out several animals withConnection
differing fur qualities
Velveteen
rabbits to get a sense of brood versus show. Pull
from soft to dense. Go over the working
standard. Be sure the youth understands the
Velveteen is an exhibition breed and what that
means. Make sure the youth feels welcome and
feels they can call on you for questions about
Issue 3
their
November 2012
President’s Report
Lorrie Stillo
[email protected]
Some of my favorite sales of Velveteens
are to the youth. I enjoy the youth coming out to
pick their rabbit or meet them at a show and see
the excitement for the breed. I often wonder as
they leave with their new Velveteen and all that
excitement, if they will carry that enthusiasm to a
local, state or national ARBA award. I am proud
to say I have seen it happen.
The development of the youth in
Velveteen Lops is vital to the breed. I cannot
stress this enough. Our youth need to be
inspired to carry on the breed. If we keep in
mind that we can inspire youth through the same
4H principles of belonging, mastery of skill sets
and generosity, youth will continue to grow and
develop the Velveteen breed for many
generations to come.
Inspiring a sense of belonging is the first
step and is easy for most of us. Your first
interaction with youth will likely be through a
friend, or an email looking for a Velveteen Lop.
Invite the youth to your barn when you have the
time to work with them, to show them the breed
and spend the time answering questions. Give
them a tour of your Velveteen herd. Show them
the colors you breed. Point out the unique
mandolin body type of the Velveteen and show
several examples from good to best in your
animals. Show them brood and show and why
they are different. Discuss the values of each.
Let the youth feel the differences between the
rabbits to get a sense of brood versus show. Pull
out animals with differing fur qualities from soft
to dense. Go over the working standard. Be sure
the youth understands that the Velveteen is an
exhibition breed and what that means. Make
sure the youth feels welcome and feels they can
call on you with questions about their Velveteen.
Mastery of skills is something that will
come with time and experience. The youth
develops confidence both with himself and with
his Velveteen over time. While going through the
Velveteens, discuss showmanship and general
health care. Show how to handle the rabbit. This
is an excellent opportunity to share the VLRCA
club information. The wonderful guidebook has a
large amount of general rabbit care information.
When selling Velveteen, only sell a rabbit that is
of your best stock, a rabbit that will do well on
the show table. You want the youth to have
success right away. If the youth is going to
breed, help them to choose a pair that is a good
match – both in type and color so there are not
issues genetically. You do not want the youth to
feel discouraged and lose interest in the breed.
What would you want to start out with?
Remember what it was like when you started in
the breed.
Generosity is easily brought out in us
when working with the youth. The more time you
spend with the youth, the more it comes out in
you. Offer to take the youth to a show or meet
them there. Help them to fill out their show
cards. Spend the day with them going through
the routine of a show. Remember how stressful
your first show was? At the show table be sure
to introduce them to the judge. Ask the judge to
spend the time to make comments after the
show on the animal. Judges are always willing to
spend time with youth getting started. If the
show does not offer awards for placements, be
sure to bring along a couple of your ribbons. It
goes a long way in a youth’s heart to have that
piece of ribbon. If the youth is not yet a member
of the VLRCA, offer a free or discounted
membership to the club.
Inspiring youth is merely securing the
future of the breed that we love so dearly. If we
do not take the time to get the youth of today
inspired, involved and excited about the
Velveteen Lop, there will be no future for the
breed.
Convention BOS winner Journey Home's Spin Off, Owned
and Bred by Lorrie Stillo
______________________________________
Vice President’s Report
Kathy Rairden
[email protected]
WHAT IS A BREED?
By: Kathy Rairden
From Oklahoma State University
Department of Animal Science, the definition is:
Animals that, through selection and breeding
have come to resemble one another and pass
traits uniformly to their offspring. It is often
possible to produce cross-bred rabbits that
resemble a Velveteen Lop. Are they Velveteen
Lops? The answer is “No.” It might be possible
to rationalize calling these rabbits by a breed
name strictly based on their appearance.
However what distinguishes a breed is the ability
to pass on the traits UNIFORMLY (every time) to
their descendants. Can a hybrid or mixed breed
rabbit do this? This may happen once in a while.
Will the descendants of this animal produce
animals with all the required traits? Very
unlikely…. Selling these animals as “Velveteen
Lops” is misrepresenting the rabbit to the buyer.
The point is to consistently produce
animals with ALL of the distinguishing traits. In
Velveteen Lops this means: 1) weight under 6.5
lbs. at 6 months of age, 2) mandolin body type,
3) rex fur, and 4) long hanging minimum 14
inch ears with soft leather texture. Animals
lacking the essential traits of the breed are
highly unlikely to produce them in their offspring.
