Helping New Rabbit Breeders
At the 1936 Olympic in Berlin Germany, American Jesse Owens had just one jump left in the broad-jump finals, a German that Jesse was competing against offered some advice that he had used himself. In reply to Jesse’s, “Why help me?” the German replied “ I want to compete against the best.”
Perhaps when we are selecting animals to sell, we should follow the German’s lead. Instead of selling our culls to others, telling them they are excellent show rabbits, maybe we should sell our best, so that we can compete against the best. I know from personal experience that this has a much better effect on new breeders. I started out in rabbits five years ago. My first rabbit was a Netherland Dwarf who was far overweight, as a junior (5 months old I think) he weighed 2 lb. already. Fortunately I had friends who told me to show as "Pet" and I won first place Senior buck in that division. I liked rabbits, and decided to get a rabbit that I could show in a "real show" I bought some Satins, and was told that they were 6/8's and that the one doe had won BIS. I was told that I would have the pedigrees mailed to me. I found out that once again I'd been lied to, the "BIS winner" had a white toenail (she was black) and they were all several years old, just underweight rabbits that someone wanted to get rid of. I was really frustrated, and even more so when I never received the pedigrees. I was nearly ready to get out of rabbits all together because of those two breeders who represented the whole rabbit world to me. Can you see why it is important to help newcomers?
I should make myself clear in saying that I don’t mean that you should go and sell off all off all of your best rabbits, but maybe next time someone contacts you about starting in rabbits, you could sell a pair that you think will produce some top quality rabbits. You might find that with a little outside competition that showing becomes even more fun, and you are challenged to improve your whole herd, and the entire quality of your breed of rabbit improves!
