Pedigree Question

[rowegirl]

I am wanting to eventually work up to having an all pedigreed netherland dwarf herd. I bought a buck and a doe before I knew about pedigrees and registering so they do not have pedigrees. I am currently buying a false Charlie with the option of a pedigree for just $10 more. I hadn't heard of Charlies before so I read up on them and found out that they are non showable. So my question is should I pay the extra $10 for the pedigree or not worry about it?

 

[Marie28]

I have no knowledge about being non-showable, and I've just gotten in to rabbits. All 3 of our rabbits had pedigrees ( meaning that I have the name, weight, and color/breed for 4 generations) and I did not pay extra for them to give me a printed piece of paper... Is it normal to pay extra?
I would think that if your goal is to have a great pedigreed line then you should get only rabbits with pedigrees and give yourself a head start.

 

[rowegirl]

I am just starting out with rabbits too so I am not sure what the norm is. I just bought my daughter a holland lop and I told the lady I wanted him only as a pet but price never changed and I got his pedigree. I know around here in tn they sell pedigreed rabbits for a few dollars less to people who just want pets. The Charlie I'm getting has a pedigree but I didn't know if it was worth paying extra for his pedigree since he isn't showable.

 

[promiseacres]

If you're going to raise rabbits long term (yes even pets and meat ) a pedigree is invaluable. You know your rabbits history. Helps with color genetics, many have show placings, and helps make breeding decisions. Only if you're wanting a pet without intentions of breeding would I not get one. If you do get into showing and later decide to register a rabbit you must have a complete pedigree. If you're a serious about being a rabbitry with a good reputation you need pedigrees. Personally I wouldn't look twice at one without it.
a Charlie can work well with a broken (spotted) breeding program. Some people do sell cheaper without the pedigree. I have done this in the past.

 

[rowegirl]

Thank you @promiseacres I was leaning that way until I saw that about being non showable. But I do see what you mean. I am wanting to have a great rabbitry so I will get his pedigree. I am still learning about genetics and am planning on joining ARBA and the ANDRC.

 

[DutchBunny03]

If showing is what you want to do, buying a non-showable rabbit, even with a pedigree, is the opposite of helpful. Its offspring could be non-showable, and while that is not a guarentee, it is a big possibility. Then you are stuck with a bunch of non-showable rabbits.
Joining the ARBA is a great idea. It allows you to win a GC certificate, which is a possibility if you breed and manage your rabbits well.

 

[rowegirl]

I will definitely keep reading up on it.

 

[firedragon1982]

I know that if you breed for 3 generations and keep records, they can "become" pedigreed, but that takes time and patience... However I have 0 patience... lol! Considering how my first litter is still about 6 weeks away from being breeding age, 2nd litters not due for another 3 weeks....

 

[HaloRabbits]

I am wanting to eventually work up to having an all pedigreed netherland dwarf herd. I bought a buck and a doe before I knew about pedigrees and registering so they do not have pedigrees. I am currently buying a false Charlie with the option of a pedigree for just $10 more. I hadn't heard of Charlies before so I read up on them and found out that they are non showable. So my question is should I pay the extra $10 for the pedigree or not worry about it?

You said it is a false Charlie, so I wouldn't worry about its children being non-showable. Even if it was a true Charlie I wouldn't worry about this. Just Don't breed it to a broken because then they could both give the modifiers that give the amount of white that makes your bunny a false charlie, if your rabbit is a false charlie, it is truly a very marked broken and 2 broken rabbits have a 25% chance of creating a true Charlie. I would breed your rabbit to a solid (preferably one that doesn't come from a long line of brokens because if it does come from a long line of brokens it could still have those same modifiers mentioned above).

@DutchBunny03 I both agree and disagree with your comment . I say this because the reason the rabbit is not showable is a BIG determinate. If the rabbit isn't showable because it is a false charlie, it could still have solid kits (when bred to a solid or a broken). If the reason the rabbit was unshowable was something, for example, like a vienna marking or improper eye color then I would 100% agree with you because those things are harder to prevent and also could linger as a recessive gene and if you were to sell a bunny as a breeder you could be introducing that fault into someone elses line. Make sense?

I am new-ish to rabbits but I study Biology in college, I graduate (again) in May !!! Genetics is amazing and I love it. I love working with genetics and used to breed fish, chickens, and dogs. I now only breed Darkling beetles and Rabbits .

 

[rowegirl]

Thank you @HaloRabbits! I have been reading up on it and that is what I have found as well. It was nice to hear it from someone else!