Purebred means that an animal has no
outside crosses for many generations. In
laboratory mice, a breed can be established only
after 23 generations of sister-brother matings.
This is an extreme requirement, but shows the
importance of genetic consistency to the buyers
of these animals.
ARBA requires 3 presentations in only 5
years to qualify an exhibit to pass and be
accepted as a breed. Key to this process is the
requirement that animals from each presentation
be returned to the next one. This way, it can be
determined that animals are uniform in type and
able to reproduce the traits essential to the
breed. Passing a new breed into ARBA
recognition is extremely difficult. Animals get
sick, die or sometimes are infertile. Returning
older animals to present year after year can
become nearly impossible. Still new breeds do
get recognized and added to the Standards
book.
If someone is fortunate enough to
produce a cross-bred rabbit that has a strong
resemblance to the Velveteen breed, this animal
is a good choice to keep in a breeding program.
Bred to a purebred Velveteen, it may produce
some correct animals. Others in the litter will
manifest non-Velveteen traits. Even if they are
half or more Velveteen, they still are not true
members of the breed. It if self-deception to
think that they are. I know of rabbits that have 12
or more generations of Velveteen ancestors.
Even without crossing to other breeds, they still
occasionally produce non-standard individuals.
This shows that traits from other breeds are still
present in the Velveteen gene pool, and need to
be kept out of the breeding program.
It takes many decades to standardize a
breed. Judicious in-breeding and close linebreeding can accelerate successful fixing of
breed traits. Indiscriminate breeding only
prolongs the time required to stabilize a true
breed.
According to the dictionary, a breed is: A
group of organisms having common ancestors
and certain distinguishable characteristics,
especially a group within a species developed
by artificial selection and maintained by
controlled propagation.
Controlled propagation is the key to
success. Until every individual (kit) produced
from a mating has ALL of the required traits of a
breed, it cannot be considered a representative
member of the breed. Some animals are
suitable to be used as breeding stock. They may
have a disqualification such as short ears;
however all of their qualities combined can offer
a useful contribution to the breed. (Animals with
detrimental traits such as bad teeth, or crooked
front legs should not be used in the program.)
“Breeding stock” animals may produce
individuals that are better than themselves. If
animals in your herd do not do this, they should
be removed from the program. In the interest of
development of the Velveteen Lop as a
standardized breed, this writer never crosses to
other breeds. Why reinvent the wheel? We
already have sufficient numbers to move away
from cross-breeding and get down to stabilizing
our breed.
______________________________________
Attached is a photo of Velveteen Lop convention judging.
Pictured are ARBA judge Ruth Ann Bell and VLRCA
Member Megan Matthys.
______________________________________
Director’s Report
Laura Bonnet
[email protected]
Convention BBBOB winner
Rair-Find Velour
Owned by Savanah Henderson Bred By Kathy
Rairden.
Hello Velveteen lovers!
My name is Laura Bonnet and I live in
Longmont, CO. I started showing rabbits with my
daughter in 2000 and have raised many different
breeds. I have been breeding Velveteens for the
past five years. I saw my first Velveteen Lop at
the Wichita convention. I was immediately
smitten and wanted to buy one but they were
expensive so I talked myself out of it. I couldn’t
get them out of my mind however, so I kept my
eye out for other Velveteens. Eventually I found
one at a show in New Mexico. My first Velveteen
was a purebred, but that is about all she met of
the Velveteen Standard. She was nine pounds
with eleven inch ears that were as stiff as
cardboard and both went to the right side of her
head. Looking at her made me laugh and I
always said that she was the true definition of
“lop-sided” with both her ears going to one side!
I bought her already bred for fifty dollars and that
doe had 13 kits and took care of every single
one! One look at those adorable babies popping
out of the nest box and I was hooked. Since I
was the only one with Velveteens in my home
state, I had to get creative to get more stock. I
had a pair shipped from Washington State and
over the summer I made a special trip to San
Diego, CA to buy a pair from a woman there.
Within two years of buying that first doe, I
entered my first exhibition Velveteens at ARBA
Nationals in San Diego, CA. I was extremely
nervous because I was afraid my rabbits would
get laughed off the tables and out of the
showroom! I thought I had come a long way
from what I started with, but with no other rabbits
to compare them to, I really didn't know. I was
extremely surprised and elated when my rabbits
won BOB and BOS! The best part was meeting
other breeders and being able to buy more
stock. The horrible part was that the Velveteens
failed their showing for the first time that year. I
was disappointed but determined to bring back
better Velveteens to the next Nationals. If I had
understood the whole COD process, I would
have tried to pull one just in case. One thing that
I was running into with the stock I had was
frequent respiratory illnesses in the rabbits. I
spent lots of money on vet bills and bottles of
Baytril that cost me $120.00 each. I decided that
I needed to add some different lines into my
program and strive for healthier stock. It was no
good to turn out nice rabbits that got sick.
