Sue Hill from Verona WI |
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How may years have you raised Dutch? |
Over 15 years |
What recognized varieties do you raise? |
Black, Blue, Gray, Tortoise |
What non-recognized varieties do you own? |
Gold |
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. |
I would think the Lilac Dutch could definitely have a place in the Dutch world. We accept the dilute of the Black (the Blue) and could easily select the dilute of the Chocolate (the Lilac). \It would increase the gene pool that would be available to work with in the Chocolate variety |
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? |
Our membership would have the final say in accepting a new variety. It would first have to pass the stringent guidelines and watchful eyes of our Standards Committee. If a variety did not have enough interest within our membership, then it would not ever get to the next step--submitting this variety to the ARBA Standards Committee for their vote of recognition. |
Will the Chinchilla Dutch complement the Gray and/or Steel varieties? This would still need to be proven. |
I think the Chin would compliment the Steel much more than the Gray, especially when the ring colors between the two Agoutis are so different. The Chins would be able to be bred with a straight line bred Black. Other breeds have had trouble with brown tint to their Chins and breeders are finding it best to keep Chin to Chin. And again, with our varieties, the Black could also be worked into the mix. |
Would the Red Dutch complement any other colors? |
I would think the Reds would be best to the Reds to try and intensify and keep the Rufus factor that is in the Thrianta breed.
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Instead of adding more classes of Dutch to be judged, would it be better to have an agouti class in place of the Gray? |
If we increased out varieties to include Chins and Golds some day, that might be an option to consider but it would have to be cleared with the ARBA Standards Committee to see if it is even possible.
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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? |
The Chins are a variety that will hopefully correct or even out the the coloration and ticking of the steel that we know today. Those that are Steel enthusiasts know how difficult it is to control the amount and color of ticking. Today, the Chins are being crossed with Steels in an attempt to prove this and to see what future generations produce with an influence of the Chin gene. The ARBA Standards Committee watches the numbers in each variety within each breed. If a variety shows poorly in number (and sees less animals entered than the designated least amount allowed) for a certain number of years at ARBA conventions, they are dropped from the Standards altogether. Breeders would have to be sure they kept the interest within that variety if they wanted to see it stay within the breed. |
Having more colors of Dutch may just add interest from people who haven't raised Dutch before. |
I think the breed as a whole is very challenging to raise because of the markings. Those that love the breed would probably still love them regardless of new varieties being added or just staying with the six we have. The Dutch community is made up of people that enjoy one another as much as they do raising our beautiful, one of a kind Dutch rabbit! |
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