Mini Rex Breeding and Showing

Question
I have a Lilac Mini Rex doe that was bred to a Blue buck. The rabbit gave birth to 6 beautiful babies. 2 are blue, 1 is Lilac and 3 are non- recognized colors which are Japanese Harlequin (Lilac/Fawn). I am very new to breeding and showing so I wanted to know if the Japanese Harlequin can show even though none have pedigrees. I'm wondering if there are ANY shows that let in rabbits without pedigrees. Finally, was it a bad idea to breed those two colors together (Lilac and Blue). Thanks very much!  

Answer
Hi Rachel

Harlequin's are not a showable even if they do have pedigree's.  They are awesome to use if you want to breed broken tri-color rabbits but other than that they are just one of those sad colors that aren't accepted by ARBA.

As for breeding those 2 colors well its not unheard of.  Both are self colors but the problem you are going to end up with is blue's that are to dilute or lilacs that are to blue.

If you want to breed other colors I always say self to self buttttttt  It would be chocolate to lilac (lilac is a dilute chocolate) and black to blue (blue is a dilute black).  If you want to mix it up a bit try breeding a broken self color to your blue or lilac and then you will have brokens in the mix.  Broken self's can be bred to any other self color.. but again you are going to have a problem down the road with light colored toe-nails.  In order for lilac, chocolate, blue or black to be shown all of their toe-nails must match their color and the must all match.  I have a blue mini rex and her middle toe-nail is white so she is not showable.  However I have bred her to my broken chocolate and got decent babies but have had some unshowable colors as well.

You can continue to breed them but cull the babies that are harlequin or other non-showable colors.  Culling doesn't mean you have to kill them, sell or give them away as pets etc.  You currently have 2 blue's and 1 lilac.  lol I wish you lived near me I have been searching for a lilac for almost a year now.  If the blue's are female then breed them back to the dad.  If the lilac is a buck then breed him back to the mother.  You can safely breed them back to their parents to improve your line.  Just don't ever breed brother to sister.  Half brother to half sister is ok.

One more thing.. Your rabbits don't have to have pedigree's to be shown.  They just have to be one of the colors accepted by ARBA.  The only thing is that even if you win 3 legs you won't be able to register them as Grand Champion's because they have to have a complete pedigree to be registered through ARBA.  See if you can find someone near you who has a tri-color breeding program.  They may be interested in purchasing your harley's.  

I am attaching the list from the national mini rex website with the accepted colors.  The only one not on there is Sable Point.  That was just approved at Nationals last November.  Rachel if you want anymore information or need help in the future with your breeding program please feel free to send me a private message.  If you send me a private message I will give you my email address and would be happy to help you.  I currently have 3 other girls I met here who I am helping to find breeder's in their area's.  I just won't publish my email unless the message is private.

Any of the colors you see listed here are acceptable to show.  I am not pushing anything on you either but if you plan on breeding mini rex and join the national club they send you an awesome book with references of which colors are compatible.  I joined myself just because I wanted the book.  It was worth it.

http://www.nmrrc.com/Varieties.htm

Hope to hear from you soon

Pam