Beginning Rabbits
January
6th, 2009
Important
Dates to Remember:
Ø State Rabbit Field Day Competition, Jan 10th,
2009. This is held at the Sonoma County 4-H headquarters in Rohnert Park. Pre-Registration/ Check in at 8:30 to 9:00am.
“This day is strictly competition! The participants will be competing in the following events: Rabbit Showmanship,
Judging, Breed ID & Knowledge Test. You do not need to have a rabbit to participate. Educational Poster Display Competition,
pre-registration only. Cost $6.00 pre-registration, $10.00 at door.
Ø January Jamboree, Jan 17th, 2009. This is held at the Sonoma
County Fair Grounds in Santa Rosa. This is the largest one
day double carry in show in Northern Ca. Showing starts at 8:00am; showmanship starts at about 9:00am. Showmanship cost $5.00.
Ø Cloverdale Citrus Fair, Feb 15th, 2009.
This is held at the Cloverdale Citrus Fair Grounds in Cloverdale. This is a one day double carry in show. Showmanship starts
at 9:00am and the cost is $1.00 with your entries. You must have a rabbit entered in the show to participate in showmanship.
There is also an Educational Poster contest. It is FREE to enter a poster and you can win ribbons and a cash prize! Entries
must be posted marked by Jan 23rd and entries must be at the fair grounds on Jan 31st from 10-5pm. I
can take posters to Cloverdale for anyone who can’t take them themselves.
Ø Market Livestock Expo, Feb 28th, 2009.
This is being held at the Redwood Empire Fair Grounds in Ukiah. This event is for anybody who has an interest in these animals.
There will be a fun motivational speaker in the morning and seminars in the afternoon. You can only attend one animal. If
you plan on taking a Meat Pen to the fair you really should attend this expo. $5.00 pre-registration, $10.00 at the door.
Monthly
Club Meetings: The rest of the club would like to hear from us! We need to select 1 person every month to get up and share
with the club what we’ve been learning. Also if one person would like to write an article for our newsletter talking
about something we’ve learned that would be great too!
Market
Animals: If anyone is even thinking about taking a market animal to the Fair this year Stacey Anderson needs to know ASAP!
Even if you decide to back out later she needs to know.
Presentation
Day: This is for members 9 years and up. I need a head count to give to Stacey of anyone who might be interested.
Showmanship
Bingo! Here’s how we’re going to play. I’m going to read the definition of the term and you guys are
going to raise your hands and give me the answer. Then I need someone to come up and show the rest of us how you would check
for that.
New Study Stuff!
Ø How many recognized breeds are there? 47
Ø How many different Fur types are there? 4
o Rex: Fur is extremely dense with length no less than ½ inch or more than
7/8 inch. Fur is to be straight, upright, and as nearly as possible, the same length and texture over the entire body. Fur
is to have a lustrous appearance. Guard hairs are to be very plentiful & evenly distributed, but not too noticeable protruding.
Fur is to be of good body & plush like effect, offering a distinct springy resistance to the touch. It should feel extremely
smooth to the touch, but must not have a soft silky texture, which would destroy the springiness. Breeds:
§ Rex
§ Mini Rex
o Wool: The greatest density possible is desired. Density is to be even
all over the animal, including the back & belly. Density should be determined by feeling several places on the body, sides,
rump, and chest, as well as blowing into the wool. (The wool should separate all the way to the skin). Neither length of wool,
nor webbed, matted, or felted wool, should be mistaken for density. Breeds:
§ American Fuzzy Lop
§ English Angora
§ French Angora
§ Giant Angora
§ Satin Angora
( the only breed that gives points for Sheen)
§ Jersey Wooly
o Satin: The basic differences in Satin Fur are:
1)
a finer diameter hair shaft
2)
a more transparent hair shell. The greater transparency of the outer hair shell makes the pigment
granules show through more clearly, so that Satins appear more brilliant in color compared to normal furred breeds. The sheen
is due to the clarity of the glass like hair shell & its ability to reflect light.
The ideal Satin fur should be silky,
fine, and very dense to the touch, sue to a soft, very dense undercoat. This fine, soft, dense undercoat should be interspersed
thickly with lustrous, slightly coarse guard hairs that should extend evenly above the under fur about 1/8 of an inch. (Ideal).
The guard hairs form a protective surface for the under fur, giving body, density and resilience in texture, so that when
the fur is strolled toward the head, it will return to it’s natural position and lie smoothly over the entire body.
The coat should be well balanced, with uniform length, 1 inch to 1 1/8 inch (Ideal). Allowable length, 7/8 inch to 1 ¼ inches.
The fur should be set tight to the skin, without breaks due to molt, and be free from mats and stains. It must have an appearance
of distinct, glossy, lustrous sheen. Breeds:
§ Satin
§ Mini Satin
o Normal: The coat should be coarse enough in guard hair to offer resistance
when stroked toward the head. The coat should return back to it’s normal position and lie smooth. The undercoat is to
be fine, soft and dense, interspersed thickly with decidedly heavier or thicker guard hairs.
