Moonshine Stud
Quality home-bred rabbits bred true to type
Netherland Dwarf Genetics
Breeding Netherland Dwarfs (as well as the rest of the dwarf breeds)
can be a frustrating challenge, but it's something those who appreciate
their charm come to love.
There are two types of viable dwarfs. The ''true dwarf'' and the ''false dwarf'' and also the lethal ''Double dwarf'' or peanut which will die.
A true dwarf is the dwarf most people associate with the breed: small, chunky, shortened thick limbs, big head and short thick ears.
The false dwarfs are larger (most go over the 2.08lb limit for show) they have longer limbs and ears and are generally less chunky overall looking more like a normal rabbit (which is in essence what they are)
Some breeders (myself included) keep back a few of the does from the best of these false dwarfs as you are guaranteed not to get peanuts out of them and they are useful in getting live litters out of especially since a decent sized number of the show does are rarely good producers. The show does false dwarf sister can be producing the next generation of show rabbits while her better looking sister is winning on the show table.
The gentics behind these types can be explained as follows.
The dwarf gene (Dw) responsible for making all the dwarf breeds is a lethal gene.
In its homozygous state (rabbit has two dwarf genes) DwDw the rabbit is born with a non functioning or incomplete digestive system and will starve to death usually within 3 days.
In its heterozygous state however the introduction of one normal rabbit gene (dw) allows the beneficial aspects of the Dw gene to function while tempered by the dw gene. A Dwdw combination results.
Any normal non dwarfed rabbit (or false dwarf rabbit) has a homozygous dose of the normal gene dwdw.
Breeding two true dwarfs together results in the resulting kits having the following:
25% chance of inhereiting the DwDw combination (the lethal one)
50% chance of inhereiting the Dwdw combination (the show typed True dwarf combo)
25% chance of inhereiting the dwdw combination (the non show typed False dwarf combo)
Thats not to say out of a litter of 4 you will get 1 peanut, 2 true dwarfs and 1 false dwarf.
I've had litters of 8 (yes EIGHT) peanuts, and litters of 5 false dwarfs with as much frequency as I've had litters of 3 and 4 true dwarfs. Genetic chance is as much a dice roll as anything.
Another breeding choice is to breed a ''true dwarf'' buck and a ''false dwarf'' doe, (the reverse is also a possible but most people cull their false dwarf bucks out at a young age to pet homes) This will give the resulting kits the possible combinations:
50% chance of inhereiting the Dwdw combination (the show typed True dwarf combo)
50% chance of inhereiting the dwdw combination (the non show typed False dwarf combo)
Again these are statistical chances, again you can get whole litters of one or the other and a slew of possibilities in between.
AWR Rabbitry
BUD ~ Big Ugly Doe. Affectionate term for does too large and long-eared for showing. Also called False Dwarf or Brood Doe.
Dwarf Gene ~ The dwarf gene is responsible for the small size, short ears, and round shape of the ND. If a kit gets 1 copy of the dwarf gene, it will be a True Dwarf with the small round type. This is the Show Bunny. If it doesn't get the dwarf gene, it will be a False Dwarf. This is the large, racy, long-eared type that is unshowable. Affectionately called Big Ugly (BU). If the kit gets a double dose of the dwarf gene, it's lethal. This double dwarf kit is called a Peanut, and will die within 3 days of birth. They will be very small with deformed heads and hindquarters, and it's believed with undeveloped digestive systems which is why they don't survive. Go here to see a photo of a peanut. 2 True Dwarfs are more likey to produce Peanuts. A False Dwarf doe paired with a True Dwarf buck will produce some True Dwarfs, some False, and litters are generally larger. False Dwarf bucks have no real use. However, large, overweight, typey bucks can be considered True Dwarfs if they conform to the general shape desired, having round heads and bodies, and short ears. These large bucks will be too heavy to show, but can add strong bone.
Spring Creek Gems
The explanation of the double dwarf gene by Sarah Giers
Max Factor Dwarfs
Max Factor ~ This is a gene mutation that showed up in the offspring from a Netherland named "Max". It manifests as kits born with their eyes open, and often severely deformed legs and feet. Sometimes called "frogs" for the flipper-like feet and splayed hind legs, "aliens" for the strange appearance of the open eyes, or simply "maxes". Max Factor kits can survive but it's best that they don't. Euthanasia is recommended. They may be blind due to the open eyes at birth being prone to infection, and the skeletal deformities will require special needs care. The Max Factor gene has been passed down through generations of Netherlands, and can appear in other breeds that used the ND in crosses. Oddly, while the gene is very bad when expressed, it's said that the Max Factor gene can produce the best type and fur on the rest of the litter. Go here or here to see photos of this defect.
