THE MINATURE LOP BREED
The UK miniature lop (AKA Mini lop) is a breed of domestic rabbit recognised by the British Rabbit Council (BRC). They are a small to medium breed, but the smallest lopped eared breed in the UK. They are generally a sweet natured breed, with fun and quirky personalities, however, the way they are brought up from babies will reflect the sort of nature they will ultimately have. Aggressive rabbits should never be bred from, this is a trait that can easily be passed onto babies. Always ensure you look for a reputable breeder who cares for their rabbits and puts welfare above all else, and avoid pet shops and backyard breeders that just want to make a quick ££. They have no aftercare and most will be untamed, unfriendly and likely just end up in a rescue centre which are full to the brim already. A good breeder will offer lifetime support and will take the bunny back if unforeseen circumstances change, thus not contributing to animals in rescue and being responsible for their whole lifetime.
It should be noted that the term 'Holland lop' does not exist in the UK, and is just what the same breed is named in the US.
Do not be fooled by people advertising them in the UK as a smaller breed, they are the same thing just a differing term ( very slight differences in breed standard simply due to BRC and ARBA looking for slightly different traits)
Below you will see the comparison chart for US vs. UK lop breeds:
It should be noted that the term 'Holland lop' does not exist in the UK, and is just what the same breed is named in the US.
Do not be fooled by people advertising them in the UK as a smaller breed, they are the same thing just a differing term ( very slight differences in breed standard simply due to BRC and ARBA looking for slightly different traits)
Below you will see the comparison chart for US vs. UK lop breeds:
THE DWARF GENE
Any rabbit breed possessing the dwarf gene will make them a more challenging breed to work with, so it's important to know how to deal with any complications and be prepared to act fast and get to a vet immediately if necessary.
It's not all cute and fluffy bunnies, this hobby can be extremely difficult and heart-breaking at times.
There are a few breeds that carry the dwarf gene, not just mini-lops, however this is my breeding focus and what I will be focussing on for this page of my website.
When breeding rabbits carrying the dwarf gene you will come across the following 3 types of mini-lops:
True dwarf False dwarf Peanut
It's not all cute and fluffy bunnies, this hobby can be extremely difficult and heart-breaking at times.
There are a few breeds that carry the dwarf gene, not just mini-lops, however this is my breeding focus and what I will be focussing on for this page of my website.
When breeding rabbits carrying the dwarf gene you will come across the following 3 types of mini-lops:
- True dwarfs - Generally the better 'type' mini-lops, that will adhere closer to BRC standards and weight limit. They tend to have traits like a nice short body and ears, small hind feet, and are more likely to succeed on the show table.
- False dwarfs - Generally go over the BRC weight limit, have a longer body and ears, and larger hind feet in adulthood They are unlikely to be showable as adults. They can however make good brood does, as have less complications with birthing.
- Peanuts - Basically, a 'double whammy' of the dwarf gene. They are extremely tiny when born compared to the other kits, and generally have a domed head, bulging eyes and weak hind limbs. They are often born dead, but if born alive they generally survive no more than 3 days, although they have been known to survive longer. They never, under any circumstances survive, if they do survive, you do not have a peanut, you have a runt.
True dwarf False dwarf Peanut
It's not always clear as kits which are true dwarfs and which are false dwarfs, however as they mature it normally becomes clear, as you can see from the above example pictures. This can be further proven via the outcome of the pairings you do, always record where you see peanuts, it will help when you plan future pairings.
See below for the possible outcomes depending on what type of pairing you do, where, FF= False, Ft = True, tt = Peanut (correct term for expressing dwarf gene is actually DW-dw, but I've used the above terms to try make it look simpler)
False x False pairing True x False pairing True x True pairing
See below for the possible outcomes depending on what type of pairing you do, where, FF= False, Ft = True, tt = Peanut (correct term for expressing dwarf gene is actually DW-dw, but I've used the above terms to try make it look simpler)
False x False pairing True x False pairing True x True pairing
100% false kits 50% false : 50% true kits 25% false : 50% true : 25% peanut
Note, the above are averages, not a given, I've seen litters with 75% peanuts in and true mating's with no peanuts in at all.
