Rabbit Breeds - Your Online Source for Information on Rabbits
When most people think of rabbit breeds, the picture that usually comes to mind is that of a small, white furry creature with tall pink-tinted ears and a twitchy nose direct from the pages of Alice in Wonderland.
There are many types of rabbits; from dwarf to giant, white to brown and German to Flemish, and those used for pets and commercial use.
The American Rabbit Breeder Association recognizes 47 different rabbit breeds in the United States alone. Many more breeds exists worldwide; the exact number of which is uncertain. Rabbits can be categorized as domestic and wild.
Pet Rabbit Breeds
Popularity of rabbit breeds largely depends on what the purpose of the animal will be. If the rabbit is intended for use as a pet, a few good choices would be:
Dutch Rabbit
New Zealand White Rabbit
Mini Lop Rabbit
Holland Lop Rabbit
These breeds have proven over the years to be very popular choices among rabbit pet owners. Disposition and temperament generally decide the popularity of pet rabbits, and these rabbit breeds stand out as being docile, congenial and loveable as household pets.
Newer Rabbit Breeds
New rabbit breeds are developing continually.
Thrianta is the newest breed of rabbit that is red in color, medium sized and possessing excellent dispositions. These rabbits will surely become very popular, although they can be a little difficult to obtain at this time due to their new status.
Lionheads are a newer breed, aptly named rabbits due to the fringe of fur surrounding their heads.
Commercial Rabbit Breeds
Commercial rabbit breeds can be divided into two major groups:
Those which are raised for meat
Those that are raised for their fur
Two of the best breeds for meat are the New Zealand white and the California, due to the meat to bone ratio.
Other good meat breeds are:
Chinchillas
New Zealand reds
Champagne d’Argent
Rabbit meat is very low in fat, cholesterol and can be substituted for chicken in any recipes.
Rabbit fur is a viable commodity, although it is opposed by many animal activists who believe that rabbit fur should only be worn by the rabbit.
The Beveren is considered to be one of the top fur rabbits, although the Chinchilla is well known to possess one of the best fur coats of all breeds. The fur from these rabbits is extremely dense, glossy and soft, making them greatly admired among fur lovers. Rabbit breeds that are favored for fur production are the target of many activist groups, such as PITA, who strive to protect the breeds from what is considered to be cruel treatment.
Each breed has its own purpose and specific characteristics that can make it ideal as a pet or commercial use. The number of rabbit breeds is so varied that it would be difficult to pinpoint just one as the most favored; surely a far reach from the single picture of a cuddly, white rabbit of Alice in Wonderland fame.