If you are serious or even just thinking about showing or breeding rabbits of any breed your number one tool should be The Standard of Perfection (SOP). This book is written, maintained and published by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA). You can purchase an SOP at most rabbit shows or you can get it online from ARBA directly by clicking here. It is revised about every 4 years to include updates to specific breed changes or to add any newly recognized breeds. Currently there are 48 recognized breeds of rabbits, but some may not be listed in the SOP until the new edition is released. The SOP illustrates the qualities and characteristics of each breed of rabbit and cavy (another name for guinea pigs). The Standard of Perfection is a wonderful source to refer to when you are evaluating your own herd or looking for new stock.
The Mini Lop got its start in 1972 from a show in Germany, where it was originally around 8 1/2 pounds and called a "Klein Widder." A trio made their way to California and within 2 years they were seen at the National ARBA convention, but they did not bring much interest. The name was then changed to "mini lop" and the breeding process continued in hopes of decreasing its size even more. After several years the Mini Lop started showing up in rabbit shows around the country. Several more years of breeding and perfecting the standard and then in 1980 it was recognized and added to the Standard of Perfection.
Mini Lops are shown in 2 classes - Solid OR Broken (solid color broken up by white).
The following description is taken from The Standard of Perfection for Mini Lops:
The Mini Lop got its start in 1972 from a show in Germany, where it was originally around 8 1/2 pounds and called a "Klein Widder." A trio made their way to California and within 2 years they were seen at the National ARBA convention, but they did not bring much interest. The name was then changed to "mini lop" and the breeding process continued in hopes of decreasing its size even more. After several years the Mini Lop started showing up in rabbit shows around the country. Several more years of breeding and perfecting the standard and then in 1980 it was recognized and added to the Standard of Perfection.
Mini Lops are shown in 2 classes - Solid OR Broken (solid color broken up by white).
The following description is taken from The Standard of Perfection for Mini Lops:
Body: Massive, thickset, heavily muscled, compact, well balanced. Shoulders broad, well filled with good depth. Hindquarter is broad, deep smooth, rounded, lower hips well filled. Slight taper from the heavier hindquarters to the shoulders. Dewlap permitted on does, should balance with the rest of the rabbit. Faults: Long, narrow body; flat shoulders or hips; chopped or undercut hindquarters; large dewlap on does.
Head: Strongly developed, sturdy, bold and balanced with the body; not too narrow. Set closely on shoulders with neck as short as possible. Crown boldly arched. Slight curvature of the skull from the base of the crown to the nose. Faults: Long, narrow head; pointed nose.
Ears/Crown: Ears well placed on top of the head rising from strong basal ridge, lopping vertically on both sides of the head. Ears should hang close to cheeks with ear openings turned toward the head. Outline of ears and crown should resemble a horseshoe. Length and width of ear proportionate and in balance with head and body. Ears well furred, not creased and well rounded at the ends. Faults: Poor ear carriage; narrow; very thick or very thin ears; folds in the ear; ears turned away from the head; thinly furred ears.
Legs/Feet/Bone: Legs thick, short, straight, with heavy bone. Toenails on broken pattern group may be light or dark; a difference in pigmentation between rear and front is permitted. All front toenails should match and all rear toenails should match. Faults: Mismatched toenails; fine bone. Disqualification: General toenail color disqualifications apply on all solid pattern animals.
Fur: Glossy, lustrous, uniform, medium in length, thick, dense, with good rollback. Faults: Silky; long/harsh; long/thin; short fur.
Color/Markings: Solid pattern to include all recognized colors within the recognized groups. Broken pattern to include any recognized color within the recognized group in conjunction with white. Broken pattern must exhibit a butterfly pattern on muzzle with wings outlined in white, solid color circle around each eye, solid colored ears are preferred. Color should be evenly distributed in patched or blanketed markings. Broken pattern should have white front feet; elbow patches are desirable. Rear feet may be white, colored, or partially colored. Faults: Excessive white hairs in solid pattern group; partial nose markings/eye circles in broken pattern group; brokens with highly colored faces so markings are indistinct. Disqualifications: Mismatched eyes, foreign colored spots in the eye; absence of head markings on broken pattern; less than 10% color on broken pattern.
Head: Strongly developed, sturdy, bold and balanced with the body; not too narrow. Set closely on shoulders with neck as short as possible. Crown boldly arched. Slight curvature of the skull from the base of the crown to the nose. Faults: Long, narrow head; pointed nose.
Ears/Crown: Ears well placed on top of the head rising from strong basal ridge, lopping vertically on both sides of the head. Ears should hang close to cheeks with ear openings turned toward the head. Outline of ears and crown should resemble a horseshoe. Length and width of ear proportionate and in balance with head and body. Ears well furred, not creased and well rounded at the ends. Faults: Poor ear carriage; narrow; very thick or very thin ears; folds in the ear; ears turned away from the head; thinly furred ears.
Legs/Feet/Bone: Legs thick, short, straight, with heavy bone. Toenails on broken pattern group may be light or dark; a difference in pigmentation between rear and front is permitted. All front toenails should match and all rear toenails should match. Faults: Mismatched toenails; fine bone. Disqualification: General toenail color disqualifications apply on all solid pattern animals.
Fur: Glossy, lustrous, uniform, medium in length, thick, dense, with good rollback. Faults: Silky; long/harsh; long/thin; short fur.
Color/Markings: Solid pattern to include all recognized colors within the recognized groups. Broken pattern to include any recognized color within the recognized group in conjunction with white. Broken pattern must exhibit a butterfly pattern on muzzle with wings outlined in white, solid color circle around each eye, solid colored ears are preferred. Color should be evenly distributed in patched or blanketed markings. Broken pattern should have white front feet; elbow patches are desirable. Rear feet may be white, colored, or partially colored. Faults: Excessive white hairs in solid pattern group; partial nose markings/eye circles in broken pattern group; brokens with highly colored faces so markings are indistinct. Disqualifications: Mismatched eyes, foreign colored spots in the eye; absence of head markings on broken pattern; less than 10% color on broken pattern.
Schedule of Points
General Type 80 Body 43 Head 20 Ears/Crown 12 Feet/Legs/Bone 5 Fur 10 Color/Markings 5 Condition 5 Total Points 100 |
Their maximum weight limit is 6 1/2 pounds. They make excellent pets and have a very laid back personality.
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