However, one thing for sure is that you cannot get a true dwarf form 2 false dwarfs rabbits, as such, this is not a recommended pairing, you will not improve your breed standard doing this type of pairing.
There are also other genetic deformities that can occur, such as 'hippos', although in all my years of breeding, I have not come across this, so it isn't common like with peanuts and I have no personal knowledge I can share on this.
Note, the above are averages, not a given, I've seen litters with 75% peanuts in and true mating's with no peanuts in at all.
However, one thing for sure is that you cannot get a true dwarf form 2 false dwarfs rabbits, as such, this is not a recommended pairing, you will not improve your breed standard doing this type of pairing.
There are also other genetic deformities that can occur, such as 'hippos', although in all my years of breeding, I have not come across this, so it isn't common like with peanuts and I have no personal knowledge I can share on this.
BASIC COLOUR GENETICS
The basics are actually very simple, anyone breeding should at least learn the basics before even considering pairings.
Rabbit coat colour is primarily determined by 5 genes:
A - the 'pattern' gene
B - the 'pigment' gene
C - the 'colour' gene
D - the 'dilution' gene
E - the 'extension' gene
Each parent donates one of a pair of each type of gene to its offspring. The offspring therefore have two of each gene; one from each parent.
Since I want to keep this section to just basic colours outcomes, I am only going to discuss the B & D genes here, as these are the easiest to grasp for basic colour genetics. The other genes can be harder to wrap your head round, but at the end of this section I will link to some pages that I like to use for further information on more complex genetics.
There are some genes even I can't fully get my head around at times, but it's very fascinating and a continuous learning curve.
The 'B' gene
This gene is simple to understand and is responsible for the colour pigment, it's expressed as either 'B' or 'b'
As discussed above, there's 2 gene that determine the colour outcome and they are expressed as follows:
So what are the outcomes from some pairings of this gene:
Black x Black (neither carry choc) Black x Black (1 carries choc) Black x Black (both carry choc)
Rabbit coat colour is primarily determined by 5 genes:
A - the 'pattern' gene
B - the 'pigment' gene
C - the 'colour' gene
D - the 'dilution' gene
E - the 'extension' gene
Each parent donates one of a pair of each type of gene to its offspring. The offspring therefore have two of each gene; one from each parent.
- Dominant genes are expressed, i.e. the colour of the rabbit that you physically see (Phenotype)
- Recessive genes are carried, i.e. the underlying genes that are possibly passed on but not actually (Genotype)
Since I want to keep this section to just basic colours outcomes, I am only going to discuss the B & D genes here, as these are the easiest to grasp for basic colour genetics. The other genes can be harder to wrap your head round, but at the end of this section I will link to some pages that I like to use for further information on more complex genetics.
There are some genes even I can't fully get my head around at times, but it's very fascinating and a continuous learning curve.
