SA Phendula.
August 2014.
“Why And How”.
The SA Phendula is a commercial meat breed of rabbits, created in South
Africa over the last twelve years. In other words, a South African Landrace
breed. To be called an SA Phendula, each individual rabbit must be assessed
and rated on its’ own merit, using the accepted breed standards and
assessment categories.
Someone commented last year: “Why all the fuss? Why do we need another
meat rabbit? We already have enough rabbit breeds.” I must admit to being
“gobsmacked” and totally lost for words at the time. This incident made me
think very seriously and properly justify my actions as well as goals. A very
big thank you to that person for clarifying my thoughts and intentions! I
have always had a picture in my mind and steadily aimed for it but without
formally acknowledging the frame work and “why”.
Having kept rabbits for most of my life, I went looking for some to breed for
meat and keep as pets, when we moved to our new farm in 2002, as at the
time we did not have any. I searched all over without much luck. Eventually I
managed to find some real odds and sods in pet shops where ever I
happened to travel all over Gauteng and North West, slowly building up the
herd to about one hundred in total. I knew there were great breeders in Natal
but never had good reason to travel there.
These original rabbits were too small for meat but not dwarfs. A lot of them
looked similar to the Dutch and English with their colours and markings if
one stretched their imagination! Over the years I carefully selected the
biggest to keep. Predators and climate did an enormous amount of natural
selection on the way for me. Having been involved in developing chickens
and goats suitable for our African climate the rabbits became an extension
of the pattern without conscious thought initially. I firmly believe in “survival
of the fittest” or said differently “adapt or die”. Yes I know this is a pretty
harsh stance for some to comprehend but in all reality nature is often harsh.
Once I really noticed what survived and produced well under my conditions
and environment I continued with this selection watching even more
carefully. My aim was still a big easy care, natural, functional, efficient,
hardy, meat rabbit, suitable in my environment, to feed my family.
Still searching a few years later I found, to my delight, three somewhat
bigger does. Unfortunately they were completely white with red eyes. I think
they were New Zealand Whites crossed with Chinchilla Gigantica. I was
dubious about breeding them into my stock as I had already established that
this colour combination would not do well. It was a tossup between survival
traits and size. Meat production won that round and I put them in. Years
later, I still have odd white kits born which are culled. These does did make a
good impact on the size. They were known as the three “Magogo” (old ladies)
producing up until 2013 at a ripe old age!
Sometime later on I found a doe which I now believe to have been a
Chinchilla Gigantica or cross thereof. I was really excited about breeding her
as she had close to the “wild” or “camouflage” coat I was looking for, which
had already started showing in the herd at this point.
Every year I saw, with envy, the rabbit pictures in the Farmers’ Weekly from
the Royal Show. Finally in 2010, I struck a deal with someone who managed
to bring up three bucks for me from Natal, being a Californian, Flemish Giant
and New Zealand Black.
The Californian buck did not last long at all, he was culled out early. His
progeny was disappointing. I was given an amazing New Zealand Red doe as
bonus, as I was disappointed to have the Californian buck instead of a New
Zealand Red buck!
The New Zealand Black really left his mark on the herd, both positive and
negative. We still generations later know exactly who he influenced! He also
did not last too long in the running here as he had a mean temper and was
not easily handled. Temperament and a very good nature became an
important trait that we specifically selected for. A heavy weight, nasty mean
natured buck is a danger to all. A good percentage of the kits born are still
“black”. This is not a pure solid black rather flecked with other colours or
partly fading to steel or chocolate. The fur type is slightly too long and silky
and the coats are not dense enough for my taste but he really contributed to
size and growth rates. Most does born “black” are still used as commercial or
transition breeding stock.
The Flemish Giant buck had the greatest and all positive influence in the
herd. 2010 right up until a few months ago in 2014. What a wonderful
gentleman he was, known later on as Grandfather. He always had does and
kits in his camp. He never once hurt any of them or harassed the does but
the job was always accomplished. Often kits would be wriggling under him
looking for teats to nurse on or using him as a trampoline. The funny point
here was that Grandfather arrived, to my horror, with only one testicle and
full of ear mites! Ear mites I had never seen before, believe it or not, so off
we rushed to the Vet. We got off to a dubious start. Never once has a buck
been born here with only one testicle so it was obviously an injury and not
genetic fault or abnormality. One or two testicles did not make any
difference to his virility either. Thank goodness I took the chance of breeding
him! Three of his granddaughters were on the 2013 Pretoria Show placing
first, second and third.
