nose, on himi it's colour on any area than feet, nose, ears. etc.

At least as far as my understanding of it goes.

IF you aren't showing your animals...it's no biggie.

 

[fuzzy9]

Awesome! Thanks much ladysown!

 

[xlt]

smut can also refer to the temperature sensitivity of breeds like Californians... small kits that get chilled even before the fur is in will often be greyish until their first molt or so.

usually goes away in that case.

 

[fuzzy9]

Thank you xlt. This is a Californian doe I'm referring to, we're buying a breeding buck/doe pair. Only for meat purposes.

 

[xlt]

Your welcome, the smut itself is function of melanin function (I think that's right) and isn't hereditary normally. Californians are also subject to changes in their points between seasons... I have a CA cross doe (CA markings) that has a white butterfly of fur on her nose the whole winter.

 

[fuzzy9]

Oh, how neat! Would love to see a pic of that!

 

[mountainrabbits]

I think most smut just has to do with tempature...my californian buck doesn't usually have any sort of smut his markings are really clear and defined but this past winter was really cold wet and windy and now he has smut above his eyes it looks like he has dark eyebrows now! The smut should go away with her next shedding though, sometimes it can be genetic but if you are just interested in meat it doesn't matter so much-just gives each bun a bit more physical difference

 

[downonthefarm]

now he has smut above his eyes it looks like he has dark eyebrows now!

How cute! I'd like to see that.

Janine

 

[RunninMI]

I have been breeding show/meat cals on and off (mostly on) for the last 14 years smut is dark color where color is not supposed to be. babies that get cold in the box will get smutty but will shed it out (normaly) when there adult coats come in. An older buck/doe that gets smutt (normaly) keeps it for life I have had a few that will shed it out but normaly they dont. Smutt will in no way affect meat or meat production and actualy a doe that gets smutty normally is a better doe for raising kits. So your choice of does may be a very good choice.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I have been breeding show/meat cals on and off (mostly on) for the last 14 years smut is dark color where color is not supposed to be. babies that get cold in the box will get smutty but will shed it out (normaly) when there adult coats come in. An older buck/doe that gets smutt (normaly) keeps it for life I have had a few that will shed it out but normaly they dont. Smutt will in no way affect meat or meat production and actualy a doe that gets smutty normally is a better doe for raising kits. So your choice of does may be a very good choice.

Why would "smut" make a better doe for raising kits? Just curious.....

 

[RunninMI]

honestly couldnt tell you and it prolly has nothing to do with it but most of my really great mothers are the smuttiest does i own. Its really ilrelavent but i was just saying from what i have seen. like i said i highly doubt it has anything to do with how they are as far as mothers because i have had does that arent really smutty do very well but from what i have had the does that i have and have had that are extremely good mothers are just covered in smutt

 

[akane]

I would venture to guess that rabbits bred for show concentrate on the color more than motherhood since it does you no good to have a good mother if the offspring all DQ while meat breeders will breed for motherhood and growth rates while ignoring color since color matters little unless you are selling the pelts. So it probably works something like in the dog world where we have breeds with handling lines for the show ring and separate working lines for actual use or competitions based on use instead of looks. Both similar and the same breed but different enough that one doesn't work as well for the other purpose.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I would venture to guess that rabbits bred for show concentrate on the color more than motherhood since it does you no good to have a good mother if the offspring all DQ while meat breeders will breed for motherhood and growth rates while ignoring color since color matters little unless you are selling the pelts. So it probably works something like in the dog world where we have breeds with handling lines for the show ring and separate working lines for actual use or competitions based on use instead of looks. Both similar and the same breed but different enough that one doesn't work as well for the other purpose.

That makes a lot of sense! Thanks!

 

[fuzzy9]

We're buying her, and a breeding male to add to our breeding program. As long as it makes no difference for meat, I'm in! :up:

 

[OneAcreFarm]

WooHoo! You now have an incurable case of Rabbitosis! Congrats!

 

[fuzzy9]

YES! I do! :lol: What I haven't yet mentioned, is that I also reserved 4 NZW which we will get when they are weaned, and also just bought 4 Caly junior does, and contemplating buying their other two litter mates! Yay! I found the Caly does I was looking for!! :wbounce:

 

[Stoney Creek]

I breed and show Californians, and while I do have does and bucks with and without smut, I haven't really seen a difference in parenting.

On a side note, smut doesn't usually seem to be hereditary. But in your case, if you're just eating them for meat and not selling the pelt, smut doesn't matter. HOWEVER, if you are planning on selling any of the babies to people who want to show, sell pelts, etc... smut will matter. Not on your rabbits, but what you sell people. Also, smut IS permissible (in the show ring) on the eyebrows and the dewlap (of a doe).

If you go to my website at: www.stoneycreekrabbitry.weebly.com you can see on the "DOES" page, that two of them have smut on their eyebrows. I also have one doe with smut on her dewlap.

The color of the rabbits change too. In the summer they almost have gray points (if it's very hot) and in the winter get very dark.

One thing's for sure, their coloring is definitely interesting to say the least!