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Breeding with Colour - The Basics
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/8/0/19809209/5933834.jpg?380)
Agouti - All variation of colour originate from this, the original
It is well worth pointing out again that responsible breeding and re-homing is an absolute must. Please bear in mind that rabbits are the most neglected pet in the UK and thousands are put to sleep through lack of homes each week. Breeding rabbits is not cheap and will never make you money, that it is an easy way to earn is a fallacy. It is a time consuming hobby, but with the commitment and love it is well worth every second.
To continue, all rabbit colours come from agouti, the colour of the wild rabbit. In breeding, genes are manipulated to reduce banding, intensity of colour, colour saturation and more.
The agouti has a base colour of slate. The banding has orange hairs with a black tip and the belly, nostrils and eyes are marked white. By removing banding and removing colours we can create genes within the rabbit that express as different colours.
For instance, a rabbit's colour known as cinnamon is simply a chocolate agouti. This means that the black tips on the banding have been replaced with a recessive chocolate colour giving the overall impression of a completely different colour.
There are essentially just 4 colours within the coat of a rabbit. That being black and it's dilute colour of blue. There is also chocolate and its dilute of lilac.
To continue, all rabbit colours come from agouti, the colour of the wild rabbit. In breeding, genes are manipulated to reduce banding, intensity of colour, colour saturation and more.
The agouti has a base colour of slate. The banding has orange hairs with a black tip and the belly, nostrils and eyes are marked white. By removing banding and removing colours we can create genes within the rabbit that express as different colours.
For instance, a rabbit's colour known as cinnamon is simply a chocolate agouti. This means that the black tips on the banding have been replaced with a recessive chocolate colour giving the overall impression of a completely different colour.
There are essentially just 4 colours within the coat of a rabbit. That being black and it's dilute colour of blue. There is also chocolate and its dilute of lilac.
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