Jesse Flaherty from Freedom PA |
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How may years have you raised Dutch? |
8 to 15 years |
What recognized varieties do you raise? |
Black, Blue, Chocolate, Steel |
What non-recognized varieties do you own? |
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When using other breeds of rabbits in the development of these new colors, it will take many years to get animals that consistently show a good Dutch type. What about the colors we could have just crossing the varieties we already have? Lilac Dutch for example were very popular back in the days of the AOV class. |
It would probably be best to first recognize colors that do accidentally pop up in our DT herds that we try to avoid, simply because they aren't recognized. Colors like Gold, which are used to improve Grays. And the Lilacs, Opals, Blue and chocolate Steels. It would be helpful to our breed to open up new bridges for crossing a good rabbit to a good rabbit, without having to worry about throwing AOV's or creating a pedigree with a mix of colors nobody wants to buy. Before we start creating funky colors, we should probably focus on the hundred other colors that already exist that we're just not allowed to show. |
If we start adding new colors of Dutch to the Standard will we get carried away with the entire thing? for example, the Netherland Dwarfs and Mini-Rex. Will this benefit our club or the Dutch breed? |
Whether or not we get ''carried away'' is the decision of the standards committee isn't it? I think we're at the point with our beloved Dutch where we are afraid to embrace change. We'll stick to our 6 colors thank you. But if, within our own standards and herds, we are producing other colors, they should be recognized too! I hope I NEVER see as many Dutch varieties as the MR and ND's. And that I don't have to sit at a show that long to go through every variety. But the Dutch is an amazing rabbit no matter the color. Though the biggest problem I think we have with colors now is that certain ones aren't able to be crossed without the risk of producing those lilacs and opals etc that we aren't allowed to show. It would benefit the breed and the club to start recognizing our usual AOVs. |
Will the Chinchilla Dutch complement the Gray and/or Steel varieties? This would still need to be proven. |
As I also raise French Lops, I will say that the Gray/Chestnut and Steels do cross very well with Chins. I can't say how it will run with Dutch, but if it did that'd be grand. |
Would the Red Dutch complement any other colors? |
Does the tortoise? |
Instead of adding more classes of Dutch to be judged, would it be better to have an agouti class in place of the Gray? |
No. Then you're starting to group like NDs. Would you then start grouping the solid colors together too like lops? |
At many shows the number of Steels shown is not very good. Will more colors hurt the Steel numbers even more? Plus will it add to having more varieties with poor showings? |
What about Tort? Hardly anyone bothers with those things anymore. I'd say their numbers are worse off than steels. In the end, people are going to raise which varieties they like and the varieties that work well with their other varieties. If the number of Steels are declining, and the chin could quite possibly be used to help improve steels, wouldn't more people raise them? |
Having more colors of Dutch may just add interest from people who haven't raised Dutch before. |
Something new is always eye catching. And the Dutch are currently regarded as a challenge to raise. You can't argue that. One of my biggest problems raising Dutch was that you needed such a large foundation, and that you couldn't just breed any color to any color, as it was with my Lops. By recognizing more varieties (lilac, opal, choc and blue steel, gold, etc) you are opening the doors and possibilities for people who may not be able to keep a huge herd to work with. |
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