Now my breeding program really took off and I had great fun in seeing the
almost instant improvement in the size of my stock. Hybrid vigour is an
amazing thing! The next challenge was to keep the “hybrid vigour” going
through the generations so that it became a trait and not just a first
generation expectation.
I have since bought in two more bucks, one Flemish Giant (2011) and one
cross Flemish (2012). The Flemish from 2011 had a negative impact on the
herd which is disappointing; we have to watch out for narrow / dipped
shoulders. He never really matured into anything of substance or quality. He
produced the odd stunner in between but I think influenced by good quality
does, rather than him.
The only buck left of the original “bought in lot” is the cross Flemish, fondly
named Mercator. He is a beautiful, solid, heavy weight animal with a fantastic
nature. He was placed second in the commercial class of the 2014 Pretoria /
Jacaranda show. He has produced two putty noses which we never had
before! Any kit born with a putty nose is culled. The meat production, coat
and colouring, conformation and personality at this stage outweigh the
“hidden” putty noses that will pop up in future generations.
I’m watching out for another possible “putty nose producer” home bred buck
(Symbi) this year too, as altogether we had four kits. This could actually be
the doe as two are half siblings to Symbi through the doe. Symbi is definitely
the father to another. Either Symbi or the cross Flemish are responsible for
the fourth. On the other hand this doe has produced many litters of great
quality with never a putty nose before; she is a seasoned great old lady!
All other bucks now in use are home bred.
The New Zealand Red doe I was given was the last doe to come in (2010).
Unfortunately she was killed protecting her last litter from a massive cobra.
She had a very noticeable influence on the quality and size improvement in
the stock. We still have “Toffee” or “Biscuit” (as we refer to diluted red)
coloured kits born quite often. Most are culled but if of good quality I use as
commercial or transition breeding does. One of her granddaughters on the
Pretoria Show 2013 was placed third.
Why? I started with what I had available. By the time purebreds were within
reach I had a pretty good herd already so why cull out what had proved its
self and buy in does that would have to go through years of adapt or die? It
was viable to bring in bucks to improve on what was here.
Why a new breed? I had not intended to develop a new breed. I was quite
happy calling them crossbreds and did so for many years. My only intention
was to breed a rabbit that could and did survive and thrive productively
under “harsh” conditions to provide viable healthy meat for my family. I have
since discovered that genetic breeding material is limited in South Africa,
and we as breeders are under no circumstances allowed to import new
genetics, so something a little different or new, well adapted to our
conditions is really not a bad idea.
Now having done some homework processing and analysing my unconscious
thought patterns I have more answers to the why!
Characteristics we select for listed below.
Temperament - Easy to handle and work with.
Colour – “wild” or “natural” - Similar to our wild hares. Firstly as camouflage
not easily detected by predators. Secondly, a help in not absorbing too much
heat in our sometimes round about 40 degree Celsius temperatures. Thirdly
pigmentation helps avoid skin cancer and eye problems as well as parasites.
Fourth African people generally prefer to eat, and are more inclined to try,
something similar to the wild hares they are accustomed to eating rather
than a white rabbit with red eyes.
Skin – Loose and thin but not “baggy”. A loose supple skin is essential.
Predators and other rabbits tend to only do “fur” or slight skin damage rather
than serious muscle or meat damage when biting. Thin skin translates to a
higher slaughter percentage weight as well as a heat reducing factor.
