For breeding/show stock, when just starting out, I would recommend getting from a breeder. They should have some sort of idea how that damline is, or even at least how the rabbits mother was. That is really the *best* indication on whether or not the rabbit will be a good mother. Of course it is always a toss up. Temperament wise, I have seen basket case rabbits be good mothers, or be so stressy they kill all the kits. I have also seen laid back, sweet rabbits be good mothers, and I have seen them just completely ignore their babies. So I don't think temperament is a very good indication. From my experience, best you can do if you don't know her maternal bloodline is get her, breed her and see how it works out. Mostly it is just IF you have the option to find out maternal history, do so, and pick the rabbit with the best mother.
In terms of the holland lops, home-sweet-home made it sound like there was 8 in the litter (is this correct? 3 died, and 5 living?) From what I understand, that is a huge litter for a Holland Lop. That breeder I was talking to said litter sizes was usually 2-4, and then not all are show quality. What we were talking about was the differences between raising/showing the mini-satins and the hollands, so his point was that with the small litter sizes, it takes more to get your champion animals and replacement stock because you have less to choose from. He had been showing hollands for many years and was just getting into the mini-satins. So, if I were to start breeding holland lops for pets, I would just look for rabbits that have good sized litters and are good mothers. If looking for top-of-the-line show animals, obviously you have to take the best you can afford to start with and learn what the standard is and what to look for. If there are small litter sizes there, maybe get one that isn't so typey but comes from a big litter, cross her in, and select offspring for that trait and being true to type. What fun is breeding if we haven't set up goals?
