Why doesn't ARBA...?

Question

why doesn't ARBA(american rabbit breeder association) recognize the lionhead rabbit breed as an official rabbit?what is wrong with it?i really cannot understand it.it's a breed,right?why not recognize it?

help.

Answer 1

It just hasn't had enough qualified showings at convention..

To become a recognized breed, it has to be 'proved out' or shown that the breed can continue to reproduce from it's own genetic material. Lionheads were imported from Europe, but, then bred with other breeds of rabbits such as Jersey wooly's and Holland Lops to give them blockier, fluffier heads.. Only one breeder at a time is given a certificate to show them at convention for the purpose of proving out the breed. They have to successfully pass close enough to standard three years in a row to be declared a breed. The first person to hold the certificate unfortunately failed the second year showing, so, a different breeder will be given the chance to start proving them out again this year at the annual convention.

Apparently, 3rd generation animals lose a lot of that obvious mane as the genetic material seems to be diluted breeding them to other lionheads, but, hopefully this next breeder will be able to get 3 successful showings.

You can't just add breeds without verifying that they are in fact real breeds with a stable genetic background. If you have to keep breeding in another breed to preserve the characteristics, then it's not stable enough to be an official breed yet. That's what the three years of showing is for, to prove that they can be bred as pure lionhead and retain enough characteristics to make them a distinct breed..

I love the look of the lionhead, it'd be awesome if someone has a strong enough line to get them to recognized status..

Answer 2

because it very inportant