Let's start with something that I continually explain day in and day out. The vienna gene.
This rabbit has received one vienna gene. This is a vienna marked rabbit(VM). Vv.
This rabbit also has one vienna gene. It is a vienna carrier(VC). Vv.
This rabbit has received two copies of the vienna gene. It is a BEW. vv.
|
Vienna is the gene that produces blue eyes and white markings(and completely white when there are two genes present.) The markings can vary greatly. They can be the tiniest of snippets on their nose, a speck of blue in their eye, or a huge blaze of white down the face with white socks. Now, how is it that the black lionhead is a vienna carrier(VC)? She has no markings on her at all, no blue eyes. Yet, she is undoubtedly a VC. We know this because one of her parents were BEW. Vienna carriers are tricky because either a parent must be a BEW or test breeding must be done to confirm if the rabbit does indeed have the vienna gene. Both VM and VC rabbits have received one vienna gene, VM simply means that it physically expresses the gene, where as VC does not. THE REW GENE: If you breed two BEW's rabbits together you will always get BEWS....right? Unless you have a fun little REW gene in there. The REW gene is another recessive gene. It is a whole genetics story by itself. But in reference to the vienna gene, you simply need to understand a few things. REW is dominant over BEW. So if your rabbit is cc and vv then it will be a REW physically, but if bred to a rabbit that doesn't carry the REW gene then it will produce VM and VC's throughout the litter. If bred to a BEW that also doesn't carry REW you will get all BEW's. If you breed a BEW rabbit to a Vm/VC rabbit and you have a REW baby then you must test breed to determine if it is a VC(cc Vv) or a BEW. Test breeding is imperative to truly knowing what is behind each rabbit. There are colors to avoid in a vienna program: Chocolate,shadeds, and lilacs should be avoided in a vienna/BEW program. They can cause a ruby cast to the blue eyes. REW DOES NOT CAUSE A RUBY CAST TO THE EYES. The only time REW should be avoided in a vienna program is if you'd like to avoid the possibility of producing REW in your BEW program OR if the REW carries chocolate(or Lilac). REW cannot carry shaded, so don't worry about that. |
TO TEST BREED: If a rabbit ever pops out a BEW, then it is indeed a vienna rabbit. Even if bred to a BEW rabbit, a rabbit MUST have a vienna gene to produce a BEW.
Percentages: BEW x BEW = 100% BEW(unless we have our REW gene at work,BUT IT IS STILL GENETICALLY A BEW).
BEW x VM/VC = 50% BEW 50% VM/VC
VM/VC x VM/VC = 25% BEW 25% No vienna at all 50% VM/VC
BEW x Solid/Non vienna rabbit = ALL VM/VC rabbits.
VM/VC x Solid/Non vienna rabbit= 50% VM/VC rabbits 50% Non vienna rabbits.
TEST BREEDING IS IMPERATIVE IN MOST CASES TO KNOW WHAT'S THE GENOTYPE OF EACH RABBIT.
Percentages: BEW x BEW = 100% BEW(unless we have our REW gene at work,BUT IT IS STILL GENETICALLY A BEW).
BEW x VM/VC = 50% BEW 50% VM/VC
VM/VC x VM/VC = 25% BEW 25% No vienna at all 50% VM/VC
BEW x Solid/Non vienna rabbit = ALL VM/VC rabbits.
VM/VC x Solid/Non vienna rabbit= 50% VM/VC rabbits 50% Non vienna rabbits.
TEST BREEDING IS IMPERATIVE IN MOST CASES TO KNOW WHAT'S THE GENOTYPE OF EACH RABBIT.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Agouti Tan and Self
Every rabbit is always one of these three things : Agouti, Tan, or Self.
Pictured above is Calli. Calli is a Chestnut, which is one of the colors that fall under the Agouti category.
Others colors included in this category include Opal, Chinchilla, Squirrel, Chocolate Chestnut, Lynx etc. These colors can be identified by some key distinctions. Agouti rabbits have eye circles, nose lacings, ear lacings, and white bellies. If you blow into their fur, they have rings that are beautifully defined.
Others colors included in this category include Opal, Chinchilla, Squirrel, Chocolate Chestnut, Lynx etc. These colors can be identified by some key distinctions. Agouti rabbits have eye circles, nose lacings, ear lacings, and white bellies. If you blow into their fur, they have rings that are beautifully defined.