Myxomatosis

Myxomatosis is not native to Britain, but was deliberately introduced from France in 1953 to control the wild rabbit population. It was rapidly fatal and over 99% of wild rabbits died. The virus has mutated and is now less severe, and to some extent wild rabbits have developed resistance.

Domestic rabbits are still very vulnerable, and the best protection is annual vaccination with Nobivac. The myxomatosis virus is spread by biting insects and rabbit fleas, with an incubation period of between 5-14 days. The rabbit develops discharging swollen eyes, causing blindness, swollen ears and genitals and a prolonged illness usually resulting in death. It is still possible for a vaccinated rabbit to get myxomatosis, but is much more likely to survive.

It is most prevalent where wild rabbits are common, but as biting insects can fly many miles, no domestic rabbit can be considered safe. It is strongly recommended that owners vaccinate against  myxomatosis and both forms of viral haemorrhagic disease. Nobivac protects against VHD1 as well as myxomatosis, but a separate vaccine is required to protect against RVHD2.

Breed standard for coloured English Angoras

The breed standard of the national club for English Angora rabbits

Judges are requested to judge the coloured Angora to the Breed Standard as laid down by the Specialist Club and not to confuse the colours with any other breed standard for short haired varieties.

Points are the same for Whites except that 5 points each are deducted from Quantity and Quality of wool and allocated:

Solid Colour: 10 points

Angoras are unique in the fact that they possess a multi-layered coat. The tips of each new coat are therefore darker than the previous coat which lightens as it gains length.

This produces Banding in all colours. Rabbits should not be excessively penalised for lighter bands of the top colour appearing in the coat, but the more uniform the colour the better. White bands are unacceptable, with the exception of the Golden, which is of yellow origin and therefore has a creamy – white band at the base.

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Siamese Sable english angora

Siamese Sable Light Shade

  •  A medium sepia colour similar to fur breed
  • Ears, face and tail a deep sepia
  • Body wool shaded from a medium sepia on back to lighter on chest and flanks
  • Under-colour fawn

Siamese Sable Medium Shade

  • As for light sable except for dark sepia colour instead of medium

Siamese Sable Dark Shade

  • Very dark plum brown, can be almost black on mask, in place of sepia
  • Often mistaken for a smoke, but coat colour of dark sable has distinct rusty tones in the wool
  • Eyes for all shades to glow ruby red in subdued light

Smoke English Angora

The Smoke Angora is a stunning colour with a rich dark coloured head and the breed standard is as follows:

Smoke Breed Standard

  • Head, feet and ears black
  • Wool dark bluish-grey without white base
  • Tips to match head
  • Nose and ears to be free of silvering
  • Eyes blue but brown acceptable

This is a self coloured rabbit, and when Smoke has been bred to Smoke for many generations, is genotype aaBBCCDDEEll

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Chocolate english angora

Chocolate breed standard

The breed standard for the Chocolate English Angora rabbit should be:-

  • Rich chocolate on head, ears, legs and tail
  • Body lighter shade with tips to match head
  • Under colour pale chocolate
  • Eyes to glow ruby red in subdued light, but brown acceptable

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The breed standard of the white English Angora

The breed standard of the national club.

Wool Quality

  • Texture as silky as possible
  • 30 points

Wool Quantity and Length

  • Even and full all over, clear to the skin
  • 25 points

Front

  • Full and prominent on the chest and sides of the neck
  • 10 points

Head, Neck and Ears

  • Broad short head. Short well woolled and tufted ears  
  • 10 points

Size and Shape

  • Round and snowball like
  • Weight at 5 months approximately 5½lbs (2.494kg)
  • An adult ideally not to exceed 7½lbs (3.402kg)
  • Type and quality always to be taken into account
  • 10 points

Feet

  • Thickly covered with long wool, well furnished
  • 5 points

Condition

  • Clean well nourished and well groomed
  • 10 points

Total 100 points

Eyes: Ruby, bright and bold

Legs: Straight, heavily woolled

Tail: Large and well woolled

Head: Wide across the nostrils, bold appearance, densely furred, wool to be long and thick between and behind the ears.

Serious Faults: Narrow wedge head, long plain ears, plain feet,matted coat, coarse coat, bad condition, lop ears.

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National Angora Club Facebook page

The National Angora Rabbit Club UK Facebook page was originally set up for National Angora Club members. However over the years there are a number of people who have let their memberships lapse. Please can members renew as soon as possible to continue access to the Facebook group. Please send subscriptions to Sally May, Treasurer, before 1st August 2018. The cost up to the end of the year is £2.50. This will bring you up to date to rejoin as normal in January 2019, when the full cost of membership for the year 2019 will be £5.
Those who decide that they do not wish to renew will be removed from the Club Facebook page in August, as the page is for National Angora Club members only. Paypal email is nationalangoraclub@gmail.com, cheques to Sally May at address in Yearbook or pm for address.”

Awards for winning

There are various awards upon winning an angora show including trophies, certificates, cups, stars and rosettes. However, it is not just about the winning, it is important to take part and support the shows to ensure that the English Angora rabbit profile is maintained as well as the breed standard.

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Lopped ears on an angora

A key fault with angora rabbits it lopped ears, the cause is not easy to diagnose but it quite common in periods of excessive heat with summer litters. They can lop them due to damage and infection and in some cases it may be one or both ears. Sometimes depending on what caused them to droop in the first place, they do go upright again, but this is less likely. Therefore angora rabbits with droopy or lopped ears are unlikely to be show, exhibition or breeding rabbits and more likely pets.

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