NZ X Californian

[txcarl1258]

I am new to this forum, I have been frequenting BYC when I came across this site. Here is my question. I have a Cali buck and two NZ white does. I am going to cross them for some meat rabbits. Does anyone have experience with this cross? Do they have good hybrid vigor when it comes to growth and carcass traits? This is going to be a terminal cross, will not be keeping any back for breeding. Thanks for your help.

 

[dbunni]

The Cali NZ cross is a very common one. Great meat producers. Even some show breeders do it to strengthen their line. I know of a t least 2 partnerships that are cali & NZ breeders. If it is born with himi markings, it goes in the cali barn. Solids/brokens go to the NZ ... everybody else is invited to dinner!

 

[txcarl1258]

Thanks for your help. I would like to get some Cali does and a NZ buck. The man I bought them from said the buck was registered and has a tattoo in his ear. Is there any way to trace it? I haven't actually looked for myself to see if it is readable or not. I am thinking he was an ex FFA rabbit and whoever he got him from said he was "registered".

 

[PattySh]

I cross them all the time for meat. I think the calis have an easier temperament, at least the ones I have do. You get a nice meaty rabbit with the cross and they grow fast.

 

[Bunnylady]

Thanks for your help. I would like to get some Cali does and a NZ buck. The man I bought them from said the buck was registered and has a tattoo in his ear. Is there any way to trace it? I haven't actually looked for myself to see if it is readable or not. I am thinking he was an ex FFA rabbit and whoever he got him from said he was "registered".

In order for a rabbit to be showable in ARBA-sanctioned shows, it must have a tattoo in its left ear. The breeder puts that mark there, it can be any combination of letters and numbers that make sense to the owner. The breeder most likely will have a pedigree for the rabbit as well.

A rabbit that is at least 6 months old, conforms to the breed standard, and has a complete 3-generation pedigree (with all of the rabbits on the pedigree being the same breed), is eligible for registration. The owner takes the rabbit to a registrar, who will weigh the rabbit, and check to make sure it is free of DQ's. If he is satisfied that the rabbit bears a reasonable resemblance to the animal described in the breed standard, he will put his mark in the animal's right ear ( this is the only mark allowed in the right ear, all others are a DQ). He will file an application for registration with the ARBA, which includes the rabbit's pedigree. If no discrepancies are found between the ARBA's record and what is written on the pedigree, the ARBA will mail the official registration to the owner.

Ear tattoos alone will probably not be any help for tracing a rabbit. The left ear tattoo being at the whim of the breeder, there may be hundreds if not thousands of rabbits with some combinations (yes, I have seen two rabbits in the same class with the same ear number!) There was a time when the registrar was tattooing the rabbit's right ear with the actual registration number, but they haven't done that for many years. The registrar's mark now is a letter "R" in a circle, every rabbit gets the same mark, so all it shows is that the rabbit is registered. Unless you knew the breeder, I doubt that you could get very far trying to trace a rabbit without the papers to go with it.