The pictured rabbit has good type for a Jersey Wooly, per the SOP(standard of perfection). Each breed has a SOP, and we all are to strive to create a good representation for the breed per that standard. A SOP book can be purchased online through ARBA or at a show.
The pictured rabbit has a lovely ear carriage, the ears sit nicely on top of the head. They do not V and they do not want to lay down against the rabbits back. They are in proportion to the rest of her. The head is wide and well rounded, in general large with a bold eye. She has wide shoulders and a very deep chest. The body is short and the hindquarters are wide, with lots of depth and fullness. There is no pinching of the hips and she is not undercut. As you run your hands over her, she feels smooth and solid.
How do I know all of this? Practice. You must learn to evaluate your stock. And honestly. Many breeders do not like pointing out the flaws in their own rabbits. Knowing the flaws in your rabbits helps you to alter your breeding program and select breeding pairs that will compliment each other.
The pictured rabbit has a lovely ear carriage, the ears sit nicely on top of the head. They do not V and they do not want to lay down against the rabbits back. They are in proportion to the rest of her. The head is wide and well rounded, in general large with a bold eye. She has wide shoulders and a very deep chest. The body is short and the hindquarters are wide, with lots of depth and fullness. There is no pinching of the hips and she is not undercut. As you run your hands over her, she feels smooth and solid.
How do I know all of this? Practice. You must learn to evaluate your stock. And honestly. Many breeders do not like pointing out the flaws in their own rabbits. Knowing the flaws in your rabbits helps you to alter your breeding program and select breeding pairs that will compliment each other.
This little junior doe has a lot going for her, but she is narrow in the shoulders. This means that when picking out a match to breed her to, it needs to be a buck with wide shoulders.
Never breed two animals with the same major fault.
Get your hands on as many rabbits as you can. Ask judges, friends, and other breeders to show you an "under cut" rabbit, get them to show you a "pinched" rabbit. Get them to show you a rabbit with narrow shoulders, hindquarters, and face.
With many animals, looking isn't enough to be able to determine certain things. The black otter doe pictured above doesn't necessarily look narrow in the shoulders, but feeling her, you can tell. Try to not simply go by how an animal looks, but also feel the animal to be able to determine it's faults and strengths.
Never breed two animals with the same major fault.
Get your hands on as many rabbits as you can. Ask judges, friends, and other breeders to show you an "under cut" rabbit, get them to show you a "pinched" rabbit. Get them to show you a rabbit with narrow shoulders, hindquarters, and face.
With many animals, looking isn't enough to be able to determine certain things. The black otter doe pictured above doesn't necessarily look narrow in the shoulders, but feeling her, you can tell. Try to not simply go by how an animal looks, but also feel the animal to be able to determine it's faults and strengths.