Spring Creek Gems
There are two types of viable dwarfs. The ''true dwarf'' and the ''false dwarf'' and also the lethal ''Double dwarf'' or peanut which will die.
A true dwarf is the dwarf most people associate with the breed: small, chunky, shortened thick limbs, big head and short thick ears.
The false dwarfs are larger (most go over the 2.08lb limit for show) they have longer limbs and ears and are generally less chunky overall looking more like a normal rabbit (which is in essence what they are)
Some breeders (myself included) keep back a few of the does from the best of these false dwarfs as you are guaranteed not to get peanuts out of them and they are useful in getting live litters out of especially since a decent sized number of the show does are rarely good producers. The show does false dwarf sister can be producing the next generation of show rabbits while her better looking sister is winning on the show table.
The gentics behind these types can be explained as follows.
The dwarf gene (Dw) responsible for making all the dwarf breeds is a lethal gene.
In its homozygous state (rabbit has two dwarf genes) DwDw the rabbit is born with a non functioning or incomplete digestive system and will starve to death usually within 3 days.
In its heterozygous state however the introduction of one normal rabbit gene (dw) allows the beneficial aspects of the Dw gene to function while tempered by the dw gene. A Dwdw combination results.
Any normal non dwarfed rabbit (or false dwarf rabbit) has a homozygous dose of the normal gene dwdw.
Breeding two true dwarfs together results in the resulting kits having the following:
25% chance of inhereiting the DwDw combination (the lethal one)
50% chance of inhereiting the Dwdw combination (the show typed True dwarf combo)
25% chance of inhereiting the dwdw combination (the non show typed False dwarf combo)
Thats not to say out of a litter of 4 you will get 1 peanut, 2 true dwarfs and 1 false dwarf.
I've had litters of 8 (yes EIGHT) peanuts, and litters of 5 false dwarfs with as much frequency as I've had litters of 3 and 4 true dwarfs. Genetic chance is as much a dice roll as anything.
Another breeding choice is to breed a ''true dwarf'' buck and a ''false dwarf'' doe, (the reverse is also a possible but most people cull their false dwarf bucks out at a young age to pet homes) This will give the resulting kits the possible combinations:
50% chance of inhereiting the Dwdw combination (the show typed True dwarf combo)
50% chance of inhereiting the dwdw combination (the non show typed False dwarf combo)
Again these are statistical chances, again you can get whole litters of one or the other and a slew of possibilities in between.
AWR Rabbitry
BUD ~ Big Ugly Doe. Affectionate term for does too large and long-eared for showing. Also called False Dwarf or Brood Doe.
Dwarf Gene ~ The dwarf gene is responsible for the small size, short ears, and round shape of the ND. If a kit gets 1 copy of the dwarf gene, it will be a True Dwarf with the small round type. This is the Show Bunny. If it doesn't get the dwarf gene, it will be a False Dwarf. This is the large, racy, long-eared type that is unshowable. Affectionately called Big Ugly (BU). If the kit gets a double dose of the dwarf gene, it's lethal. This double dwarf kit is called a Peanut, and will die within 3 days of birth. They will be very small with deformed heads and hindquarters, and it's believed with undeveloped digestive systems which is why they don't survive. Go here to see a photo of a peanut. 2 True Dwarfs are more likey to produce Peanuts. A False Dwarf doe paired with a True Dwarf buck will produce some True Dwarfs, some False, and litters are generally larger. False Dwarf bucks have no real use. However, large, overweight, typey bucks can be considered True Dwarfs if they conform to the general shape desired, having round heads and bodies, and short ears. These large bucks will be too heavy to show, but can add strong bone.
Spring Creek Gems
The explanation of the double dwarf gene by Sarah Giers
Max Factor Dwarfs
Max Factor ~ This is a gene mutation that showed up in the offspring from a Netherland named "Max". It manifests as kits born with their eyes open, and often severely deformed legs and feet. Sometimes called "frogs" for the flipper-like feet and splayed hind legs, "aliens" for the strange appearance of the open eyes, or simply "maxes". Max Factor kits can survive but it's best that they don't. Euthanasia is recommended. They may be blind due to the open eyes at birth being prone to infection, and the skeletal deformities will require special needs care. The Max Factor gene has been passed down through generations of Netherlands, and can appear in other breeds that used the ND in crosses. Oddly, while the gene is very bad when expressed, it's said that the Max Factor gene can produce the best type and fur on the rest of the litter. Go here or here to see photos of this defect.
Spring Creek Gems
