Rabbit breeders, help identifing blue eyed rabbit

[vicki2x2]

It all depends on your county's rules. It would be best to talk to your superintendent. Our county's superintendent was at one time also big into showing rabbits (she is a judge, etc) so she changed all the rules and was super strict about it must be purebred and followed all ARBA rules. It does not have to be registered or have a pedigree, but it must be a purebred, no dq's, must have a proper tatoo, no signs of sickness or it was not allowed in, period. I personally see no reason why there couldn't be a pet class, but would need to get that changed in our rule book.

So, because lionheads are not recognized yet, it would not be allowed at our fair. We have had rabbits dq'd because they had a broken tail, the judge found it when examing it, just a small kink. It was in a meat pen and said it was too bad, they pen would have won Grand Champion meat pen, instead it was dq'd. That was dumb if you asked me, as they are being judged on meat, what does a broken tail have to do with that? By the way, it was an old injury and they are not uncommon, can happen easily in the next box, rough housing with litter mates, get caught in the cage, etc. Anyway, not all 4-H rules are the same, that was my point.

 

[chinbunny]

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Meat rabbits still have to be judged by the ARBA standard of perfection because they also have meat classes you can show in. Many judges that are hired by the fairs are ARBA registered judges. Thats unfortunate the bunny had a broken tail. That is something that should have been caught when the animal was examined by the superintendants during entry. Sometimes things like that can be missed though. I know the guy that used to run our barn when I was in 4h would examine every animal that went through. because he was a judge. He worked closely with all the kids showing, and didn't want to see them disapointed on show day. If something was wrong he would have caught it, and would give the kid a chance to bring in a replacement animal. Ive raised plenty of rabbits, and a broken tail is not a very common injury.

 

[chinbunny]

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Yep most aren't ARBA sanctioned. but most follow the ARBA rules and regulations when it comes to purebred rabbits. The animal doesn't have to be top quality just as long as it still meets all those rules. The thing is to check the fair book guidelines, and rules when it comes to showing animals. It will specify whether purebreds or mixed breeds can be shown, and it what classes. with many they will say the current ARBA rules do apply.

I know our fair has a purebreed show. They used to have a pet class for mixed breeds. Until some of the kids started entering the older mixed bred rabbits into the market classes. Market rabbits can not be shown in the all breed show, and vice versa. Ruined it for everyone else when they ended up getting rid of it because of it.

Plus there was a questionable rabbit that did win grand champion in the purebred class last year. The kid said it was a mixed breed. But had no idea what the rabbit was, and didn't seem to know anything about them. Some were upset about it. It did resemble a silver. She did get to keep her ribbon. Come to find out it was a silver fox. I think she had borrowed it from someone, and did not care for the animal herself. Thats the impression i got anyhow. But then again she did say she had rabbits dying at home, and had no idea why.

 

[Skyesrocket]

Don't the kids that show rabbits go to 4-H meetings during the year? I would think the advisors would tell them ahead of time what is acceptable and what isn't?

 

[RabbitMage]

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In most cases, yes, but you'd be shocked how many leaders start out not really knowing anything.

 

[chinbunny]

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You'd be shocked to see how many clubs that do not have a rabbit leader. Ours didn't. So we had to learn about them on our own. Also attended a couple of meetings from another 4h club. Thank god their leader went to open rabbit shows, and really knew her stuff. She was a great mentor. Met her through my sister. She was best friends with her daughter. Sadly her daughter was killed in the line of duty (police officer) last year when she was directing traffic durting an accident scene. Somebody hit her. Name was sarah haylet. That girl helped a lot of kids out in the 4h program. And her and her mom bred some of the best looking mini lops and newzealands there ever was at that time. They always did very well at nationals. They were the ones that got me started in rabbits, going to shows, etc. They always encouraged their 4hers to attend some rabbit shows.

We didn't have a very good rabbit program through 4h until one of the rabbit judges took it over. He was great. Always did stuff with the kids. Had judging contests during fair week. He'd go through the barn, pick the best rabbits that he liked, and then let us kids rejudge these animals and place them. The winner for the adults, and the kids would get a prize. He got rabbit camp going. Held meetings for the small animals. Got a small animal comittee going. A couple other guys took it over when he left, and all that stuff pretty much went the way of the wild wind. He also went as far to rig up an irrigation system over the rabbit barn to keep the animals cool during fair week. It took the fair several years to catch onto that, and use it on the other buildings. They still use it to this day.

