Breeding and Showing Mini rexs

Question
I recently bought a black buck, and black doe that are non related. The Doe has won B.O.V. at the Michigan state RBA and has 2 legs. The Buck placed first of three at same show. The guy I purchased them from suggested showing the doe again to get her 3rd leg. They are both 7 months old. Should I show either again or begin breeding them? My son would like to get into showing, but I'm curious if starting with one of the offspring would be best. I have no idea what all showing entails, I've always raised meat rabbits before. However if I am going to raise and show rabbits I want to do it right. I also noticed there are a lot of Blues in their pedigrees and wondered if purchasing a blue doe to breed with the black buck is a good idea. I thank you in advance for any advice you can give me. I am very familiar with raising rabbits just not on the show side and I feel I owe it to them to be as educated as I can be.

Answer
Hi Jason,

Since the female is only 7 months old I would try to get her third leg.  As long as you breed her before she is a year old she should be fine.  There is a show in E. Lansing on the weekend after Thanksgiving.  It is a pretty big show and there will be a lot of competition but there will be lots of people there that are willing to help new exhibitors.  When it comes to showing in Michigan you do all your entries as day of shows.  You show up with the animals and they give you a piece of paper.  You sign the rabbits in and when they call Mini Rex you put them on the table to be examined by the judge.  The blacks are first and they senior bucks go first followed by the senior does.  If your rabbit finishes first in its class and there are 5 rabbits with at least 3 exhibitors you receive a grand champion leg.  When you have 3 of these you can have the rabbit registered and you can send in for a certificate of grand champion.  Generally speaking if you sell a rabbit and its parents are registered grand champions you can usually get a little more for the offspring.  However 2 grand champion parents don't necessarily mean that the babies will be great show rabbits.  I am not big on buying rabbits based on their pedigree but some people insist that the pedigree be impressive.  A pedigree is only as good as the person that writes it and truthfully it doesn't mean much.  I know most of the Mini Rex breeders in Michigan and when it comes to competitive animals most of them are right up there in the 'top breeder' circle.  Chances are that your animals have a pretty good background if they won their classes at any Michigan show.

I will not be at this show but some of my friends are going.  If you want to attend and you need any help please check the private box on the follow up question and I can give you more details on what to do and who might be able to help you.

Here is the link for the show

http://www.msrba.net/

Good luck

Pam