BEW Netherland Dwarf with lots of hair?

Question
QUESTION: I have a three week old litter of BEW NDs. One seems perfectly normal but the other has lots of hair. I am guessing at this point that it may end up looking like an angora, but can't find any info on long haired NDs. Both parents have pedigrees that do not shed any light on this. I am guessing that this is not normal. Is it unusual? Should I keep this little one as a possible mutation? I will repeat the breeding in a few weeks to see if it happens again.

ANSWER: Dear Bob,

Mutations can happen in any germline, and if this long-haired trait is dominant, it might have been passed on from only one of the two parents.  If it's recessive, though, *both* parents would have had to pass on the same mutation, which seems unlikely unless the parents are closely related to each other.

It's also possible that the hairy baby will shed out this baby coat and have a normal adult coat, but only time will tell.  But you might want to take a picture, just in case.  :)

Please also see:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/breeding.html

I hope this helps, and that the babies will thrive.

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Have you ever heard of a Netherland Dwarf with long hair? I have not been able to find any info on one.

Thanks again,

Bob

Answer
Dear Bob,

That breed does not have long hair.  I have not heard of a purebred ND with long hair.

But mutants do occur regularly, and recessive traits will often show up in inbred animals such as Netherland Dwarf.  So you might have a unique little bun.

Dana