Adding new lines has definitely helped the
health of my herd, but as every breeder
discovers, new rabbits added to a breeding
program brings out new characteristics in the
offspring, some good, and some bad. While the
health of my herd got better, the type did not. I
also struggled with the rabbits getting too big. I
attended the convention in Minnesota expecting
the breed to pass. Instead the Velveteens failed
which meant that the process of recognizing
Velveteens as a breed would have to start all
over again. I was so disappointed and
disheartened. My husband and I had both lost
jobs in the past three years and we were not
doing well financially. Just like so many other
families in this country, we are in the process of
losing our house. Facing an uncertain future and
not knowing if I will be able to continue to raise
rabbits in our next home, I have downsized my
rabbitry to 28 rabbits, 10 of which are
Velveteens (all of which are too big!). Here is
where this Velveteen Lop Club comes in and
what I really wanted to write about. I have never
been involved with a group of people who are so
kind and so compassionate. You have
encouraged and supported me so much in the
past year. I think I would have given up if not for
you. I have been offered rabbits free of charge
by more than one person. Being so far from
each other should make it very hard to trade/buy
rabbits. Instead, Lorrie and Kathy have gone out
of their way to arrange transport. I have never
belonged to a rabbit group that puts the future of
the breed ahead of everything else and it is so
refreshing! I can’t believe the politics involved in
some of these breed clubs. I really don’t know
what the future holds for me and my rabbits, but
whatever happens, I am so grateful to be
involved in a club with such genuinely kind and
generous souls! From the bottom of my heart I
thank you!
Kellie Foster and her BOB winner, Lop’s Unlimited Rosalyn,
Berea, Ohio Oct. 2012
_____________________________________
Director’s Report
Denisea Crossan
Zane ([email protected])
Winter and Rabbits
After the long hot summer we have had
throughout most of the United States, I am sure
human and Lagomorph are enjoying the
wonderful fall temperatures. However, we have
to keep in mind the bitter temperatures that are
certainly just around the corner for most of us
and we need to get started winterizing the
rabbitry (and the rabbits)!
Most breeders switch from water bottles
to heavy crocks in the winter, the reason being it
is much easier to fill the crock half way and then
knock the ice out later in the day to fill it again.
Others have double the amount of water bottled
and will hang the bottles in the morning then
bring out the second set later in the day and
take down the frozen water bottles, put them in
5 gallon buckets to carry to the house to thaw
and then do it again the next day. Most bunnies
will begin drinking the minute you fill the crock or
hang the water bottle. Remember they drink just
as much in the winter as they do in the summer.
I generally feed a little more in the winter as well,
since they are burning more calories to stay
warm, and we want to keep them in good health
and show condition! I always keep them in
timothy hay as well, for good digestive health!
One of the most important things to
remember is to pack your cages with straw (or a
box with straw) if your bunnies are out of doors,
and to tarp the pens to keep the cold, wind/rain
and/or snow off of them. Rabbits don’t mind the
cold, but they have to stay dry and out of direct
wind/drafts to avoid respiratory issues. Most
breeders/owners attach a tarp to the sides and
another to the front, to within a few inches of the
ground. This will make it so you can roll up the
front tarp to feed and water or be able to leave it
up on the milder, sunny winter days. For those
who are planning winter litters, most breeders
will bring the nest boxes in and take them out in
the mornings for does to nurse then back in the
house until evening nursing…..continue until the
kits are 3-4 weeks, of course putting the kits out
permanently
would
depend
on
the
temperatures.
Good Luck Velveteen friends and
breeders, can’t wait to see what everyone has to
show come spring!
______________________________________
During the last few local shows I have
noticed some interesting things about how
judges judged the Velveteens. Some judges will
not even take the standard because they “have
been judging the breed since they first started”.
Then they inquire about the length of the ears –
16” or 21”, and then pose them like a
commercial breed. Velveteens are to be posed
like an English Lop, not a mini rex. They are to
have the mandolin type. It is just frustrating that
judges don’t take the breed seriously. But they
do say that they have come a long way. The
Youth and Open breeders need to get their
rabbits on the tables more often. This is one way
judges will take the breed more seriously.
Hannah Foster of East Rochester, Ohio participated in the
2012 ARBA Youth Contest. The exhibit had to be
informational of either rabbit or cavies. Each entry had to be
the work of the contestant and have to have been completed
in the last 12 months prior to the ARBA National Convention.
