• Offspring tend to resemble their total pedigree more often than the immediate sire and dam. The more intensely bred line will dominate.

• It is virtually impossible to upgrade quality within a herd through one out-cross breeding. It will take several breeding's to the same line.

• The best offspring are produced through a Half Brother and Half Sister breeding, doubling up on the particular rabbit you admire and then out-crossing on the dam.

• Out-crosses are generally a big disappointment; however if the out-cross is free from major faults, it should be kept back and bred back to the individual line you wish to copy.

• Out-crossing must be made every few generations but only to keep the vigor of the line, the more out-crossing, the less chance of uniform quality.

• Everything is inherited... Type, personality, color. If you have a particular rabbit that carries a specific trait you feel should be stamped out and you can't stand the idea of a barn full of that specific trait, then DON'T BREED IT.

• Undesirable traits are never truly bred out of a line. They are merely hidden or buried. They will rear their ugly little heads when least expected to haunt you over and over again for years to come, you will wonder why you ever made that foolish choice.

• Each rabbit carries a recessive for nearly every fault you can name. It might take generations for it to show up again, but its there.

• There is no perfect rabbit. No perfect breeding. Mother nature has a tightfisted way of doling out improvements and changes.

• How then can we move ahead? Let your conscience be your guide, use only individuals you feel worthy of duplicating and only keep the ones possessing the qualities you want within your line and you will slowly see improvement.

Whew! The summer heat has hit us hard here on California's Central Coast. We have spent most of the past week at temperatures above 105 degrees with no end in sight. The rabbits are nice and cool inside the barn but like a worried mom I can't help but stick close to home. I feel like a shut-in, but at least they are safe. Did I mention -- I hate the summertime!

The barn is almost complete. Marc has been helping me get the final touches finalized with FRP paneling on the walls. Wow! It is so nice to just "Kaboom" the walls and wipe them down to clean. I am really happy with this material. Just a few more weeks and it will be all installed.

Another exciting announcement: I have finally settled on a linoleum pattern for the new floor. The first attempt at flooring was a waste of money and effort and shows everything! It was similar to that wood flooring; came in strips. Ugh. I have to rip it out and start over. I would rather go with something which will be functional and last longer - and not cause more work for me in the long run. Lesson learned, that's for sure.

I am sure if you follow my blog and frequent KingoftheFancy.com you have noticed a few {{{ BIG }}} changes over this past week. Yes, I finally updated: at the request of my friend Marie from Stretching Limits Rabbitry, she motivated me to take some time and update our website: which has turned into a full website redesign. I have several projects happening now also. Working on another friend's website, and working hard to complete a handful of ARBA Catalog Ads for the upcomming national convention.

Another big addition: I have added several new rabbits: American Fuzzy Lops from killer lines! I am in the hopes of outcrossing our line and will be working to improve shoulders, hindquarter and crowns with these new bucks. I felt it such an outstanding opportunity and could not pass it up.



SIDE NOTE:
One thing which has been on my mind quite a bit is ethics. What is ethical? What's not? Do you stand behind each animal you sell? Do you replace animals? Or sadly, is the sale more important than the forged relationships you could have possibly made with a fellow breeder/enthusiast?

Most of us derive a certain amount of enjoyment out of this hobby. Others are down right passionate. Whether it is friendships, developing your line, or winning; how you relate to other breeders and conduct your own business in this fancy is a reflection on the type of person you are.

I personally believe winning is easy. It's how you loose which shows true character.
My question to you: Are you a good looser?


Here is a simple definition of Ethics: Ethics is a branch of philosophy which seeks to address questions about morality, such as what the fundamental semantic, ontological and epistemic nature of ethics or morality is (meta ethics) how moral values should be determined (normative ethics), how a moral outcome can be achieved in specific situations (applied ethics), how moral capacity or moral agency develops and what its nature is (moral psychology), and what moral values people actually abide by (descriptive ethics).