The 'B' gene
This gene is simple to understand and is responsible for the colour pigment, it's expressed as either 'B' or 'b'
- B is dominant and is responsible for the coat colour being black
- b is responsible for the chocolate family
As discussed above, there's 2 gene that determine the colour outcome and they are expressed as follows:
- BB - rabbit is black based
- Bb - rabbit is visually black, but will carry chocolate
- bb - rabbit is chocolate based
So what are the outcomes from some pairings of this gene:
Black x Black (neither carry choc) Black x Black (1 carries choc) Black x Black (both carry choc)
100% black kits, none carry choc 100% black kits, 50% carry choc 25% black, 50% black (carry choc), 25% choc kit
Black (no choc carried) x Chocolate Black (choc carried) x Chocolate Chocolate x Chocolate
Black (no choc carried) x Chocolate Black (choc carried) x Chocolate Chocolate x Chocolate
100% black kits, all carry choc 75% choc kits, 25% black (carry choc) 100% chocolate kits
The 'D' gene
This gene is simple to understand and is responsible for the colour dilution, it's expressed as either 'D' or 'd'
The combination of the B gene & the D gene will determine what colour base the rabbit will be:
So here are some of the outcomes for colours based on the above:
Example mating 1:
BBDD (Black - nothing carried) x bbdd (lilac)
All kits will be black, however all kits will now carry dilute & chocolate
Because the black parents carries neither dilute or chocolate, black is the only outcome possible for this mating
Example mating 2:
BBDd (Black carrying dilute) x bbdd (lilac)
This time kits can be black or blue based as the black carries dilute, but not chocolate
Example mating 3:
Bbdd (Blue carrying chocolate) x bbdd (lilac)
Because both parents are dilute and this is recessive, the only outcome is dilute
Also the Blue carries chocolate, so lilac is a possibility, so kits will be blue or lilac based
Example mating 4:
bbdd (lilac) x bbdd (lilac)
So this is all the recessives, which means only lilac can be produced from this mating, all kits will be lilac based
If you get any other colour from this mating, one of your parents is not lilac as it's genetically impossible from this mating
Example mating 5:
Bbdd (blue carrying chocolate) x bbDD (chocolate)
Kits can only be dense, so black or chocolate as no dilute is carried on the chocolate parent
Example mating 6:
Bbdd (blue carrying chocolate) x bbDd (chocolate carrying dilute)
The rainbow mating! All colours bases are possible from this mating
Useful links to more detailed genetic information
NOTE: some links are US sites and they use different terms for colours than the UK so bare this in mind.
The 'D' gene
This gene is simple to understand and is responsible for the colour dilution, it's expressed as either 'D' or 'd'
- D is dominant and is responsible for Dense colours, i.e. Black or Chocolate based
- d is responsible for dilute colours; i.e. Blue (dilute of black) or Lilac (dilute of chocolate) based
The combination of the B gene & the D gene will determine what colour base the rabbit will be:
- BBDD - a black rabbit, nothing being carried
- BbDD - a black rabbit, carrying chocolate
- BBDd - a black rabbit, carrying dilute
- BbDd - a black rabbit, carrying chocolate and dilute
- BBdd - a blue rabbit
- Bbdd - a blue rabbit, carrying chocolate
- bbDD - a chocolate rabbit
- bbDd - a chocolate, rabbit carrying dilute
- bbdd - a lilac rabbit
So here are some of the outcomes for colours based on the above:
Example mating 1:
BBDD (Black - nothing carried) x bbdd (lilac)
All kits will be black, however all kits will now carry dilute & chocolate
Because the black parents carries neither dilute or chocolate, black is the only outcome possible for this mating
Example mating 2:
BBDd (Black carrying dilute) x bbdd (lilac)
This time kits can be black or blue based as the black carries dilute, but not chocolate
Example mating 3:
Bbdd (Blue carrying chocolate) x bbdd (lilac)
Because both parents are dilute and this is recessive, the only outcome is dilute
Also the Blue carries chocolate, so lilac is a possibility, so kits will be blue or lilac based
Example mating 4:
bbdd (lilac) x bbdd (lilac)
So this is all the recessives, which means only lilac can be produced from this mating, all kits will be lilac based
If you get any other colour from this mating, one of your parents is not lilac as it's genetically impossible from this mating
Example mating 5:
Bbdd (blue carrying chocolate) x bbDD (chocolate)
Kits can only be dense, so black or chocolate as no dilute is carried on the chocolate parent
Example mating 6:
Bbdd (blue carrying chocolate) x bbDd (chocolate carrying dilute)
The rainbow mating! All colours bases are possible from this mating
Useful links to more detailed genetic information
NOTE: some links are US sites and they use different terms for colours than the UK so bare this in mind.