As far as I know, nowadays they no longer have rabbit camp, nor the county small animal meetings. None of the 4h leaders that I know of encourage the kids to show that much. Which is sad because its agreat learning experience for the kids.

 

[mekasmom]

You need to ask your 4H leaders in your area. At our shows there is never any DQ for any reason. Every kid gets a ribbon of some sort. And the usual judge is a local vet or simply a CVT if he has an emergency. Please don't discourage your kids from showing simply because the rabbit isn't perfect. 4h is about kids not show animals. I am just shocked that anyone anywhere would be such snobs towards children. What has happened to people's hearts?

 

[Sillystunt]

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[chinbunny]

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Its not snobbery towards children. It teaches the kids how to identify an animal with a dq,and also teached them about the animals. If they were to take the same rabbit with a dq to an ARBA rabbit show, the same thing would happen. They would be a heck of alot more harder on the kid, then they would at a 4h show. The animal show itself is not judged on the kid. It is judged on the animal. Only showmanship applies to the kid. A rabbit with a dq isn't going to beat one that is free from dq's anyhow. The one that best represents its breed, and is in the best condition will be the one that wins. Hands down. Even at a 4h rabbit ARBA style show (those that are held in the spring) an animal with a dq would be disqualified. The best way to teach children how to properly raise and show their rabbits, even if they are pets, is to get them started out the right way. Many of these kids do move onto bigger things such as ARBA sanctioned shows. many of them also end up ripped off by shadey rabbit breeders who will sell them an unsatisfactory animal in a minute. I think I would rather not see a kid that is heartbroken on show day because someone sold them an animal with a disqualification on it. Not only that, selling dq animals only encourages them to breed more with dqs. Which does not do any of the breeds any good at all.

I really wish people would try to understand what we (the rabbit breeders in the thread) are trying to tell you. These animals aren't like horses, hogs, and cattle where they allow mixed animals to show. This is something that is similar to cat and dog shows, where they promote breeding, learning about, and showing purebred animals. They don't have to be the best ever bred. Just free from disqualifications, and meet the breed standards. Breeding and showing mixed breeds, and animals with disqualifications is a big no no in the rabbit breeding world. We try to discourage the kids from cross breeding and showing those that can't be shown. Again, not snobbery. Just want to see the kids get off to a good start with their 4h projects. Not end up disapionted and discouraged because someone sold or gave them an animal that wasn't show quality.

I don't understand why they would hire avet to judge the bunnies. Because most vets know very little about rabbits, unless they raise them. Let alone judging them. At our county fair they either hire ARBA licensed judges, or ARBA open show exibitors. Last year they hired an exibitor that knew the breeds pretty well. Most of the time they hire ARBA judges when they can afford them.

Also need to add that 4h poultry are run in the same manner. Unless they are meat pens(briolers, etc), the birds must be purebred in order to be shown. Anything showing a clear disqualification is either marked down, and or dq'd. They do make some exceptions, like showing gold comets, and spotted white muscovy ducks. Kind of like how some 4h shows are with lion heads. Still, those animals have to meet the current working standard.

 

[mekasmom]

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Kids show any chickens at 4h here too. Most are purebred, but none are perfect. They just buy them at feed stores as chicks, raise them, and show them. Same with the dog show. They also show any cat or small animal at the small animal show. None of the shows at the three county 4h we have been involved with are like that. It's a kid thing rather than about the pedigree of any one of them. Last year Dr. W did all the judging in S county, Dr H's vet tech judged in another county, and a retired vet, Dr. F, did the judging in the third county. Of course, we live in the country where the population of all three counties put together wouldn't match that of one large urban area. But there are no DQ for anything. We make sure we encourage and reward the kids for being good with their animals. In fact the winners are usualy the kid who knows most about his animal regardless of what the animal looks like or its pedigree. We encourage the kids to love their pets as a paramount consideration. I am just appalled to know that so many 4h contests have turned into pedigree shows. I had no idea because I have never seen it here. I do know the state fair is more stringent, but not horribly so.
It's not that I don't understand what you are saying. It just disgusts me to hear it. I had no idea this was going on anywhere. I can't believe the organization is treating kids like that anywhere. It is so very very sad.