Hannah submitted an educational display on
Velveteen Lop genetics. She was breeding blacks, blues and
whites to show what the offspring will be. She won her class
in the 15-18 year old educational divisional. Great job
Hannah! Hannah had so much fun with her genetics project
that she has decided to continue her Velveteen Lop genetic
project breeding Tri-colors.
Lauren ; Show Dover, Ohio 10/21/12 George Wade pictured
with his BOB winner, Journey Home’s
______________________________________
______________________________________
Certificate of Development News
By Lorrie Stillo
Youth Director’s Report
By Hannah Foster
[email protected]
Hello. It’s time again for the fall show season.
Recently, I have been to a few shows and am
glad to see other Velveteen Lop breeders there.
Convention in Wichita, KS is right around the
corner and I’m hoping to see other Youth
breeders there. I am excited to be showing a
pair of Velveteens that I have breed and raised.
Start shining those boots and dust off those
cowboy hats! The location of the 2014 ARBA
convention has been announced! We are
heading for Fort Worth, Texas! Convention
dates are: November 1 – November 5, 2014.
These dates are Very important as this will be
the first presentation of SOLIDS for the
Velveteens. Mark your calendars and plan to
attend in support of the breed.
Jr. Bucks
st
1 Lorrie Stillo
nd
2 Paul/Chris/Megan Matthys
rd
3 DQ
Jr. Does
st
1 DQ
Rabbit Reading Corner
By Jane Schreiner
Lorrie Stillo and her BOB winner Journey Home’s Tic Tac,
Tiffin, Ohio Sept., 2012
______________________________________
2012 Velveteen Lop Convention Results
BOB - Savana Henderson
BOS – Lorrie Stillo
20 Solids
Sr. Bucks (BOSV)
st
1 Lorrie Stillo
nd
2 Hannah Foster
rd
3 Lorrie Stillo
th
4 Lorrie Stillo
th
5 Kathie Simmons
Sr. Does
st
1 Hannah Foster
nd
2 DQ
rd
3 DQ
Jr. Bucks
st
1 Dorothy Pohorelow
nd
2 Kathryn Rairden
rd
3 Lorrie Stillo
th
4 DQ
th
5 DQ
th
6 DQ
th
7 DQ
Jr. Does
st
1 Paul/Chris/Megan Matthys
nd
2 Kathry Raiden
rd
3 Paul/Chris/Megan Matthys
th
4 Scratch
th
5 DQ
10 Brokens
Sr. Bucks
st
1 Kellie Foster
nd
2 Kellie Foster
rd
3 Paul/Chris/Megan Matthys
Sr. Does (BOV)
st
1 Savanah Hendersen
nd
2 Kellie Foster
rd
3 Scratch
I’m always searching the Internet for
new books about rabbits. I’ve been told I have
more rabbit books than Amazon. I will never get
tired of reading about these amazing animals.
As many of you know, the more you learn about
rabbit care, nutrition, and health, the better off
your rabbits will be. It’s hard to find a vet that is
knowledgeable and experienced in the care of
rabbits. Rabbits are considered an exotic pet
and there are not many vets out there who
specialize in that field.
One way to keep your rabbits healthy is
through good nutrition. I found an excellent book
on this subject. Rabbit Nutrition and Nutritional
Healing by Lucile Moore is an informative book
that is written in easily understandable
language. She addresses the nutrition content of
foods typically eaten by rabbits, what they
should eat and things they can eat in limited
amounts. She mentions some foods I’d never
have thought a rabbit would like. Alfalfa is
mentioned as a super food. Nutritional needs of
kits, adults, and elderly rabbits are discussed. I
enjoyed reading about the various plants in your
own back yard that were good for rabbits and
how both you and your rabbit can benefit from
growing wheat grass. Mycotoxins, which can be
found on hay and grain based manufactured
feeds are discussed in length. Rabbits are
extremely sensitive to these molds. This book
tells you what to look for in the foods, what the
signs and symptoms of mycotoxin poisoning are
and how to treat mycotoxicosis.
Other topics include use of prebiotics
and probiotics, nutritional healing, and what you
do and don’t want to see on the label of your
rabbit’s pellets. This is a great reference book to
add to your “bunny library”.
On the lighter side…If you need a good
laugh, pick up a copy of Sharon Stiteler’s
“Disapproving Rabbits”. It contains pictures of
rabbits with interesting expressions, activities, or
dress with comments below them. It didn’t take
me long to read it but I go back to it from time to
time. You will especially appreciate it if you have
a house rabbit. Happy reading!