Jen inOr wrote:
Louise Knight wrote:We have just started our breeding program and decided to go for NZ White and Californian Rabbits
Here is a couple of studies that may interest people
The effect of crossing New Zealand White with Californian rabbits on growth and slaughter traits
http://www.archanimbreed.com/pdf/2009/at09p205.pdf
Postnatal Growth of New Zealand White Rabbit
http://www.journalofanimalscience.org/content/44/6/1021.full.pdf
L
Hi! I'm new here and was wondering if anyone could answer a few questions for me about crossing NZW and CAL? My sons started 4-H rabbits this year and are interested in crossing the two. The research shows results for NZWXCAL and CALXNZW. Is the doe or buck the first in the equation? Sorry, I tried to find the info in the article with no success. Also, my boys are interested in perhaps selling rabbits for pelts like other rabbit breeders in our area. Do companies like to have purebreds or is a cross okay as long as it's white? Thanks so much for your time! Jenny
Hi Jenny,
Not sure if Im the best one to answer these questions as we are just starting out ourselves, but here goes... the first link tells you the answer to your question but its not very clear Page 206 under Materials and Methods "New Zealand White (NZW) and Californian (CAL) medium-sized rabbits and their F1 reciprocal crosses (♂CAL × ♀NZW and ♂NZW × ♀CAL)" So the follow charts I assume list them in the same order. White cross, cal cross, male cal to white female, male white to cal female.
As to the second part of your questions we are in New Zealand so markets for pelts and rabbits may be different. I wanted pure breeds when I purchased so I assume so do others. Our first litters will all be pure and we will test the market with those. The next litters will be crossed and we will try the market again with them to see if there is any difference with sales. We are not really looking into selling rabbits though just enough to cover costs. As for the pelts we will only be tanning our own for our own use. Someone else who knows more hopefully will reply with a little more helpful information than me.
Our first rabbit had her litter just a couple of days ago.
Great.