The following excerpts are taken directly from my book and cannot be used without expressed written permission from me. They are protected by copyright 2002.
Introduction
The book "Buyer's and Breeder's Guide to Rabbit Type Traits" was written out of need for a more standardized method of evaluation when judging, buying, selling and choosing animals for breeding. This book was originally written as a handbook given to prospective buyers to show them how I evaluate an animal before a sale to give them the most accurate depiction of what they will be buying. It has rapidly progressed into an idea that could revolutionize the rabbit breeding, showing, buying and selling industry as a whole. If you learn even one term, desirable trait, or fault from this book that you had a hard time describing or seeing in your herd before having read this book, the book has done it's job.
In this book "type faults" are referred to as "type traits" because of the negative connotations of the word "fault" and because of the fact that traits, while being very important in one breed, may be looked down upon in another. Either way, they are still traits of that breed whether good or bad.
What this book will teach you:
This book will teach you a naturally simple way to set and evaluate your rabbits so that you are consistent in the way you look at an animal for sale, show or breeding. It will make you a more honest breeder, being honest with yourself and your prospective buyers while evaluating an animal for your herd or for sale. It will give you several methods of evaluation, tips and tricks when evaluating, training methods to help enhance your rabbit's type on the show table and the importance of honesty with yourelf and your friends when culling for breeding. This book also goes into detail about how you can learn from a judge whether you like them or not, effective judging stategies for judging your own animals for sale and what the benefits and downfalls of standardized judging could be. This book then gives you in depth illustrations of the many type traits that are in addition to the ones shown in the standard. These illustrations also come with terms that will allow you to describe the fault in detail with just one or two words.
Why is this book important to you?
Whether you are a judge, registrar, well known breeder who is developing a standard or working on your chosen breed, recreational breeder or newcomer to the rabbit world this book is an invaluable reference for you. Across the board, anyone who handles rabbits and uses this method will have the benefits of an in depth evaluation of type. At the very least it will help you to make smarter decisions when choosing animals for breeding within your own herd.
Excerpt 2
Conclusion
In conclusion, you alone hold the key to your herd's success or failure. If you breed to improve, choose only animals that are consistently producing quality, worm, coccidia treat and feed and water your animals correctly you too can have an award winning herd. Last but not least, remember that your herd may never be exactly where you want it to be. Breeding is all about evolution and their are no perfect animals. We can get close to ideal but a perfect animal is a rarety. Chances are you will always want to change SOMETHING about even your best rabbit. Thinking about breeding for the long term and working toward your goals will give you the greatest reward.