Fur – Dense, short to medium. Short, glossy fur is desirable. Neither too
coarse, nor fine or fluffy. The moulting process is easier, shorter and less
energy consuming on the rabbit, also less to no cost or time in human
labour grooming. Dust or mud can become a problem with the wrong fur
types. Veld grass with black jacks and thorns of all varieties are a huge
problem with the wrong fur types. Predators and other rabbits usually only
get a mouthful of fur and do not manage to inflict serious wounds. I have to
date never had a problem with fur blocking a rabbits digestive tract and only
a few years ago realised this could be a problem when I discovered the
Gauteng Rabbit Breeders Association and started learning about other
breeds and problems I had no experience with. The fur must also be dense
enough to protect the rabbit living outdoors from light rain as well as down
to a minimum temperature of minus ten degrees Celsius.
Ears – Slightly bigger but still in proportion with a good base. Also an
important heat loss factor.
Eyes – Dark brown, large and kind.
Toe nails – Dark coloured.
Conformation – Natural, functional and a strong foundation to pack on the
meat! The rabbits must be able to perform all natural instinctive actions,
especially running at speed from predators. This is a healthy, strong,
functional and productive rabbit. This requires a really good functional
skeletal system which is the basis of good meat production. We look for a
solid “brick” of muscle with very little fat. A little fat on an animal indicates
to being in great condition with reserve for feeding kits but an overly fat
animal neither is good management nor is it muscle meat production. When
viewing a rabbit from above, it must be almost a rectangle. When looking at
a side view or “top line”, there must not be an obvious slope to the neck. The
skeletal system must on the other hand not be overly heavy, as bone
production is not meat production either!
Growth - Time, weight and feed quality – efficient - why feed slaughter stock
longer than necessary? If slaughter weight is achieved on time or a week
earlier on good quality feed it makes commercial sense. If the same weight is
reached on time or even a week later on minimal or poor quality feed it still
makes sense in Africa.
A note on future carcass packaging. Having experimented and listened to
our clients and another rabbit meat producer we have decided to package
our meat either as “flatties” or portions without the head attached. Head will
be left on by special request only. The curled up version is damaging to our
industry and limiting new marketing potential. The resemblance to a foetus
especially with the head on is not a marketable option. People are completely
put off by this view. It is only the “traditional” rabbit meat consumers such as
the Europeans that prefer the old presentation.
A note on this breeds survival potential in Africa. These are really tough
rabbits! After having fences cut due to unwanted night time visitors, rabbits
have escaped on our property a number of times. On one occasion it took us
two years to recapture or finally in desperation shoot, the last escapees and
their progeny living in the veld. We even removed all water points and only
had water set in traps. This bunch not only survived but thrived even
through winter and summer rainy season. Luckily we managed to reintroduce the majority. The last thirty or so became so bush savvy it was not
funny. They even managed to outwit all our usual predators.
This year has been very tough to say the least and has with hindsight,
proven the feed efficiency of this herd to me. Due to circumstances beyond
our control, being severe flooding and some other factors, the feed has been
severely limited and of very poor quality. We were unable to plant the usual
vegetables and oats. The rabbits have survived and whilst maybe not exactly
thrived as some are too thin for my preference, they have still produced.
We feed very little pellets designed for herbivores in general, not specifically
rabbits, with a 15 % protein. Each rabbit receives approximately 50 – 80
grams per day. The hay is mostly veld grass from cutting fire breaks, dusty
and with no real nutritional value. The majority of their feed has been Karee
tree leaves and bark with a little kikuyu grass that survived the frost. The
only problem we encountered was the tiny kits over eating on the pellets
which caused bloating as I think their little digestive systems were not ready
and the pellets compacted. The older youngsters and adults had no problem
other than being slightly under weight. Obviously they were a bit slower in
reaching slaughter weight under these conditions.
The SA Phendula breed still has some distance to go in developing and
refining. The reason for assessing each individual on its’ own merit and
classifying each rabbit assessed into a specific category, is to facilitate future
breeding and development, ensuring progress within the breed. The
accepted breed standard and assessment categories will be re-evaluated
from time to time by the South African Rabbit Judges Council, with this
improvement in mind.
I believe that the SA Phendula will play an important role in providing food
security to the African continent in the future. With knowledge and training
rabbits can provide quality, healthy, tasty and sustainable meat for your
family especially if you grow the rabbits’ food yourself.
On the other hand, rabbit breeding is not, under any circumstance, a quick
“get rich” scheme.