Only healthy rabbits should be mated. Malocclusion of teeth and congenital eye problems are hereditary and rabbits with these problems should not be bred from. Rabbits should not be mated until full maturity at 8 months old. Most breeders wait until the doe is about nine to ten months, and then only if the doe is receptive.
One of the first difficulties encountered by the beginner who has bred their first litter and reared it to weaning age, is the choice of the best to groom on for exhibition. Almost all beginners choose the one with the most attractive head or the best ear-furnishing. However, there is much more to consider in selecting a potential winner.
The National Angora Club have now planned the craft festivals for 2018. The Club will be attending Wool@j13 in Penkridge on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th May. Plus Woolfest in Cockermouth on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd June, Fibre-East in Ampthill, Bedford Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th of July and British Wool Show in Murton, York Friday 10th and Saturday 11th of August.
The 2018 National Angora Club Stock Show will be held on Sunday 27th May at Wyken Community Centre, Westmorland Road, off Belgrave Road, Wyken, Coventry, CV2 5PY. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held at this show at 1pm at the show. Please send proposals or items for agenda to Christine Hamilton or Lesley Hordon.
The autumn stock show will be held at the London Championship Show on Saturday 13th October 2018. Venue East of England Showground, Oundle Road, Peterborough, PE2 6XE.
Judges for stock shows this year are confirmed. Neil Robertson for Coventry 27th May, Geoff Boot for London 13th October.
Please ensure that they have plenty of exhibits folks.
What a great number of entries into the product competition at the Bradford Championship Show this January held in Doncaster. So many varied items made from natural fibres and Angora wool products.
Rabbit terminology
NAC – National Angora Club
BRC- British rabbit Council
CC – Challenge certificate
BIS – Best in Show
BOB – Best of Breed
AOC – any other colour
AA – Any age
Ad – Adult rabbit over five months old
U/5 – Rabbit under five months
U/4 – rabbit under four months old
Brood Doe/Stud Buck – Clipped rabbits that can be judged to the standard at a stock show
coat to be no more than an inch long
YSS- Young Stock Show
GC – Grand Challenge
Rabbit problem explanations
- Scouring – Diahorrea
- Bloat – when the stomach is very tight like a drum
- Putty mouth or nose fault– When the rabbit has light colour round its dark face
- VM – Vienna marked – when a rabbit has random white patches on it
- VHD – Viral Haemmorrhagic Disease
If you are wanting to take more of an active role in the showing of angora rabbits then here is a brief guide to becoming a 3* judge. 3* judges fall into four categories, Fancy, Lop, Fur and Rex. The ultimate goal is to become a 3* judge in all four categories but this takes time, a lot of study and research and a great deal of patience.
Sally May of Bourne Stud with her award winning Chocolate Doe
Another great show for Angora breeders on the 21st and 22nd January 2018. There were three adults entered. Unfortunately Magickal Rabbits could not make it due to the weather.