americanMom, line breeding in animals has the same effects in mammals as birds. All creatures have the potental to be harboring a recessive genetic flaw. If the two rabbits you are breeding have the same flaw itmanifests in some of the offspring. If not they don't. In fact direct siblings can share non of their siblings genetic code. So if you end up with problems line breeding, chickens of not, it is because there is a genetic flaw and line breeding lets you find it and breed that trait out. Because two random rabbits can carry the same recessive genetic flaw too and it would sick to end up with that.
It can also have the same effect with beneficial genes. Getting two copies of a gene you really want. Such as albinism. That requires a copy from both parents so only line breeding made it possible. The Lionhead gene requires two from both parents. Etc. So I just wanted to clear that misconception up. Rabbits are very resilliant to line breeding, being diverse genetically. And we generally view it as bad because humans carry a LOT of bad recessive genes that cause lots of problems.
It can also have the same effect with beneficial genes. Getting two copies of a gene you really want. Such as albinism. That requires a copy from both parents so only line breeding made it possible. The Lionhead gene requires two from both parents. Etc. So I just wanted to clear that misconception up. Rabbits are very resilliant to line breeding, being diverse genetically. And we generally view it as bad because humans carry a LOT of bad recessive genes that cause lots of problems.
